By Briana Harris / Staff Writer

PELHAM – Oak Mountain Lanes will likely host the Alabama State High School Bowling Championships for the second year in a row, which could be an economic boost for Pelham.

The event was held in Pelham in January and Oak Mountain Lanes marketing representative Robert Fox said there was an influx of business to local hotels and restaurants.

Fox said the championship games brought 32 high school bowling teams to Pelham earlier this year. He said more than 300 admission tickets were sold each day of the two-day competition and more than 100 hotel rooms were booked throughout Pelham.

In April 2015 the city approved a resolution to provide up to $4,000 in financial support and police and emergency medical services for the event. The city also provided bleachers and shuttle transport for patrons.

“We’re expecting next year’s to be even bigger because of the addition of an individual bowling competition,” Fox said. “With an additional competition, they might have to stay an extra night.”

Fox addressed the Pelham City Council at their work session Monday, Aug. 1, to again ask for the council’s support to host the event in late January 2017. Oak Mountain Lanes was asked to host the competition in 2018, also.

As the host, the bowling alley has to pay $3,000 in fees to the Alabama High School Athletic Association.

“What entices us to support these types of events is when businesses call to thank us for bringing an event to the city,” Waters said. “They tell us about how many patrons they had because of an event, so that’s why we’re always trying to bring new things to the city.”

Waters said the council will likely address Fox’s request for support at the next meeting of the Pelham City Council, Monday, Aug. 15.