Billiard and Bowling Institute of America

What Billiard and Bowling Institute of America does

The Billiard and Bowling Institute of America (BBIA) is a U.S.-based nonprofit trade association that serves manufacturing and distribution companies in the billiard and bowling industries. Founded formally in 2013 (with its first convention held in 1947 in Montreal), BBIA is headquartered at the International Bowling Campus in Arlington, Texas, co-located with the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America. Its stated mission is to facilitate communication channels between manufacturers and distributors across the billiard and bowling verticals, primarily serving a membership roster that spans North America and Europe, including companies ranging from $4M to over $400M in annual sales.

BBIA's core products are an annual industry convention, the BBIA Consumer Bowling Catalog (a 444-page print publication delivered each September to bowling retailers, now also available as an online desktop catalog and mobile app across iOS and Android), and the Industry Service Award program, which has recognized industry contributors annually since 1954. The technology footprint is modest: a WordPress-based website, a digital flipbook catalog platform, and a mobile catalog app — all positioned as member benefit and consumer product-discovery tools rather than proprietary platforms.

The organization generates revenue primarily through membership dues (undisclosed pricing) and annual convention registration and sponsorship. Distribution is delivered through member-only events, the annual catalog distributed to bowling retailers by Labor Day, and the mobile/desktop catalog platforms reaching end consumers. Associate-member relationships with USBC, BPAA, BCA, IBPSIA, and the International Bowling Museum & Hall of Fame underscore BBIA's role as a coordinating body within the broader bowling industry's institutional structure.

Name

Billiard and Bowling Institute of America

Legal name

Billiard and Bowling International Association

Website

https://billiardandbowling.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Billiard and Bowling Institute of America is a U.S. nonprofit trade association serving bowling and billiard equipment manufacturers and distributors through an annual convention, consumer bowling catalog, mobile app, and the Industry Service Award program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Arlington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: BBIA generates revenue through membership fees from executives of top companies in the billiard and bowling industries. Members range from companies with annual sales from $4 million to more than $400 million.
2. Annual Convention Events: The organization hosts annual conventions where industry professionals gather for networking, manufacturer-distributor meetings, and educational sessions.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BBIA operates as a nonprofit trade association for the billiard and bowling industries, providing communication channels between manufacturing and distribution companies. Its offerings include an annual consumer bowling catalog (print and online), a mobile catalog app, an annual convention with manufacturer-distributor one-on-one meetings, and the Industry Service Award program recognizing industry leaders.

Product overview

BBIA operates as a trade association serving the billiard and bowling industries. Its core product offerings center around the BBIA Bowling Catalog (available as an annual print edition, online desktop catalog, and mobile app) which showcases consumer bowling products from member manufacturers. The organization also hosts an annual convention that facilitates networking between distributors and manufacturers, and administers the Industry Service Award program recognizing outstanding contributions to the industry. BBIA membership includes companies ranging from $4 million to over $400 million in annual sales that collectively market to more than five million consumers in bowling and billiards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BBIA Bowling Catalog An annual consumer bowling catalog showcasing the newest bowling products from BBIA member manufacturers. The print edition is delivered annually to bowling retailers by Labor Day, with a complementary online desktop catalog for year-round product viewing.
• BBIA Mobile App A mobile application providing consumers access to BBIA's bowling catalog on mobile devices, complementing the print catalog and online desktop catalog for year-round product viewing.
• BBIA Annual Convention Annual industry convention serving as a gathering place where distributors and manufacturers connect, discuss industry issues, and explore ways to grow the sport. Features manufacturer and distributor one-on-one meetings, breakout sessions, golf outings, and the Industry Service Award dinner.
• BBIA Industry Service Award (ISA) An annual award presented to individuals who promote and play a role in growing the bowling and/or billiard industries worldwide, recognizing industry leaders' contributions.
• BBIA Trade Shows and Events Calendar A comprehensive event calendar facilitating trade show participation and networking across member distributor trade shows, training classes, and coaching education events throughout the year.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5 million+ consumers reached through member companies
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Billiard Congress of AmericacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBCA is listed as an Associate Member of BBIA. Contact: Shane Tyree, 500 Discovery Pkwy #125, Superior, CO 80027.
• BPAA (Bowling Proprietors' Association of America)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBPAA is an Associate Member of BBIA and co-locates with BBIA at the International Bowling Campus in Arlington, TX. BBIA President Brian Graham serves as VP of Consumer Products for Brunswick Bowling Products and has worked with BPAA on convention site selection.
• United States Bowling CongresscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUSBC is an Associate Member of BBIA. Contact: Chad Murphy, Arlington, TX 76011. USBC acquired publications from Luby Publishing Inc.
• Luby Publishing Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublisher of the BBIA Consumer Bowling Catalog (444 pages annually). Contact: Keith Hamilton. Publications were sold to BPAA and USBC.
• Valcke GroupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEuropean bowling equipment distributor based in Belgium. CEO Henri Valcke has expressed appreciation for BBIA convention's ability to connect with industry leaders.
• International Bowling Museum & Hall of FamecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBBIA Executive Director Lori Mraz serves as Vice Chairman of the IBM&HF Board of Trustees since 2008. BBIA former ED Bill Supper played key role in building the new Hall of Fame and Museum.
• International Bowling Pro Shop & Instructors Association (IBPSIA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBBIA former ED Bill Supper held Executive Director positions for both BBIA and IBPSIA concurrently until retiring from IBPSIA. Lori Mraz served on IBPSIA Advisory Board from 2005-2009.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Bowling Proprietors' Association of America: BPAA is the principal trade association for bowling center owners and operators in the United States. It is co-located with BBIA at the International Bowling Campus in Arlington, TX, serves overlapping industry stakeholders, and operates a parallel convention and member-services model.
• United States Bowling Congress: USBC is the national governing body for bowling in the US and an Associate Member of BBIA. It serves the bowling ecosystem through sanctioning, publications, and membership programs, making it a directly comparable industry-organizing peer to BBIA.
• Billiard Congress of America: BCA is the trade association for the billiard industry in North America and an Associate Member of BBIA. It mirrors BBIA's role on the billiards side of the combined organization, making it the closest functional peer within BBIA's own dual billiards/bowling remit.
• International Bowling Pro Shop & Instructors Association: IBPSIA is the trade association for bowling pro shop operators and coaches. Its former ED shared executive duties with BBIA's former ED, and the two organizations have collaborated closely on conventions and training programs for the bowling channel.

Broad incumbents

• International Bowling Museum & Hall of Fame: IBMHF is the heritage and recognition body for the bowling industry, co-located with BBIA at the International Bowling Campus. BBIA's Executive Director Lori Mraz serves as Vice Chairman of the IBMHF board, reflecting tight ecosystem overlap.
• Sports & Fitness Industry Association: SFIA is the broader trade association for the sports and fitness industry in the US. It overlaps with BBIA at the sporting-goods-industry level through shared advocacy, market research, and trade show representation across many member verticals.
• National Sporting Goods Association: NSGA is the trade association for sporting goods retailers, dealers, and distributors. While its scope is much broader than bowling, its distributor-facing membership and trade show model are structurally analogous to BBIA's bowling-equipment distribution focus.

Regional players

• World Bowling: World Bowling is the international federation recognized by the IOC for the sport of bowling. It operates at a global level rather than the trade-association level, but it shares BBIA's industry-organizing function for the worldwide bowling community.
• World Pool-Billiard Association: WPA is the international governing body for pool/billiards. It parallels BBIA's billiards-side mission at a global governance level rather than a trade-association level, making it an internationally focused comparable.

Emerging players

• American Poolplayers Association: APA is the largest amateur pool league operator in North America. While focused on league play rather than trade association work, it intersects BBIA's billiards-side remit by engaging billiards consumers and channel partners.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

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