{"id":9019,"date":"2011-08-11T17:21:04","date_gmt":"2011-08-11T22:21:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.howderfamily.com\/blog\/?p=9019"},"modified":"2022-05-09T07:20:57","modified_gmt":"2022-05-09T12:20:57","slug":"sports-facilities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.howderfamily.com\/blog\/sports-facilities\/","title":{"rendered":"Sports Facilities I Never Imagined"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

My mind fixates on patterns and I\u2019ve noticed a number of unusual sport coincidences in recent days. It started with an acquaintance who mentioned her disinterest in Reno, Nevada. She simply didn\u2019t want to go back there again this year. Of course I knew she didn’t gamble. So I wondered why she would go to Reno in the first place?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bowling<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Well, she explained, she participates in bowling tournaments throughout the United States. The National Bowling Stadium puts Reno at the epicenter of that universe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"natl<\/a>
The National Bowling Stadium<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

National Bowling Stadium? There\u2019s a stadium<\/em> for bowling? Indeed, and it\u2019s quite impressive: 78 lanes; 363,000 square feet; space for 1,100 spectators and a giant geodesic dome creating a recognizable landmark throughout the city (map<\/a>). The Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Bowling is kind of a big deal in Reno. While most cities have bowling centers, we have a stadium. That’s right – a stadium. The only facility of its kind in the world, the National Bowling Stadium (referred to as the \u2018Taj Mahal of Tenpins\u2019 by The Los Angeles Times) is dedicated to the classic sport of bowling. Living up to its name, the Stadium was elegantly designed with the tournament bowler in mind.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

My favorite facts (from a news article<\/a>; unfortunately no longer available online):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  • The original stadium design featured 80 lanes. They reduced it to 78 lanes due to an architectural error. Nonetheless, they still call the pro shop “Lane 81.”<\/li>
  • Reno has edged-out Buffalo and Toledo for the most U.S. Bowling Congress open championships held there. No, I don\u2019t know why that fascinates me. I guess it’s because it seems like a weird list.<\/li>
  • They do not allow local bowling. So you can’t just walk in and play a few frames, but…<\/li>
  • It is available for private parties. Do I even know 1,100 people I could invite?<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
    \n\n\n\n

    Cricket<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Then I stumbled upon Cricket as I researched Blank-to-Blank<\/a>, when I uncovered a reference to the Hobson Cricket Grounds in Climax, NC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n