Sun City West bowling center to get new pinsetters, partial shutdown planned; membership and revenue up

The Sun City West Sports Pavilion plans major equipment and facility upgrades next year while continuing to report higher use and stronger finances, managers told the Sports Pavilion Committee on Sept. 11.

Gary Zarek, manager of the Sports Pavilion, said the governing board has approved capital projects and staff “have already purchased the 2 new oiling machines that we're using daily,” and that pinsetters “will be ordered in December for an April 21 delivery.” He described an installation plan that would “only shut down half of the bowling center at a time” to keep part of the facility open while equipment is installed.

The upgrades include new pinsetters, gutters, ball caps, lane lighting, and new graphics above the lanes. Zarek also described renovations underway in the billiard room — carpet replacement, painting, new ceiling fans and a “26 foot new mural” on a window — and said the Pavilion Grill (Lizard Acres) has new owners who are adjusting menus and hours to support league bowlers and evening patrons.

Committee finance presenter Cliff (staff member, finance presenter) gave fiscal-year results for July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025, saying the bowling operations produced higher revenue and favorable results to budget and prior year. “For the year, we finished a $111,000 favorable in operating revenue,” he said, and later summarized a “$127,000 favorable to budget” and about “$162,000 favorable to prior year.” Cliff attributed much of the gain to increased lane usage: the center recorded about 317,000 games from June to June, up from roughly 289,000 the prior year.

Zarek said staff intend to time heavy installation work for cooler weather, aiming for an April shutdown window rather than mid-summer. He flagged an unresolved logistics question about equipment storage during installation and noted league play is likely to start in June on roughly a 10-week schedule.

Committee members asked operational questions about signage, emergency access and the pub reopening. Zarek said signage improvements are in progress to make the pavilion easier for visitors and emergency responders to find. He also said the pub’s new operators “are willing to flex their hours to keep everything open,” and that the facility’s smaller, rebuilt band area limits stage footprint — a 12-by-12 band space — but does not preclude typical small bands.

The committee heard that resident-only programs are strong: a new Golden Rollers resident-only bowling league opened with 112 bowlers on 28 teams and a waiting list. Zarek noted the center recorded a marked increase in single-month lineage (play) even while remaining open during a two-week period this year when operations had been planned for closure.

Cliff and Zarek said some capital items (for example, pinsetters) had not yet been delivered; the committee did not take formal votes at this meeting on the pending installations. Zarek and finance staff said they would provide schedule details and logistics plans as orders and deliveries proceed.

Committee chair Jolene Pioskowski reminded members that committees make recommendations to the governing board and that final policy and capital approvals rest with the board.

The committee adjourned after about an hour; the next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 9 at 9 a.m.