Pictured Above: Coyotes VS Jets In A Previous Game. Photo Courtesy Of Coyotes
Arizona Coyotes To Hold First Annual Bowling Night VS Anaheim Ducks On February 20.
By Michael 'Chip' Begg - Managing Editor thetenpinexpress.com - Director Mesa Metro Association
Glendale - - - In our every day lives, some combinations are meant to be part of it.
Like: Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie, and Chevrolet.
Like: A cold beer, a pizza, and a salad.
Like: Hockey and Bowling? Yes, hockey and bowling.
In an effort to tap into a new sports market in the Valley, the Arizona Coyotes will be having its first annual bowling night on February 20, 2017. The Coyotes will be hosting the Anaheim Ducks at 7 pm.
And, leave it to someone who is involved with the game of bowling in the Valley, to come up with this idea.
"Earlier in the year, Bob Larrick, the General Manager of AMF Peoria Lanes and I had met. And he discussed having the opportunity of putting together a Coyotes Bowling Night for the various alleys and lanes across the Valley," said Craig Campbell, a Business Development Account Executive with the Arizona Coyotes. "If we move the amount of tickets that we anticipate for the night, we will be happy to have an annual Coyotes Bowling Night moving forward."
At the time of this writing the Coyotes had a record of 12-22-6. Their most recent win came on Saturday January 7, and it was a 2-1 shoot out victory over the New York Islanders. The win, also snapped a nine game losing streak.
Right Winger, Radim Vrbata, leads the team in scoring with 9 goals.15 assists, and 24 points. Goalie Mike Smith, leads the team in wins with seven.
"The seats that will be available will be in our Lower Level Ends at Gila River. (Sections 103-109 and 114-120) as well as seats in the Upper Level Ends in Rows H and Higher (Sections 205-211 and Sections 220-226)," said Craig, of the seating made available. "The seats in the Lower Level Ends will be priced at $53 per seat (regularly $69 per seat). And the seats in the Upper Level Ends in Rows H and Higher will be priced at $21 per seat (regularly $26 per seat). Included in the ticket price will be a Coyotes Bowling Towel."
The Coyotes have been getting the word out in bowling centers in the Valley, by posting promotional flyers and by word of mouth.
"The website and flyer for the Coyotes Bowling Night were both recently finalized, and we have just starte the grassroots effort of reaching out to various locations around the Valley," said Craig, of the promotion. "The reception from representatives at each location has been very positive with representatives wanting to offer the discounts to: their staff, league members, and customers as well."
He says the feedback he has been getting from the bowling centers in the Valley has been positive.
"The biggest feedback that I received thus far was from Bob at AMF Peoria Lanes, on the potential the night has," said Craig. "He showed me how many AMF locations were around the Valley, and the I saw an opportunity for even more tickets to be sold from other locations outside of the AMF locations as well. To my knowledge, the Coyotes haven't hosted a Bowling Night in the past."
Craig is in his fourth season, as a business development account executive with the Coyotes.
"Working for a professional sports franchise is special, in the sense that on a daily basis I get to mix business with pleasure," he says, on working for the Coyotes. "I do always enjoy the fact that the Western Conference which the Coyotes play in, used to be called the Campbell Conference. I have never bowled in a league myself, but I do enjoy bowling recreationally from time to time."
To order tickets for the upcoming bowling night, please visit the website. Arizona Coyotes.com/Bowling Night. Deadline to purchase tickets is February 3rd.
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Scottsdale - - - If you do not have anything planned for the MLK holiday weekend, may we suggest that you stop by Brunswick Via Linda Lanes in Scottsdale. That's because ASU and GCU will be co-hosting the Devils/Lopes Shootout.
The event will take place on Saturday January 14, beginning at 10 am, and on Sunday at 9 am.
"This season has been pretty good for us thus far," said GCU Coach Ben Canfield. "We won our first tournament in school history this past November. We're a young team and learning as we progress throughout the long season."
Schools that will be represented at the event will be: Grand Canyon University, Arizona State University, Fresno State, Weber State, UNLV, and Cal Poly.
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Mesa - - - The final day of 2016, was a busy one for Brunswick Zone Mesa.
The day started off with a ball demo that was sponsored by Storm and Roto Grip. Bowlers got to test out its newest releases before they decided to purchase the equipment. The ball demo was put on by Virtue Bowling Supply.
"The company provides the demo equipment," said Craig Spencer, of Virtue Bowling Supply, whose four pro shops in the Valley hold about 10 to 15 of these demos a year. "Bowling balls are very expensive these days. This helps our customers find a bowling ball they like, before they actually purchase it."
Roto Grip player rep Kyle King, was on hand to help answer any questions the bowlers had about its products.
The ball demo was followed by a charity fundraising 9 pin no tap tournament.
Josh Thompson, a senior at Valley Christian High School. Held the tournament for his senior class project. His senior class project had to involve a international charity. The international charity he chose was Feed My Starving Children.
His goal was to raise enough money to feed 10 children for a year. But, because 98 bowlers showed up to help out this cause, Josh was able to raise enough money to feed 17 children for a year.
Congratulations to Josh: his mother Kristi, his father Joe, and his brother Justin on a job well done.
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Mesa - - - The 2017 Mesa Metropolitan Association Youth Tournament (MMA), will be held on Saturday January 21, and Sunday January 22, at Mesa East Bowl.
Last years tournament was held at Brunswick Zone Mesa. The highlight of the event last year came when Gabriel Villegas rolled a 300 game and 803 series.
The MMA Women's Tournament meanwhile, will be held on the weekends of: February 4,5 and 11,12 at Brunswick Kyrene Lanes in Chandler.
Wednesday January 11, 2017