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🟡 FORMERLY PE OWNED
Bowlero
bowling · New York, NY
PE Firm
Atairos
Year Acquired
2017
“Bought 351 bowling alleys, fired 287 managers, then got hit with 73 age discrimination complaints.”
What Happened
- •Atairos bought the combined Bowlmor/AMF company for $1 billion+ in 2017 after AMF's second bankruptcy
- •Fired 287 managers from 351 centers between 2013-2015; survivors told EEOC they were pressured to replace staff 'because they were too old'
- •EEOC found 'reasonable cause' of systemic age discrimination involving 73+ former employees
- •Former employees filed lawsuits seeking $80 million+ in damages after EEOC closed its case in 2024
The Damage Done
- ▸Implemented Uber-style surge pricing — one Northern California family reported a few hours of bowling costing over $400
- â–¸Company boasted on a 2022 earnings call: 'We're raising price on everything'
- â–¸When Bowlero acquired a Milwaukee bowling alley, it 'immediately cancelled all janitorial contracts'
- ▸With 350+ centers (8x the nearest competitor), league bowlers report 'you're just gonna have to put up with how they do things' — no alternatives left in many markets