New Jersey bowling centers, much like many small businesses, have suffered catastrophic financial hardship during our COVID-19 mandated shutdown. The month of March typically creates the most amount of net revenue for bowling centers and April can add some extra income from end of the bowling season league parties and events. They did not get the opportunity to put that end of the season money away to have enough cash flow to carry them through the summer. As a result, our bowling centers are left without the cash needed to survive the next few months and with government programs currently out of cash, we are left with the reality that permanent closure is near. In addition, landlords are still expecting rent payments even though they have no income. Bowling has been a major contributor and host to community events and fundraisers in our community, from small church and youth groups to major not-for-profit organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters and Special Olympics. Their facilities serve as destinations for entertainment, fundraising, birthday celebrations, community group meetings and much more. They have diligently served our communities with a sense of pride, respect, and belonging.

The sanctioning body for the sport of bowling (the USBC) and the Bowling Proprietors Association of America have provided best practices and guidance for safely reopening. Surrounding states have seen fit to allow centers to reopen as well.

Bowling can provide safe measures for our communities. Bowling has always been an environment that has been cleaned well, as it is essential to provide a clean and inviting atmosphere to their customers for safety and appeal. They can disinfect all bowling shoe rentals (which they currently do). They can put measures in place to clean and sanitize all bowling balls used. Bowling centers can disinfect all seating and contact points between lane usage, and clean and disinfect each table and seating chairs between each usage. They could provide hand sanitizing stations at various touch point areas in our centers. Segregated entrance and exit doorways or entire entrances dedicated to one or the other allow control of the customer flow.

It is an inherently safer environment than the Health Clubs and Gyms that are scheduled to open in Stage 2.  This is a case of perception doesn't match reality of the risks of allowing bowling centers to open. Research is confirming that the most prevalent mode of transmission if through aerosolized droplets, rather than surface contamination. Both can can be much better controlled in a bowling center than many other businesses that are being allowed to open. 

Bowling centers have the ability and willingness to provide our community a safe, clean, and disinfected environment to participate in an activity that has many health benefits including positive mental health as well.

Allow bowling centers to operate with the following requirements:

• Clean the seating, ball return, and scoring area using a disinfectant rated for COVID- 19. Cleaning will be done between each lane usage.
• Disinfect each bowling center rental ball after use by using a dedicated area for disinfected and used bowling balls.
• Disinfect each shoe rental between use or provide guests Bowling area meeting room, and restaurant space will provide 6 feet of distance between tables and or bar stools.
• Provide 6 ft social distancing signs near all areas that can produce guest congregation.
• Provide cashless payment options   
• Provide separate entrance and exit doors to allow for higher cleanliness. When a guest arrives, they can clean the entrance doors, when guests leave, they can clean the exit doors. 
• Apply strict measures on the health and well being of their team members, including temperature checks and social distancing restrictions while working together.

With the proper measures in place, our New Jersey bowling centers could thoroughly clean touch points between each guest visit. These measures will allow our business owners to have a chance to stay in business and allow for a chance to save nearly 70 small businesses in this state.  Please help bowling survive and all our bowling centers to be opened back up. 

Thank you