The echo of nearly 100 million bowling pins falling will soon be a memory for Baton Rouge. On July 10, the five-month long United States Bowling Congress Open Championship bowling tournament will come to a close. The tournament, which began on February 11, brought 11,936 teams and about 60,000 bowlers from across the country to Baton Rouge. According to Duane Hagen, USBC Open Championship tournament manager, this year’s tournament has encountered unique challenges and opportunities. He said the USBC spent about $2 million to construct 48 lanes in the River Center, and some innovative improvements include practice lanes, livestream webcams and larger facilities for bowlers. Along with the River Center’s infrastructure improvements, the USBC tournament also impacted the Baton Rouge economy. Hagen said USBC research shows the tournament brings about $100 million in revenue to the host city. However, this isn’t the first time Baton Rouge has hosted the tournament. Back in 2005, the city also opened its lanes to bowlers. According to Paul Arrigo, president and CEO of Visit Baton Rouge, the city bid $1.1 million to host what he described as “one of the largest events that any city can host at any time.” Hagen said teams usually stay in the host city for about four days, but they only bowl about six hours total and spend the rest of the time out on the town. “For most bowlers, this is a vacation and time to be with teammates,” he said. Arrigo said to prepare for the 2012 tournament, he spoke with restaurant and hotel associations about increasing accommodations for competitors. Visit Baton Rouge is currently conducting research on the tournament’s economic impact, and some preliminary findings in tax revenue point toward economic growth. In an e-mail, Arrigo said that compared to 2011, the city’s hotel tax increased 17 percent in February, 35 percent in March and 32 percent in April. He said Baton Rouge now has more to offer bowlers than in 2005, and he doesn’t think the economy will suffer when the tournament ends. “Obviously there will be withdrawal after the feast,” Arrigo said. “But the next question will be what is there now coming to Baton Rouge?” Teams compete in two categories: regular (average score 181 or higher) and classified (average score 180 or lower). Within these categories, bowlers play doubles, singles and team events for cash prizes, which total more than $5 million.  Duane Hagen, USBC Open Championship tournament manager, has managed these tournaments for four years. He said it is difficult to predict who will win the tournament from day one because teams “post a score and hope it holds up.”  The leading regular and classified teams are from La Crosse, Wis. and Madison Heights, Va.  Louisiana also has some competitors who bowled their way to the top. Daniel Broussard, from Broussard, La., and Rob Clark, from Rayne, La., are currently second place in classified doubles. Mark Knippers from Baker, La. is also second in all classified events.  ____ Contact Marylee Williams at [email protected]