JBT Online Update 1-16-09
Vegas this Weekend; Gold qualifier Sat. night Coming up this weekend the Mojave Conference resumes with a great weekend at The Orleans! On Saturday, we begin at 1 PM, and a separate second event commences Sunday morning at 9 AM. We hope to see you for one, or hopefully both, tournaments at this great center. Also, Saturday night, The Orleans has a Junior Gold qualifier. It will begin at 7 PM, or after the last JBT bowler who wants in the qualifier is eliminated from the JBT event. So, if you're looking to spend two weeks in Indy this July, this is an even more don't-miss JBT weekend!
All points, stats updated! I have been home a total of 5 days since December 12 (and I'm still not home yet), so it took a while... but ALL point standings, averages, and other statistical stuff are now updated at the website as well... hooray! Thanks for those of you who patiently awaited the updates. We have some terrific point races developing for leader, top 5, and Invitational cutoffs, so check it out today!
Winter Conditions- Be Aware! We dodged a major bullet when I-5 in Washington opened up just in time for this weekend's JBT events near Portland- whew! As a reminder, JBT events go on, rain or shine (or flood), provided that a) a director can get to the event, and b) the center can open. We did have one event cancelled, back in 1999, but we're logistically better prepared than back then, so I don't expect that to ever happen. So, please allow extra travel time during rough conditions, because the show does indeed go on!
TPC: Hotel Block Set; Banquet Feedback Sought The feedback is loud and clear: you guys want the banquet back! The TPC, our 'best of the best' event, July 24-46 in Vegas, had an awards dinner when it was held in Phoenix. We did a lunch instead in Vegas last year, which was cost effective ($10 per person), but it was rushed and logistically tough and just not as cool. Here's the catch: banquets are not as cheap in Vegas. In Phoenix, we rented the room for $1,000, and Buca di Beppo food cost about $3,000, so at the $20 per person we charged we broke even. From my shopping around Vegas, to do it at Strike Zone or anywhere else, we're looking at a minimum of $40 per person for dinner. Oof. The entry fee for the TPC is cheap for the great prize fund we offer, but now dinner is $160 for a family of 4. Granted, it will be a nice one, and we love having all our best bowlers getting their awards in one place... but is that simply too expensive? Please give me your feedback soon, as we'd like to get this plan finalized. Also, our room block is now available at Sunset Station for the TPC! This is a really nice facility, so it'd be great to book there,but you can always check around for good deals as well. Keep in mind that if you get a strip hotel, you're 15-20 minutes from Strike Zone.
Vivid College Scouting; Felix Farms Join JBT Sponsor Family Our February So Cal weekend has been enhanced by the addition of two great sponsors! Our West Covina stop will be sponsored by Vivid College Scouting. You can check them out at www.vcsports.com. The Sunday event at Montclair Bowlium will be sponsored by Felix Farms. We are very grateful for this tremendous addition to our JBT sponsor family!
Videos! Videos! Videos! Videos! Holy Cow, New Videos!!!! A big new batch of videos is now available at the website, including all the Main Event videos. I'm publishing new ones as they speak (they take hours, which with my Dec-Jan schedule simply didn't exist). Hooray! For those of you who requested videos, don't worry, I haven't forgotten- I have a pile of requests to honor. Once I'm completely updated on videos (and home, where stuff link blank DVD-R discs are), I'll start pumping those out.
JBT Shirt and Merchandise catalog online Remember folks, you can now order JBT polo shirts (and towels) in limitless colors and sizes right off the "merchandise" section of our website. Our new shirt folks have been incredibly quick and professional- we're impressed, to say the least. Check it out- you now call or fax in your order directly with them- very cool!
Sun City West start time remains 1:30 PM We had been looking into moving the Sun City start time to 2:30 to accommodate the AZ High School finals, but the High school finals reverted to their original 2/7 date, so the Johnson Lanes start time remains at 1:30 PM.
Silva Santa Fe closes; NM-TX Invitational moved to Silva ABQ We are sad to report that Silva Lanes in Santa Fe has, at least temporarily, closed its doors. So, the NM-TX Invitational has been moved to the Albuquerque Silva Lanes- please mark your schedules accordingly.
See you soon! Phew- lots going on as always in the wonderful world of JBT! We'll see you this weekend at The Orleans-- why not bring a friend or three extra to bowl too? We love what we do and we hope you love bing JBT bowlers- spread the word!!!