Seattle lawsuit claims Lucky Strike made bowling pricier and worse

Key Points:

• A Seattle bowler, Benjamin Doehr, is leading a proposed class-action lawsuit against Lucky Strike Entertainment (formerly Bowlero), accusing the company of consolidating bowling centers nationwide, raising prices, and degrading the bowling experience.
• The lawsuit alleges Bowlero expanded from 6 centers in 2012 to nearly 350 in 2026 through acquisitions, including local Seattle centers Garage Billiards & Bowl and Lucky Strike Bellevue, leading to higher costs and reduced service quality.
• Plaintiffs claim Bowlero increased prices for bowling, food, drinks, and league fees, canceled league events for corporate bookings, and worsened lane maintenance and equipment quality, such as using string pins instead of traditional ones.
• The suit argues Bowlero leveraged its market power to secure favorable supplier terms, disadvantaging smaller competitors and causing price hikes even at independent bowling centers.
• The plaintiffs seek damages, restitution, and court orders to reverse Bowlero’s acquisitions, block future mergers, and prevent anti-competitive supplier agreements, citing violations of federal and state antitrust laws.