All lanes lead to Reno By the numbers

A look at some of the numbers from the 2010 Open Championships:

Open facts

A quick look at the USBC Open Championships: • The first tournament was held in 1901, and the 2011 event marks the tournament’s 108th year.

• The Open Championships is the world’s largest annual participatory sporting event, attracting between 60,000 and 80,000 bowlers (12,000 to 16,000 five-player teams).

• Bowlers compete for an estimated prize fund between $4.5-$7.5 million.

• Bowlers compete in three events – three games each of team, doubles and singles in two skill-based categories. The Regular Division (181 average and above) is for high-average bowlers and the Classified Division (180 average and below) is for lower-average bowlers. Entry fee is $45 per event per bowler plus $15 for optional all-events ($750 total for the entire team).

• Bowlers come from all 50 states. Bowlers from Bermuda, Canada, England, France, Germany, Bahamas, Italy, Mexico and Switzerland also have attended.

Filling the Stadium in Reno

The 2011 Open Champion- ships is in Reno for a record 10th time and the National Bowling Stadium, which opened in 1995, has played host to four of the five largest tournaments, including the record 17,285 teams for the venue’s opening. A look at the number of teams that have competed at each event:

Year 1977 1984 1990 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007 2010

Teams 7,203 8,380 9,199

17,285 15,925 16,104 16,585 16,235 14,189

Total tournaments at NBS: 6 previous

Total teams at Stadium: 96,323

Total bowlers in Reno history: more than 605,000

• 32 perfect games. There also were 13 299s and five 298s, while an additional 38 bowlers tossed 11 strikes in a row.

• 7 800 series, six of which were rolled in singles.

• 9 countries were represented: Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, England, France, Germany, Mexico, Switzerland and the United States.

• 615,080 games bowled with a total pinfall of 103,473,086.

• 37,125 clean games and 349 clean series.

• 7 bowlers competed in the Open Championships for the 50th time, while two made their 60th appearances and two reached the 100,000 career pinfall mark.

Stadium facts and figures

A quick glance at the National Bowling Stadium: • 330,000 square feet • 78 lanes • 44-foot ceilings above the lanes

• 100-seat theater and three-levels of parking

• Stadium seating for 1,200 bowling fans

• Built with a price tag of nearly $50 million

• $1.3 million in renovations in 2006 and 2007, including new lane panels, new scoreboards, new carpet and a remodeled squad room