Brunswick's Bowling Empire

Brunswick Corporation has been a key player in the bowling industry for over a century. In 2014, Brunswick announced its intention to exit the bowling business, selling its bowling centre business to Bowlmor AMF (now Bowlero Corporation) for $270 million. The following year, Brunswick completed its departure from the industry by selling its bowling equipment and products division to BlueArc Capital Management, a private investment firm. Despite this, Brunswick's legacy in bowling continues, with BlueArc still producing bowling balls under the Brunswick and DV8 brand names.

Brunswick's bowling products division was sold to BlueArc Capital Management in 2015

Brunswick Corporation, formerly known as the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, is an American company that has been manufacturing and marketing a wide variety of products since 1845. The company was founded by John Moses Brunswick, who built the business by making products for games like billiards and bowling.

In 2015, Brunswick Corporation sold its bowling equipment and products division to BlueArc Capital Management, a private investment firm based in Atlanta, Georgia. This sale marked the completion of Brunswick's exit from the bowling business, which it had announced in July 2014.

BlueArc Capital Management acquired Brunswick Bowling Products, including its worldwide market leadership in bowling products. Brunswick's bowling division was based in Muskegon, Michigan, with manufacturing operations in Hungary and Mexico. BlueArc completed the acquisition with investments from Gladstone Investment Corporation and Capitala Finance Corp.

The acquisition of Brunswick Bowling Products by BlueArc Capital Management was a strategic fit for both companies. BlueArc focuses on investing in well-established, market-leading companies and helping them innovate and grow. Brunswick, with its long history of quality products and innovation in the bowling industry, presented an attractive opportunity for BlueArc to associate with a leading brand and support its growth.

The sale of Brunswick's bowling division to BlueArc ensured the continuation of the Brunswick name and its reputation for quality in the bowling industry. BlueArc continues to produce bowling balls and other bowling equipment, leveraging the legacy of Brunswick to maintain its market position.

BlueArc continues to produce bowling balls under the Brunswick and DV8 brand names

Brunswick Corporation has played a significant role in the history of bowling, with its involvement in the sport dating back to the 1880s. The company began manufacturing bowling equipment, including wooden lanes, bowling balls, and pins, in the late 19th century. Over the years, Brunswick expanded its bowling business, opening the first bowling center in Moscow in 1976 and introducing innovations such as the automatic pinsetter and scorer.

However, in 2014, Brunswick announced its intention to exit the bowling business and sold its bowling center operations to Bowlmor AMF (now known as Bowlero Corporation). The following year, in 2015, Brunswick completed its departure from the bowling industry by selling its bowling equipment and products division to BlueArc Capital Management, a private investment firm based in Atlanta, Georgia.

BlueArc Capital Management has continued to produce bowling balls under the Brunswick and DV8 brand names. The company also acquired Ebonite International and its bowling product brands in 2019, further expanding its presence in the bowling industry.

The sale of Brunswick's bowling equipment and products division to BlueArc Capital Management marked the end of the company's direct involvement in the bowling industry. However, the Brunswick name continues to be associated with bowling through BlueArc's use of the brand for its bowling ball products.

BlueArc's acquisition of Brunswick's bowling equipment and products division included investments from Gladstone Investment Corporation and Capitala Finance Corp. The sale price was not disclosed, but BlueArc's managing partner, Michael Roher, expressed confidence in the investment, stating that they focus on investing in well-established, market-leading companies and helping them innovate and grow.

Brunswick's bowling centre business was sold to Bowlmor AMF (now Bowlero Corporation) in 2014

The sale of the bowling centre business was part of a strategic shift by Brunswick to focus on its core marine and fitness businesses, which accounted for 92% of the company's net revenues in 2013. The bowling centres were rebranded as Bowlero or AMF locations by 2020.

Brunswick's exit from the bowling business was completed in May 2015 with the sale of its bowling equipment and products division to BlueArc Capital Management, an Atlanta-based private investment firm. BlueArc continues to produce bowling balls under the Brunswick and DV8 brand names.

Brunswick has a long history in the bowling industry, dating back to the 1880s when it began manufacturing bowling equipment and products. The company played a significant role in the global growth of bowling and introduced innovations such as the automatic pinsetter and scorer.

Brunswick's bowling operations were based in Muskegon, Michigan

Brunswick Bowling Products LLC, based in Muskegon, Michigan, has been a world leader in bowling equipment and new bowling centre development for over a century. The company offers a full line of comprehensive products, services, technology, and expertise to support new business development projects from day one. With a package that includes lane maintenance, sync scoring and management systems, bowling lanes, and entertainment centres, Brunswick has helped over half of all new bowling centres in more than 100 countries succeed.

The history of Brunswick in Muskegon dates back to 1906 when the company moved its bowling and billiards manufacturing operations to the city, bringing 87 employees with them. The company was lured to Muskegon through the community's famed Industrial Fund, which offered $62,000 towards the construction of a new plant in exchange for the promise of industrial jobs. Muskegon was particularly keen to attract new industries as it sought to replace the wealth lost from the lumbering industry, which had left West Michigan by the turn of the century.

In Muskegon, Brunswick opened a large manufacturing plant that became the cornerstone of the firm's operations. This plant produced products such as the $20 Mineralite (hard rubber) bowling ball and grew to over one million square feet by the 1940s. During World War II, the company's bowling equipment was in high demand, with more than 3,000 bowling lanes installed at military bases by 1945.

While Brunswick's bowling operations have expanded globally, the company has maintained a significant presence in Muskegon. The city is home to Brunswick's state-of-the-art research and development facilities, as well as its worldwide management, marketing, and warehousing operations. Despite some manufacturing operations moving overseas, Brunswick continues to be a major employer in Muskegon, with around 175 employees as of 2013.

Today, Brunswick is a global corporation with its headquarters in Lake Forest, Illinois. The company has diversified its brands beyond bowling and billiards to include fitness equipment, marine engines, and recreational boats. However, its bowling operations remain a core part of its business, with Brunswick continuing to innovate and support the growth of the bowling industry worldwide.

Brunswick's bowling business began in the 1880s

In the late 19th century, taverns began to install bowling lanes, and Brunswick was quick to seize this opportunity by supplying the necessary equipment. Moses Bensinger, who was directing the company's day-to-day operations, had a vision for modern bowling and actively promoted it as a participatory sport. This initiative laid the foundation for Brunswick's future success in the bowling industry.

In 1906, Bensinger reinforced this success by opening a large manufacturing plant in Muskegon, Michigan. This plant became the cornerstone of the company's operations, producing innovative products such as the $20 Mineralite (hard rubber) bowling ball. By the 1940s, the plant had expanded to over one million square feet. During World War II, the company's bowling equipment was in high demand, with more than 3,000 bowling lanes installed at military bases by 1945.

While Brunswick's early bowling business focused on manufacturing equipment, the company also played a pivotal role in the evolution of bowling centres. In the mid-1960s, Brunswick began directly operating bowling centres, which offered a range of amenities beyond bowling, including restaurants, taverns, and billiards. This expansion solidified Brunswick's position as a leader in the bowling industry, shaping both the sport and the experience around it.

By the late 1950s, Brunswick's aggressive expansion strategy, credit policies, and advertising campaigns had made bowling centres extremely popular. However, by the mid-1960s, over-expansion led to a period of decline, and the company was forced to close some of its factories and bowling centres in Europe. Despite these setbacks, Brunswick continued to innovate, introducing the automatic scorer in 1967 and acquiring new companies to strengthen its position in the bowling industry.

Frequently asked questions