Zone Bowling
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment, Bowling |
| Predecessor | AMF Bowling Australia |
| Founded | 1959 (as AMF Bowling Australia) |
Area served | Australia, New Zealand |
| Products | Ten-pin bowling venues |
| Owner | The Entertainment and Education Group (TEEG) |
| Parent | The Entertainment and Education Group (TEEG) |
Zone Bowling comprises a network of ten-pin bowling venues situated throughout Australia and New Zealand, managed and owned by The Entertainment and Education Group (TEEG). The brand encompasses 34 establishments across Australia alongside three locations in New Zealand.
History
Initially operating under the name AMF Bowling Australia, it served as the Australian branch of American Machine and Foundry's (AMF) bowling enterprise. AMF began producing pinspotting machines within Australia in 1959 to leverage the sport’s growing appeal. By 1964, the country featured approximately 1,600 bowling lanes, although enthusiasm for the activity was starting to decline.
In 1985, a group of private investors based in Richmond, Virginia acquired AMF’s bowling division, forming AMF Bowling Companies, Inc. To stimulate market growth, the company purchased two significant Australian bowling chains, increasing its footprint from 16 centers in 1985 to more than 40 by 2004.
As part of a strategic refocus on its American operations, AMF Bowling Worldwide divested its Australian division in February 2005, selling it to Macquarie Leisure Trust (which later became Ardent Leisure).
In December 2017, TEEG purchased Ardent Leisure’s bowling and entertainment segment for $160 million. This acquisition was combined with TEEG’s Timezone arcade business to establish a consolidated entertainment entity incorporating Timezone, AMF, Kingpin, and Playtime brands. Following this merger, all AMF bowling venues across Australia were rebranded under the Zone Bowling name.
By February 2019, TEEG introduced venues featuring both Zone Bowling and Timezone branding simultaneously, beginning with the site at Westfield Garden City. Currently, the company operates 15 such hybrid locations that provide both bowling and arcade gaming experiences.