MAIN EVENT THINGS TO KNOW (FAQ)

Here's some details about the Main Event that may answer some of your questions about how it all works, as well as some helpful travel information.  If you can think of anything else that might be helpful to be on this page, let us know and we'll add it on!

Some things to take note of:

           The major change in the 2009 Main Event format is that the event is now open to ALL BOWLERS age 21 or under as of 8/29/09, regardless of their adult, youth, or any other status.  If you're under 22, and want to bowl in the best scholarship tournament around, come on and bowl!  This eligibility change is a necessary response to the USBC's lowering of their 'youth' age limit to 19 and under.  We want no part of that, thus our new rule (which we also use on our regular year-round JBT tour).  So.. if you have friends that think they can't bowl because they're 20 and thus too old... WRONG!  Please, help us spread the word that this is a scholarship event for ANYONE under 22!

            Also, if you enter at least the Singles event before July 15, we'll cut $20 off your entry fee, to $80 for scratch singles, and $60 for handicap singles.  That's a good incentive to enter early!

            Also, we've increased qualifying squads, and the time between some squads, to make sure that every squad starts on time, not just most squads.  We now begin at 3 PM on 12/24, and the last qualifying squad begins 12/27 at 2 PM.  You don't have to be there on 12/24- you can show up as late as that last squad- but of course, the earlier you come, the more events you can enter and re-enter, the more fun you can have, and the more you can potentially win.

        Other good stuff: 

1)   As in previous years, we will not pre-announce the exact lane conditions for the event.  We will tell you, however, that the goal is to have a very challenging and fair, but not impossible, lane condition for the Singles event, and a typically much easier ‘house’ condition for the Doubles and Team events.   Also, by overwhelming demand, we'll continue to use an even tougher, sport-compliant lane condition for the Open Scratch and Girls Scratch singles events.  Singles will of course have fresh oil at the start of every squad, and doubles will have fresh oil after no more than two squads (check the schedule for details).  The bottom line is that lane conditions are an inexact science, as most of you know, and we’ll strive for a fair, fun, and challenging condition for all—so bowl on what’s out there, heh heh!!!

2)   Texas Station is offering great lodging rates, but it's only a 200-room hotel, so we encourage you to book these rooms as soon as possible.  Rates are cheaper than last year: $30 for 12/24; $75 for 12/25; $60 for 12/26; and$30 for 12/27-28.  Not bad.  Call Texas Station at 1-800-654-8888 to book these rooms by Dec. 8 at the latest.  They’re under the group name “Junior Bowlers Tour” or "JBT".  Last year these rooms sold out very far in advance, so if you want to stay at Texas Station, book early!  If you don't get in there or don't want to stay there, Fiesta Rancho, in walking distance on the same side of the street, usually has slightly cheaper rooms.  If you wanna go on a room hunt, try the local casino's websites first, then try the Strip casinos if you want to spend a little more, then try websites like www.jbttravel.com, which I almost always use myself for my travel.

3)   In the Singles event, bowlers may re-enter a maximum of once, space permitting (first-time entrants will have priority up to 1 hour before squad time).  Bowlers will use the higher of their two qualifying scores.  Thus, there's never any harm in re-entering (except the potential wear-and-tear on your body).  I don't want to tell you how to spend your money, but you're probably spending a lot to be in Vegas, and this re-entry is an 'insurance' policy that's hard to beat.  In Doubles, you may re-enter with the same or different partners as much as you like, and may cash as often as you like.  Be sure when you make your schedule to not overlap with you or your partner's other singles or other Vegas events! 

4)   Space is limited at the Main Event.  We have space for approximately 1,000 singles entries, and 400 doubles entries.  If entries continue to increase at the rate they have been (we’re cautiously optimistic they will), we should be able to sell this event out.  So, what I’m telling you is, the only way to guarantee your second singles squad is to prepay for it when you sign up.  You can always withdraw from the re-entry on-site if you want (as long as you give us at least one hour notice- more is better).  Secondly, for the Doubles, while unlimited re-entries will be allowed, if everyone who enters singles also enters doubles, there won’t be room for ANY re-entries, so bowl with the partner you really want to bowl with first! 

5)    After the 2 PM singles squad on the 27^th, we’ll know our complete singles semifinalist field.  It will take us a while to crunch the numbers, however.  The 2 PM squad should finish around 6 PM, which will give us final cut numbers around 9 PM.  You'll also be able to call the bowling center to get the "cut scores".   Of course, instead of sitting around and getting nervous, get a team together and enter the 7 PM 4-person Team event!

6)   The Open Scratch Division first place scholarship remains guaranteed at a minimum $5,000!  Not bad, huh?  Part of the guaranteed scholarships come from a projected increase in total entries, and part of it comes from the increase in the scratch entry fee to $100 in 2006.  This came from feedback from the scratch bowlers themselves, who overwhelmingly said they’d be willing to pay a little bit more to play for a lot more.  We think you’ll agree $5,000 for first (not to mention $100 for 24^th) is a pretty amazing prize fund!

7)   There is still, to our knowledge, the other side tournaments going on at Sam’s Town and The Orleans, and between our Singles and Doubles, Team, and their events, there should be plenty of time to do everything, but it does take some coordinating.    You can bowl doubles first or singles first as well- we want to be as flexible as possible for you!  Please allow 2-3 hours to bowl your Doubles event, and 4-5 hours for your Singles event    The Orleans is about 10-15 minutes from Texas Station in good traffic, and Sam's Town is 15-20 minutes away, again in good traffic.  Stoplights can be infuriating in Vegas, so please allow enough travel time- we cannot delay squad times or entry deadlines, unfortunately.