I do not see how the ABC and the WIBC can not expect to lose recreational bowlers in both men's, women's, senior and junior bowling. The ABC awards for the recreational bowler are trivial at best. All the patches look alike, the high average award, league championship award and others are in all honesty cheap. The competitive bowler enjoys the ABC and WIBC Nationals, but again most go knowing they have a minimal chance of winning. They go for the tradition, socialization and vacation.
More bowlers hope they win something in the brackets than the event itself.
The ABC and WIBC do not help there own cause when we look at what has happened with Strike Ten Entertainment, Bowling, Inc., a planned move of their headquarters and the possibility of combining their forces. I certainly don't want to see the demise of either organization, although I would like to see some restructuring. Being a military man I have first hand knowledge of the inverted pyramid. I know that whenever you have a headquarters of any kind their needs always seem to come before that of the guy in the field. I submit that if this increase is approved ABC and WIBC may not feel the repercussions immediately, but I will assure you that 10 percent decline will become a reality, so all you ABCers be ready to grab your wallet again when that additional four bucks kicks in.