USBC To Hold Championship Tournaments in Reno Tahoe USA through 2030

2012-06-13

The City of Reno City Council approved today an agreement that will bring United States Bowling Congress’ Championship Tournaments to the National Bowling Stadium through 2030.
 
The new contract, entered by USBC, the City of Reno and the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority, runs from 2019 through 2030, and promises to bring a varied combination of the USBC Open Championships and the USBC Women’s Championships in at least 10 of the 12 years indicated within the agreement.
 
“This agreement is a testament to the commitment of the City of Reno, our resort hotels, the RSCVA and those Nevada State Legislators who have worked to continue Reno Tahoe USA’s long-term relationship with the USBC,” said RSCVA President and CEO Christopher Baum. “We are delighted that the USBC has officially agreed to keep the National Bowling Stadium in Reno as its home away from home all the way through 2030.”  
 
The term of the contract is dependent on continuing improvements to the National Bowling Stadium, made possible by downtown Reno resort properties, the City of Reno and the Nevada Legislature which passed legislation in 2011 that allows for a $2 surcharge on hotel rooms to fund improvement projects at public facilities.  
 
“The people of Reno have stepped up to make a tremendous commitment to bowling,” said USBC Executive Director Stu Upson. “Public funding for sports venues is increasingly rare. For a city to invest millions of dollars to completely renovate and upgrade a stadium is an historic accomplishment.”  
 
The RSCVA estimates that the scheduled upgrades to the National Bowling Stadium, pursuant to the terms of the new contract, could total $15 million. Immediate renovations that will be completed before the start of the upcoming 2013 USBC Open Championships include new video boards above all 78 lanes on the fourth floor of the National Bowling Stadium, as well as the construction of the Showcase Lanes, a 10-lane bowling center on the first floor which will be utilized for instruction and side-tournaments. Future upgrades are scheduled for completion prior to the 2018 tournaments, including; replacement of all 78-lanes on the fourth floor, expanded bowler squad rooms, major renovations to the public space on the fourth floor and aesthetic improvements to the exterior of the National Bowling Stadium.      
 
The new contract has the potential to generate more than one-million room nights, representing an estimated economic impact of more than $750 million to the local community from 2019 through 2030.
 
Reno Tahoe USA is currently scheduled to host six USBC Championship Tournaments through 2018. Both the USBC Open Championships and the USBC Women’s Championships will be held in Reno in 2013 and 2014, with the Open Championships being held at the National Bowling Stadium and the Women’s Championships taking place on temporary lanes in the Reno-Sparks Convention Center. The National Bowling Stadium will also host the 2016 USBC Open Championships and the 2018 USBC Women’s Championships.  
 
Media inquiries to USBC may be addressed to:
 
Jason Overstreet
 
(800) 514-BOWL, ext. 8380 Jason.overstreet@bowl.com