Class-Action Lawsuit Accuses Bowlero Corp of Antitrust Violations in Bowling Industry

A class-action lawsuit was filed against Lucky Strike Entertainment on Wednesday in Washington federal court. The suit accuses the company of operating an illegal monopoly of bowling centers across the country. , which owns Lucky Strike, has driven the cost of bowling higher for millions of customers.

They allege the company has tripled the price to bowl at some alleys in recent years. m. m.

66 for the same service. m. on weekends. Lucky Strike centers often include bowling alleys, arcade games, pool tables and full bars. They open in the afternoon and close late at night, with exact hours depending on the location.

Bowlero is the world’s largest owner and operator of bowling centers. S. revenue and has a market cap of more than $900 million. The company has more than 350 locations across North America and owns a growing portfolio of outdoor amusement and water parks.

The lawsuit was filed by the legal firm Simonsen Sussman. Simonsen Sussman was formed in June by former Federal Trade Commission officials who worked under Lina Khan. The plaintiffs are seeking monetary compensation for an unspecified class of Lucky Strike customers and the unwinding of some of Bowlero’s acquisitions.

The suit states that the court has the power to preserve the century-long tradition of operating bowling centers in this country as a fair and honest line of business providing all Americans, regardless of age or socioeconomic status, the opportunity to gather and engage in a national pastime at fair prices.

Shares in Lucky Strike are down 15 percent so far this year. Lucky Strike reported earnings this week that missed expectations.

The company blamed its earnings miss on two major winter storms and a decline in consumer confidence and discretionary spending amid concerns around the Iran war. A spokesperson for Lucky Strike said the company is confident in our conduct and planning to defend itself against the case.

The spokesperson added that this lawsuit is a meritless attempt by a startup plaintiffs’ firm to generate headlines at the expense of a company that has spent more than three decades expanding opportunities for the sport of bowling and the communities we serve.

The same spokesperson said Lucky Strike Entertainment has a small share of a market with thousands of bowling operators and new competitors entering the space on a continual basis. com reported the full details of the complaint and the company’s response.