AKRON — Station 300 president Mike Monroe was on hand for Friday’s doubles sweeper of the Akron Open and discussed some of the changes to the former Stonehedge that have been completed so far.
“The key thing is we wanted to change the look,” Monroe said, “and we have done a lot of work on the back end. That’s what the bowlers really care about.”
Changes include finishing off the second level of the bar area, removing the pinball machines and adding seating with more TVs to come; painting of the entire center and flipping the masking units for a brighter appearance; work on the roof; removal of the vines and greenery that covered the outside walls of the center; and emptying out the game room temporarily, with new units expected to be in Oct. 1.
Devon Stewart, who had served as manager of the Florida State University student center, will join the staff Sept. 12 as general manager along with Ben Boyd, who currently is on staff. Former manager Denise Reitz was let go.
“League formations have gone well as has our open play,” said Monroe.
As for installation of new lane surfaces and automatic scoring, Monroe said those dates remain undetermined.
“We’re still not sure if we want to put the lanes in first and wait on the scoring or do both at the same time. There are scheduling issues so we are waiting to hear,” Monroe said of the contractor, Qubica-AMF.
Station 300 took over the former Stonehedge in July from previous owner Fred Borden.
HIGH SCHOOL MOVES
Also with the changes at Station 300 Akron, OHSAA Northeast District high school bowling tournaments director Ray Stalnaker has decided to move the two 2024 sectional events originally set for that center.
The Division I Summit sectional will be held at Spins Bowl Akron, and the Division II Tri-County sectional (which includes Summit, Stark and Portage) will return to Spins Bowl Kent in 2024.
The Division I and II district events are set for Rebman Recreation in Lorain. The Division I Stark County sectional will remain at Eastbury Bowling Center in Canton.
“We just felt the new ownership was taking things in the wrong direction,” Stalnaker said Friday.
In addition, regular-season high school tournaments operated by Stalnaker — the Christmas Holiday Tournament Dec. 26-27, the Martin Luther King Day tournament Jan. 15 and Super Baker Bash — also will all be moved to Spins Bowl Akron.
Station 300 Akron still remains home to five area high school bowling programs. Green will be returning to Apollo 3 (formerly Turkeyfoot) this season.
NOTEBOOK Friday’s doubles sweeper field included 110 teams, up from 88 a year ago. Teams bowled four games to determine the winner. … Both shifts for the Akron Open singles, set at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday, have 132 bowlers in each. … Tristan Stewart, one of the new owners of Apollo 3 (formerly Turkeyfoot) said a planned opening Labor Day weekend will be delayed due to a water pipe issue. “We should be ready to go in a couple of weeks,” he added.