Draft:International Bowl Expo

The International Bowl Expo, often just Bowl Expo, is an annual trade show for bowling related companies. It is ran and managed by the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America (BPAA).

History

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The International Bowl Expo was originally an annual meeting of the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America, but evolved into a convention and trade show for the bowling industry.[1] The event showcases a wide range of products, from bowling equipment to lane care solutions, and features seminars on various aspects of the sport, including coaching certifications. Exhibitors are typically bowling-related, such as art and food suppliers, with a strong focus on attracting both domestic and international attendees.[1]

Bowl Expo 2007 was held at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.[2] At the Expo, the Bowling Writers Association of America (BWAA) held its annual meeting, which marked the first since merging with the National Women Bowling Writers. The national Bowling Proprietors' Association of America (BPAA) conducted workshops and seminars. Attendees also could tour the new Red Rock Casino bowling center. The Expo also showcased exhibitors from various sectors, including bowling-related Brunswick, AMF, and Storm. On the final day, a special "Club Expo" featuring entertainment, such as LeAnn Rimes, occurred.[3]

Bowl Expo 2013 took place at Paris Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.[2] Keynote speakers included Pepsico CEO Indra Nooyi and Olympic athletes Caitlyn Jenner and Dana Torres,[4][5] with over two dozen professional bowlers participating. The expo also included the induction of Jack Moran into the BPAA Hall of Fame and a media award presented to John LaSpina and his son for their contributions to the sport.[1]

At Bowl Expo 2024, there were 220 exhibitors.[6] Notable exhibitors included Bandai Namco, DirecTV, iHeartMedia, PepsiCo, and Sega, as well as several bowling related companies such as Professional Bowlers Association (PBA), Professional Women's Bowling Association (PWBA), and Hammer Bowling, among several others.

Location history

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Since its inception in 1963, the convention has taken place in the United States for all but three years.[2] The 2025 Bowl Expo is slated to take place at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Washington, D.C.[7]

Dates Hotel Location
1963 Roosevelt Hotel New Orleans, Louisiana
1964 Stardust Hotel Las Vegas, NV
1965 Sheraton Hotel San Juan, Puerto Rico
1966 El Cortez Hotel San Diego, CA
1967 New York Hilton New York, NY
1968 Dunes Hotel Las Vegas, NV
1969 Fontainebleau Hotel Miami Beach, FL
1970 Disneyland Hotel Anaheim, CA
1971 King's Inn & Golf Club Freeport, Grand Bahama Island
1972 Hilton Hawaiian Village Honolulu, HI
1973 Diplomat Hotel Hollywood, FL
1974 Sahara Tahoe Hotel State Line, NV
1975 New York Hilton Hotel New York, NY
1976 Town & Country Hotel San Diego, CA
1977 Sheraton Centre Toronto, Canada
1978 MGM Grand Hotel Las Vegas, NV
1979 Sheraton-Waikiki Hotel Honolulu, HI
1980 Caesar's Palace Las Vegas, NV
1981 New Orleans Hilton New Orleans, LA
1982 Town & Country Hotel San Diego, CA
1983 Fontainebleau Hilton Miami Beach, FL
1984 Caesar's Palace Las Vegas, NV
1985 Disneyland Hotel Anaheim, CA
1986 MGM Grand Reno, NV
1987 Hilton Hawaiian Village Honolulu, HI
1988 New York Hilton New York, NY
1989 Marriott's Orlando World Center Orlando, FL
1990 Sheraton Washington Washington D.C.
1991 The Galt House Hotel Louisville, KY
1992 Bally's Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, NV
1993 Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center Nashville, TN
1994 Hilton Hawaiian Village Honolulu, HI
1995 San Francisco Hilton San Francisco, CA
1996 Las Vegas Hilton Las Vegas, NV
1997 Las Vegas Hilton Las Vegas, NV
1998 Gaylord Opryland Nashville, TN
June 13-18, 1999[8] Omni Rosen Hotel Orlando, FL
2000 Las Vegas Hilton Las Vegas, NV
2001 Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino Las Vegas, NV
2002 New Orleans Hilton New Orleans, LA
2003 Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino Las Vegas, NV
2004 Las Vegas Hilton Las Vegas, NV
2005 Rosen Centre Hotel Orlando, FL
2006 Las Vegas Hilton Las Vegas, NV
2007 Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino Las Vegas, NV
2008 Rosen Shingle Creek Orlando, FL
2009 Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino Las Vegas, NV
2010 Las Vegas Hilton Las Vegas, NV
2011 Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center Grapevine, TX
2012 Silver Legacy/Eldorado Reno, NV
June 23-27, 2013[1] Paris Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, NV
2014 Rosen Shingle Creek Orlando, FL
2015 Paris Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, NV
2016 Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino Las Vegas, NV
2017 Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center Nashville, TN
2018 Paris Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, NV
2019 Paris Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, NV
2020
Canceled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic[9]
June 20-24, 2021[9] The Galt House Hotel Louisville, KY
2022 Westgate Resort & Casino Las Vegas, NV
2023 Rosen Centre Hotel Orlando, FL
2024 Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center Denver, CO

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Pezzano, Chuck (2013-06-17). "Get ready for Bowl Expo fun". The Record. pp. S2. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
  2. ^ a b c "Bowl Expo > General Info > Previous Locations". bpaa.com. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
  3. ^ Taylor, Joan (2007-07-01). "Vegas Bowl Expo showcases something for everyone". Daily Record. p. 37. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
  4. ^ "Olympic champions Jenner, Torres deliver keynote presentations at International Bowl Expo". www.bowlingdigital.com. 2013-06-26. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
  5. ^ Weller, Frank (2013-07-11). "BOWL EXPO 2013 The Bowling Industries Annual Convention and Trade Show" (PDF). California Bowling News. p. 1. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
  6. ^ "Bowl Expo > Trade Show > 2024 Exhibitors". bpaa.com. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
  7. ^ "2025 Call for Speakers". bpaa.com. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
  8. ^ Jammal II, Suheil (1999-06-13). "Bowling Expo brings volume to Orlando". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 102. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
  9. ^ a b Manzione, Gianmarc (2020-04-03). "Bowl Expo 2020 Cancelled Amid COVID-19 Pandemic". bowl.com. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
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