Orlando Goes Bowling for Dollars

In case the second-largest convention center in the United States, multiple theme parks and tens of thousands of new hotel rooms coming online aren't enough to draw somebody to Orlando, there's always bowling.

In an agreement between the U.S. Bowling Congress and Osceola County, Florida, the sports group has agreed to hold national bowling tournaments in the area two out of every three years from 2011 through 2029. They'll take place in a 160,000 square foot bowling alley with at least 100 lanes and stadium-style seating built on land provided by Disney's Wide World of Sports.

“We are excited to play a role in making this dream come true,” said Ken Potrock, senior vice president of Disney Sports Enterprises.

Osceola County officials estimated that the bowling tournaments, which are held in stages over 20 weeks, will generate as many as 59,000 room nights each year they're held and have $750 million in economic impact over the course of the 18-year deal.

“The acquisition of this business is a watershed event for Osceola County,” said Central Florida Sports Commission President John Saboor.

The first Open Championship, the premiere national tournament for adult men, will take place in 2011 and every third year after that. The Women's Championship, the top national bowling event for women, will be held every third year beginning in 2013.

Saboor would not identify the name of the private-sector developer who will build and operate the facility.

The yet-to-be-named bowling facility, about 13 miles from the Orange County Convention Center, will be part of the 220-acre Disney sports park that already includes a basketball arena and the spring-training home of the Atlanta Braves.

Four other cities – Wichita, Kan.; Tulsa, Okla.; Corpus Christi, Texas; and Reno, Nev. – also bid on the bowling facility.