Bowls & Blasters in Thornhill, Ontario already had a strong bowling setup with 12 Funk tenpin lanes. This year, the venue expanded again by adding six duckpin lanes inside its new arcade area.
That brings the center to 18 Funk lanes in total, with tenpin and duckpin bowling operating side by side. The new duckpin area also includes Funk Nexus scoring, on-lane projection, and an LED video wall, giving the arcade section a different kind of energy without taking away from the traditional bowling experience elsewhere in the building.
For a venue built around social gaming, the mix makes a lot of sense. Guests can choose the style of bowling they want, move between activities, and spend more of their visit in one location.
Adding Duckpin to an Established Tenpin Center
When Bowls & Blasters opened last year, Funk supplied 12 brand-new tenpin lanes for the center.
The latest phase builds on that original installation rather than replacing or reworking it. Six duckpin lanes were added in the new arcade area, bringing another version of bowling into the same venue.
That gives guests two different ways to play. Tenpin offers the full traditional game, while duckpin gives groups a faster, more compact option that fits well alongside arcade games and other casual activities.
For operators, that kind of variety can help a venue appeal to people who may want different things from the same visit.
Nexus Scoring and Projection Bring More Into the Game
The six new duckpin lanes use Funk Nexus scoring with on-lane projection.
Instead of bowling on a plain lane surface, guests can play through projected graphics and interactive game elements that change throughout the session. The scoring system also gives operators access to different game modes, making the duckpin area feel closer to an arcade attraction than a standard bowling setup.
That works especially well in the new arcade area, where guests are already moving between games and looking for something they can pick up quickly.
The LED video wall adds another visual element to the space and helps tie the bowling area into the rest of the arcade.
A Better Fit for Social Gaming
Social gaming venues work best when groups have options.
Some guests may want to bowl a full tenpin game. Others may be more interested in a quick duckpin round between arcade games. Larger groups can split up and still stay in the same venue.
Bowls & Blasters can now support all of those use cases with one bowling setup.
The center has 12 tenpin lanes for traditional play and six duckpin lanes geared toward shorter, more casual sessions. Nexus scoring and projection give the duckpin side more variety, while the tenpin lanes remain familiar for guests who want the classic game.
That mix gives the venue more flexibility without making the experience complicated.
One location, 18 Funk Lanes
With the latest expansion complete, Bowls & Blasters now has 18 Funk Bowling lanes under one roof.
The installation includes:
- 12 tenpin lanes
- 6 duckpin lanes
- Funk Nexus scoring
- On-lane projection
- LED video wall technology
Having both bowling formats in the same center gives Bowls & Blasters room to serve different types of guests throughout the week, whether they are coming in for a traditional bowling session, a family outing, or a night built around social gaming. That approach lines up with broader trends in competitive social gaming, where multi-activity venues are continuing to expand as guests look for more variety during a single visit.
Building on a Project That Was Already Working
One of the best parts of this project is that the new duckpin installation builds directly on the 12-lane tenpin center Funk completed the year before.
Bowls & Blasters did not have to choose between traditional bowling and newer social gaming formats. The center now has both, each in a part of the venue where it makes sense.
That kind of flexibility is becoming more useful as bowling centers add arcades, food and beverage, group events, and other activities around the lanes. A center can keep the traditional game at its core while still giving guests something different to try.
For Funk, the Bowls & Blasters expansion is another example of how tenpin, duckpin, scoring, projection, and video technology can work together in the same location without losing the character of the original bowling center.
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