A customizable bowling ball return assembly (10, 200) for a bowling lane, comprising: a retrieval area (18, 218) configured to receive one or more bowling balls for retrieval by bowlers at the bowling lane; and a housing (14, 214) located adjacent the retrieval area (18, 218), the housing (14, 214) comprising: a housing body (60, 260) having a top part (70, 256) and side parts (66, 68); and a passage or discharge (16, 254) defined in the housing body (60, 260) that is sized, dimensioned, or configured to allow for passage of the one or more bowling balls to the retrieval area (18, 218), wherein the customizable bowling ball return assembly (10, 200) is characterized by: a plurality of customizable, modular, or interchangeable portions (12, 212) of a selected size, dimension, shape, or configuration that are selectively coupleable to the housing body (60, 260), and which include a face portion (80, 280) with one or more selected colors, images, depictions, graphics, themes, finishes, textures, or combinations thereof provided thereon, the plurality of customizable, modular, or interchangeable portions (12, 212) including a pair of opposing side parts (86, 88) that substantially cover the side parts (66, 68) of the housing body (60, 260), and the plurality of customizable, modular, or interchangeable portions (12, 212) further including at least one connecting mechanism configured to releasably couple the plurality of customizable, modular, or interchangeable portions (12, 212) together and/or to the housing body (60, 260). a retrieval area (18, 218) configured to receive one or more bowling balls for retrieval by bowlers at the bowling lane; and a housing (14, 214) located adjacent the retrieval area (18, 218), the housing (14, 214) comprising: a housing body (60, 260) having a top part (70, 256) and side parts (66, 68); and a passage or discharge (16, 254) defined in the housing body (60, 260) that is sized, dimensioned, or configured to allow for passage of the one or more bowling balls to the retrieval area (18, 218), wherein the customizable bowling ball return assembly (10, 200) is characterized by: a housing body (60, 260) having a top part (70, 256) and side parts (66, 68); and a passage or discharge (16, 254) defined in the housing body (60, 260) that is sized, dimensioned, or configured to allow for passage of the one or more bowling balls to the retrieval area (18, 218), wherein the customizable bowling ball return assembly (10, 200) is characterized by: a plurality of customizable, modular, or interchangeable portions (12, 212) of a selected size, dimension, shape, or configuration that are selectively coupleable to the housing body (60, 260), and which include a face portion (80, 280) with one or more selected colors, images, depictions, graphics, themes, finishes, textures, or combinations thereof provided thereon, the plurality of customizable, modular, or interchangeable portions (12, 212) including a pair of opposing side parts (86, 88) that substantially cover the side parts (66, 68) of the housing body (60, 260), and the plurality of customizable, modular, or interchangeable portions (12, 212) further including at least one connecting mechanism configured to releasably couple the plurality of customizable, modular, or interchangeable portions (12, 212) together and/or to the housing body (60, 260).