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Today's Date: Thursday, July 02, 2009
The International Bowling Museum unexpectedly received a significant 5-figure contribution in September from the Helen E. Weston Trust. The Museum had no prior knowledge that it had been mentioned in Ms. Weston's will.
"This is not the first surprise gift like this, but it is the largest", said Executive Director Gerald W. Baltz. "It is very gratifying to all of us at the Museum when an avid bowler recognizes our efforts to collect and preserve bowling's rich history, and chooses to support those efforts as part of her legacy."
Helen Weston was a high level bowler at both the national and international level at the peak of her bowling career in the 1960's. She was based in the Detroit area and was a good friend of Rose Marsh and Lilian Jacob, who for years ran the Detroit WBA. Paul Cito, a highly respected coach in the area, helped develop Ms. Weston's bowling skills. She competed internationally for the USA with USBC Hall of Famers Helen Shablis and Dorothy Wilkinson.
Ms. Weston's generosity will have a considerable impact on the Museum as it transitions into its new facility in Arlington, Texas as part of the International Bowling Campus.
St. Louis, MO, September 3, 2008 – Is throwing a gutter ball getting you down? Have you ever had a turkey (and we don’t mean the kind with feathers)? If you have no idea what this bowling lingo means, then you need to hurry down to the Bowling Hall of Fame and Museum (IBMHF ) while you still have time to visit this treasure here in St. Louis.
Sports or history fans of all types and all ages need to stop by the Bowling Hall of Fame and Museum if you want to get in on the fun. The Museum is located at 7th and Walnut, on the west side of the Ballpark Village development area. It will be open from 9:00am – 5:00pm daily now through September 30, and 11:00am – 4:00pm, Thursday through Sunday, from October 1 through November 8. For more information, call 314-231-6340.
More than 95 million people enjoy bowling in 90 countries, spanning six continents. Bowling is one of the largest participatory sports in the world. The Museum collects, preserves and displays the 5,000-year history that has led to this worldwide success. From computer databases to the bowling pin car, from world famous Mettlach steins to zany 50's team shirts, the IBMHF holds the entire story of bowling.
The facility also houses the Cardinals Hall of Fame, which displays over 100 years of history for the National League St. Louis Cardinals (1892-present), the American League St. Louis Browns (1902-1953), and the National Negro League St. Louis Stars (1920-1941).
One admission price provides access to both amazing facilities where you can enjoy interactive displays, video selections, and four free frames of bowling on modern lanes, among other grand displays. It's a great place to bring the family before the game.
The IBMHF opened in June 1984 in St Louis and the Cardinals Hall of Fame opened at the facility in 1997. The Bowling Hall of Fame is scheduled to reopen in Arlington, Texas in early 2010.
For further information, please contact Susan Ryan at 314-304-6800 on behalf of the IBM/HF or Jim Woodcock at 314/982-7778 on behalf of the St. Louis Cardinals.
The International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame collects and preserves the rich history of bowling, and uses that information to help promote the sport worldwide.
August 22, 2008- The International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame is pleased to announce that final accounting figures show the 2008 Salute to Bowling netted $104,172 for the Museum.
The Salute, held at Bowl Expo in June, is the Museum's major fundraiser. This year's live and silent auctions, along with improved food and beverage service, and faster, simpler auction checkout procedures received rave reviews from attendees. "I was thrilled with this year's Salute to Bowling," said chairperson Keith Hamilton. "We listened to our audience and delivered a terrific evening based on that input." Hamilton also praised the staff of BPAA for their assistance and hard work to make the event a success.
IBMHF Trustee Mike Aulby, a PBA and USBC Hall of Famer, will chair the Salute committee for 2009. "With Mike at the helm," said Hamilton, "and the continued support from BPAA, the Salute to Bowling will thrive for years to come."
The 2008 Salute marked the second consecutive year the event netted more than $100,000 to benefit the Museum.
ST LOUIS, MO – At the annual meeting of the Board of Trustees of the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame, several members were re-elected to the Board and to its Executive Committee, two new members were elected, and a long-term member's service to the Board was concluded.
Members of the Executive Committee elected to continue their terms through the spring/summer meeting in 2009 are Pat Ciniello (QubicaAMF Worldwide LLC) as President/Chairman of the Board; Keith Hamilton (Luby Publishing) as Vice President/Vice Chairman; Terry Brenneman (Bowler's Supply, Inc.) as Treasurer; and Bob Gudorf (Classic Products) as Secretary. Bill Chrisman (Storm Bowling Products), Ted Baer (Alan Baer & Associates) and Wally Hall (Proprietor, Annapolis Bowl) were each re-elected to the position of Member-at-Large.
Re-elected to the Board of Trustees and agreeing to serve through 2011 were Mike Aulby (ABC/PBA Hall of Famer), John Sommer (Don Carter Lanes, Inc.), and John Walker (Qubica AMF), along with Board Treasurer Brenneman. In addition, two new members were elected to serve through 2011, Daroll Frewing and Cathy DeSocio. Frewing is the founder and CEO of US Bowling Corporation. DeSocio, recently elected Secretary of the BPAA Board, is co-owner of JOMA Bowling, and recipient of the BPAA Proprietor of the Year Award in 2006.
The meeting also marked the conclusion of a marathon fourteen years of service as a Trustee by Bill Scheid (Ebonite International). Scheid had served since 1994, including a position as Board President from 2003 until 2007. "We are truly grateful for the many years of service Bill has given us," said Gerald Baltz, Executive Director of the Museum. "His direction and dedication to the Museum will be missed."
The International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame collects and preserves the rich history of bowling, and uses that information to help promote the sport worldwide.
For more information about the Museum, you may call 1-800-966-2695.
St. Louis, MO, June 6, 2008 – The International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame Board of Trustees voted unanimously this week to move the Hall of Fame from its current location in St. Louis, MO to Arlington, TX.
The new Museum and Hall of Fame will be located in a new development that will house bowling's two national entities, the United States Bowling Congress and the Bowling Proprietors Association of America. As part of the planned move, the IBM/HF reached an agreement to sell the existing Hall and Museum structure– which is also home to the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame Museum – and its land to the Ballpark Village partnership consisting of the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cordish Company.
The IBM/HF had two offers to move its facility. Ballpark Village presented a wonderful opportunity for the Hall of Fame to relocate within Ballpark Village in the general vicinity of its current location. In the end, however, the trustees felt it was best to honor the strong desire of the bowling industry to have the IBM/HF join the other major national bowling entities in a new consolidated headquarters at 621 Six Flags Drive in Arlington, TX.
"We are confident that by joining USBC and BPAA in the same building, we have secured the long-term future of the IBM/HF," said Pat Ciniello, president of the IBM/HF. "It was difficult passing on the opportunity to be a part of Ballpark Village, especially because the Cardinals and Cordish Companies are innovative companies with proven track records. We are confident that Ballpark Village will be a great success and an important part of downtown St. Louis."
"We're very grateful to the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame for being a wonderful neighbor and partner throughout the years. We wish them well in Arlington," said St. Louis Cardinals President Bill DeWitt III. "As for Ballpark Village, this acquisition completes our land assembly process, and represents another key milestone for the project."
Now that the decision has been made to move to Arlington, the Hall of Fame can begin developing a new design for a state-of-the-art Hall of Fame, which will be located on the first level of the 103,000 square foot building shared by USBC and BPAA. The IBM/HF expects a much larger increase in events from the many people who will be visiting the new industry headquarters. "With the Hall moving to Arlington," Ciniello pointed out, "the Hall of Fame now becomes the responsibility of the entire bowling industry – not just its trustees."
John Berglund, executive director for the BPAA, said, "We are thrilled that the Hall of Fame is joining the International Bowling Campus. We appreciate the museum Board's confidence in this project." It is anticipated that the Hall of Fame will reopen in Arlington within 18 months.
For further information, please contact Susan Ryan at 314-304-6800 on behalf of the IBM/HF or Jim Woodcock at 314/982-7778 on behalf of the St. Louis Cardinals.
The International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame collects and preserves the rich history of bowling, and uses that information to help promote the sport worldwide.
The United States Bowling Congress Board of Directors voted unanimously to release the deed of trust on the property owned by the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame, giving the Hall of Fame the right to move to a new location.
Over the past year, the IBM/HF has been in discussions with developers in St. Louis regarding redeveloping the Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame within the proposed entertainment complex of Ball Park Village, a project of the Cordish Group and the St. Louis Cardinals. Just this week, the USBC and BPAA submitted a formal proposal for the Hall of Fame to move to Arlington into a facility being purchased by USBC and BPAA. This new alternative, which is being analyzed and clarified, is also near a developing entertainment complex, as well as numerous sports and entertainment venues.
"I believe moving the Hall of Fame to Arlington would be a great addition to our efforts to bring numerous integers under one roof" said Jeff Boje, President of the USBC. "We certainly hope the Museum's Board agrees, but we will respect any decision that it makes." IBM/HF President, Pat Ciniello, was relieved to receive the release of the deed of trust. "Now the real work begins as the Museum's Board of Trustees weighs its options for the Hall of Fame. We are fortunate to have two great new locations from which to choose." A decision by the IBM/HF Board regarding the facility's location is expected in about 60 days.
The International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame collects and preserves the rich history of bowling, and uses that information to help promote the sport worldwide.
Bowling enthusiasts across the country are abuzz about two major real estate developments that could have significant impact on the game of bowling. The United States Bowling Congress (USBC) announced recently that it will move its headquarters to Arlington, Texas to form a major bowling complex. The International Bowling Museum & Hall of Fame trustees voted to move forward on a proposed new Bowling Hall of Fame cited for development in St. Louis.
"I believe that these two major developments could be the best things to happen to the bowling industry in years," said Pat Ciniello, Chairman of the Hall of Fame Board. "Our trustees fully support the USBC's decision to move to Texas and create a centralized administrative facility for the sport. We are also excited about the potential of redeveloping the Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame within the proposed entertainment complex of Ball Park Village, a project of the Cordish Group and the St. Louis Cardinals."
Ball Park Village is a development to be built adjacent to the new Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team. The Village will be showcased as an entertainment area, complete with retail shops, restaurants, hotels and condominiums. Its projected annual attendance of nine million people will give the game of bowling tremendous exposure through the Museum/Hall to young and old alike. Ball Park Village hopes to break ground this year.
The St. Louis deal includes:
- Demolition of the current facility.
- A new Museum/Hall of Fame, constructed within Ball Park Village entertainment facility.
- Interactive exhibits, theater, grand staircase and gift shop.
- $8.9 million in project costs fully funded by sources other than the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame and the bowling industry.
- Ownership of the facility (other project entities will be tenants).
- Projected attendance that is more than double that of the present location and exposure to potential new players.
- Tremendous exposure for the industry that compliments the proposed Texas facility
A snag that is complicating the Museum/Hall move is a January 21 decision to deny the request of the Hall of Fame Board to transfer the "Deed of Trust," stemming from a long-term note USBC has with the Hall of Fame to pursue the project with Ball Park Village. The USBC has indicated that they would like the Museum/Hall to be moved to the new Arlington, Texas complex.
"While we were disappointed with the initial decision by the USBC to deny our request, we are optimistic about future discussions of various options," explains Ciniello. "We have offered to build a satellite Hall of Fame in the Arlington facility that we think would be a great compliment to the complex." Cinello added that he is interested in pursuing additional conversations with the USBC board of directors, and he is optimistic that they will reconsider its decision. "We invite anyone who is interested in the Hall to contact us and learn more about the project in St. Louis. We believe the idea of receiving outside money, rather than using industry dollars to build a state-of-the-art new facility within such an exciting project, is very satisfying and a real boost for the future of the bowling business."
Ciniello and the Museum/Hall trustees are committed to staying in St. Louis and realizing the amazing opportunity they have to be a part of such an exciting development. "St. Louis is experiencing a significant social and economic renaissance and is poised to become a powerhouse in the Midwest and an important tourist destination. With an impressive facility in Arlington and one in St. Louis, the bowling industry is making a strong stand that we are a growing force in the sports world."
The International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame collects and preserves the rich history of bowling, and uses that information to help promote the sport worldwide.
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