PBA goes one-on-one with Kirk von Krueger
10/05/06
With the 2006-07 Denny's Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour season just weeks away, the PBA sat down with Kirk von Krueger, Director of the Denny's PBA Tour, to discuss changes that will take place during the upcoming season.
Question: The Denny's PBA Tour will have some changes to the standard event format this season. What are those changes?
Kirk von Krueger (KVK): There are not a whole lot of changes to the standard event format, but what is exciting is we are offering a round robin format for five select events. We think this format is something the fans want and the players want because it rewards good bowling.
It's a modified round robin format in that we cut to the top 32 and bowl 18 games of match play, but the schedule of who bowls who has been designed so that every match is relevant. Bowlers will carry over their pin total into each round and it rewards the bowler who bowled the best the entire week.
One of the other significant changes we're making not only to standard single elimination events, but also applying to the USBC Masters and the Denny's World Championship, is a redesigned point system. In these events, we now have a two-tiered system which places a greater emphasis on qualifying.
This system awards a set number of points depending on where you finish qualifying. After you determine your final finish in the event, you would add the bowlers' qualifying points to their final standing to get a final point total.
That way, if a bowler qualified first and was eliminated in the first Round of match play, they would still realize a tangible reward for bowling well in qualifying. Again, that will be applied only to our 10 single elimination match play events, the USBC Masters and the Denny's World Championship.
Q: How will the move to some round robin formats benefit the fans and the players?
KVK: We feel a variety in formats is appealing to fans and players. Fans like to watch bowling no matter what. Over the last few years we've built up significant equity in the single elimination format and have a fan base that really enjoys that format.
We also realize there are a lot of fans who enjoy the round robin format and we listened and acted accordingly by providing that in five events. The round robin format will leave more match play finalists in the building for a longer period of time and will provide a different test of skill for the players.
Q: Will it be difficult for players to go back and forth between the two formats?
KVK: I don't think so. Both formats are very straightforward. Round robin has been around so long that everyone understands it, and it comprises five events of the 15-standard-event schedule. The players also have round robin in the Dick Weber Open and the U.S. Open.
Q: How will this format affect the TV show?
KVK: Round robin formats will provide more variety and a different kind of excitement on the telecasts as five players qualify for the finals as opposed to four in the single elimination format. The round robin format will also feature a stepladder final. That's a good thing because the fans enjoy stepladder finals and the players like it too because it's an extra bowler on the telecast.
With the addition of the extra match, fans will be able to see more bowling which is why people tune into the show in the first place. Adding a fifth bowler to the show will allow fans to see more stars each week and gives us a chance to promote more of our players.
Q: Will there be any other changes to the TV show?
KVK: ESPN experimented with a three-person booth last season, and the experiment received a lot of positive feedback so they will permanently move to three announcers in 2006-07. Dave Ryan and Randy Pedersen will continue to provide the play-by-play and color commentary, respectively, but they will now be joined in the booth by Norm Duke when he does not qualify for the finals.
This gives the fans a chance to hear even more in-depth analysis from one of the greatest bowlers of all time, and with Norm bowling every week, he can give first-person insights specifically related to the week of competition.
Q: Will there be any changes to the Majors?
KVK: There are no expected changes for the U.S. Open or the USBC Masters. Those are traditional events that have been well supported from a fan and player standpoint, and they're very successful. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
With regards to the World Championship, we've seen this tournament's declining participation the last couple of years despite sporting the largest prize fund in professional bowling.
Many circumstances can affect the success of a tournament. The timing of the event, the geographical location and the length of the format may have all contributed to the decreasing numbers.
We also used the point list to seed exempt players into the Round of Super 16. The advantage that gave to the top four bowlers was overwhelming to the majority of our regional players. We've taken the step to eliminate that advantage completely. We will still have the Round of Super 16, but there will be no seeding from the PBA World Point Rankings.
We will take those four spots and return those spots to the event so that the top eight from qualifying will advance to the Super 16. This change makes it a level playing field for everyone. I strongly encourage all PBA members to come out and participate in the Denny's World Championship.
It's a great event and is part of your entitlement as a member. You don't have to be a Denny's PBA Tour exempt bowler to participate.
Another change we're making to one of our Major events involves moving the preliminary match play rounds for the PBA Tournament of Champions out of the Mohegan Sun Arena and into Bradley Bowl in Windsor Locks.
This is a positive move because it allows more time to conduct the Rounds of 32 and 16, and that translates to moving all of the match play rounds from best-of-five to best-of-seven. Best of seven matches are also a much better test of a players' skill in a single elimination format.
Those best-of-five matches seem to end way too quickly. The Round of 8 will still be conducted at the Mohegan Sun Arena on Saturday and the championship round will be in the arena on Sunday.
Q: How will the recent changes to the prize fund affect non-exempt bowlers?
KVK: The changes in the prize fund are only related to the Denny's PBA Tour. They do not affect the Denny's PBA Tour Qualifying Round (TQR), the PBA Regional Tour or the PBA Senior Tour.
With respect to the TQR, the change only will affect bowlers who qualify for the standard event as last cash was reduced slightly to $1,800 from $2,000 last season. We still believe the TQR is the best deal in bowling if you want to participate on the Denny's PBA Tour.
The guarantee is a minimum of $1,800 for anyone advancing out of the Qualifying Round, and you'll find this season more often than not the Commissioner's Exemption will not be awarded and will therefore end up as an added spot to the TQR. This equates to five member spots and an amateur spot instead of four members and an amateur.
The rest of the base prize fund for the TQR remains the same. After the bowlers who advance from the TQR, the prize fund remains the same as it graduates down to a one-in-four ratio.
Prize fund cuts did not take place at all with respects to the PBA Regional Tour or the PBA Senior Tour.
PBA Interview
Director of Denny's PBA Tour discusses changes for 2006-07 season
With the 2006-07 Denny's Professional Bowlers Association (PBA) Tour season just weeks away, the PBA sat down with Kirk von Krueger, Director of the Denny's PBA Tour, to discuss changes that will take place during the upcoming season. Question: The Denny's PBA Tour will have some changes to the standard event format this season. What are those changes?
Kirk von Krueger (KVK): There are not a whole lot of changes to the standard event format, but what is exciting is we are offering a round robin format for five select events. We think this format is something the fans want and the players want because it rewards good bowling.
It's a modified round robin format in that we cut to the top 32 and bowl 18 games of match play, but the schedule of who bowls who has been designed so that every match is relevant. Bowlers will carry over their pin total into each round and it rewards the bowler who bowled the best the entire week.
One of the other significant changes we're making not only to standard single elimination events, but also applying to the USBC Masters and the Denny's World Championship, is a redesigned point system. In these events, we now have a two-tiered system which places a greater emphasis on qualifying.
This system awards a set number of points depending on where you finish qualifying. After you determine your final finish in the event, you would add the bowlers' qualifying points to their final standing to get a final point total.
That way, if a bowler qualified first and was eliminated in the first Round of match play, they would still realize a tangible reward for bowling well in qualifying. Again, that will be applied only to our 10 single elimination match play events, the USBC Masters and the Denny's World Championship.
Q: How will the move to some round robin formats benefit the fans and the players?
KVK: We feel a variety in formats is appealing to fans and players. Fans like to watch bowling no matter what. Over the last few years we've built up significant equity in the single elimination format and have a fan base that really enjoys that format.
We also realize there are a lot of fans who enjoy the round robin format and we listened and acted accordingly by providing that in five events. The round robin format will leave more match play finalists in the building for a longer period of time and will provide a different test of skill for the players.
Q: Will it be difficult for players to go back and forth between the two formats?
KVK: I don't think so. Both formats are very straightforward. Round robin has been around so long that everyone understands it, and it comprises five events of the 15-standard-event schedule. The players also have round robin in the Dick Weber Open and the U.S. Open.
Q: How will this format affect the TV show?
KVK: Round robin formats will provide more variety and a different kind of excitement on the telecasts as five players qualify for the finals as opposed to four in the single elimination format. The round robin format will also feature a stepladder final. That's a good thing because the fans enjoy stepladder finals and the players like it too because it's an extra bowler on the telecast.
With the addition of the extra match, fans will be able to see more bowling which is why people tune into the show in the first place. Adding a fifth bowler to the show will allow fans to see more stars each week and gives us a chance to promote more of our players.
Q: Will there be any other changes to the TV show?
KVK: ESPN experimented with a three-person booth last season, and the experiment received a lot of positive feedback so they will permanently move to three announcers in 2006-07. Dave Ryan and Randy Pedersen will continue to provide the play-by-play and color commentary, respectively, but they will now be joined in the booth by Norm Duke when he does not qualify for the finals.
This gives the fans a chance to hear even more in-depth analysis from one of the greatest bowlers of all time, and with Norm bowling every week, he can give first-person insights specifically related to the week of competition.
Q: Will there be any changes to the Majors?
KVK: There are no expected changes for the U.S. Open or the USBC Masters. Those are traditional events that have been well supported from a fan and player standpoint, and they're very successful. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
With regards to the World Championship, we've seen this tournament's declining participation the last couple of years despite sporting the largest prize fund in professional bowling.
Many circumstances can affect the success of a tournament. The timing of the event, the geographical location and the length of the format may have all contributed to the decreasing numbers.
We also used the point list to seed exempt players into the Round of Super 16. The advantage that gave to the top four bowlers was overwhelming to the majority of our regional players. We've taken the step to eliminate that advantage completely. We will still have the Round of Super 16, but there will be no seeding from the PBA World Point Rankings.
We will take those four spots and return those spots to the event so that the top eight from qualifying will advance to the Super 16. This change makes it a level playing field for everyone. I strongly encourage all PBA members to come out and participate in the Denny's World Championship.
It's a great event and is part of your entitlement as a member. You don't have to be a Denny's PBA Tour exempt bowler to participate.
Another change we're making to one of our Major events involves moving the preliminary match play rounds for the PBA Tournament of Champions out of the Mohegan Sun Arena and into Bradley Bowl in Windsor Locks.
This is a positive move because it allows more time to conduct the Rounds of 32 and 16, and that translates to moving all of the match play rounds from best-of-five to best-of-seven. Best of seven matches are also a much better test of a players' skill in a single elimination format.
Those best-of-five matches seem to end way too quickly. The Round of 8 will still be conducted at the Mohegan Sun Arena on Saturday and the championship round will be in the arena on Sunday.
Q: How will the recent changes to the prize fund affect non-exempt bowlers?
KVK: The changes in the prize fund are only related to the Denny's PBA Tour. They do not affect the Denny's PBA Tour Qualifying Round (TQR), the PBA Regional Tour or the PBA Senior Tour.
With respect to the TQR, the change only will affect bowlers who qualify for the standard event as last cash was reduced slightly to $1,800 from $2,000 last season. We still believe the TQR is the best deal in bowling if you want to participate on the Denny's PBA Tour.
The guarantee is a minimum of $1,800 for anyone advancing out of the Qualifying Round, and you'll find this season more often than not the Commissioner's Exemption will not be awarded and will therefore end up as an added spot to the TQR. This equates to five member spots and an amateur spot instead of four members and an amateur.
The rest of the base prize fund for the TQR remains the same. After the bowlers who advance from the TQR, the prize fund remains the same as it graduates down to a one-in-four ratio.
Prize fund cuts did not take place at all with respects to the PBA Regional Tour or the PBA Senior Tour.