Union Rack and Roll reopening with upgraded pinspotters

Union Rack and Roll in Purdue Memorial Union is reopening Tuesday (July 5) with new, superior bowling pinspotters after an eight-week project.

The outcome will be a more enjoyable bowling environment for everyone, says Angelica McLean, program advisor in PMU's Programs and Recreation Department with oversight of Union Rack and Roll.

"Beginning in May, we began a major upgrade to our pinspotters with the QubicaAMF XLi Edge," McLean says. "This upgrade will improve the overall maintenance of our machines, reduce lane issues and lane calls, provide a safer environment for our student employees, and allow our employees to cater to our customers even more than before. We received new electrical components, motors, and mechanical parts with the upgrade as well."

The most noticeable aspect for customers will be fewer stoppages for machine adjustments. Because employees will be less needed for that task, and because of design features of the new machines, employees will be safer and more able to devote time to the customers.

Summer hours at Union Rack and Roll are noon to midnight daily. The center is downstairs from the ground level at the east (Grant Street) end of PMU. A number of special offers are available, McLean says:

* July 5-8: Free sweet treats for those visiting the center and asking about the equipment upgrade.

* Thrifty Thursday: Every Thursday of the summer, 9 p.m.-midnight, it's $1 bowling, $1 shoe rental and half-price billiards.

* Kids Bowl Free program: For age 15 and under. Sign up at www.kidsbowlfree.com and receive two free games per day July 5 through Aug. 31. This offer does not include shoe rental, for which the public rate is $2.75.

For additional fun, the center is still taking birthday party reservations throughout the summer. To inquire, call 49-48990 or email unionrc@purdue.edu. The center has billiards, other games and concessions in addition to bowling.

About the pinspotters: The new equipment is called the QubicaAMF Xli Edge. Those familiar with bowling history may know that AMF is a U.S. company that introduced automatic pinspotting, mostly in the 1950s. Qubica, an Italian company, has been a leader in scoring software and other innovations. The two companies merged in 2005 with world headquarters in Mechanicsville, Virginia. QubicaAMF handled the installation at Purdue.