BowlingAlleys.io v1.2.0 - Location Discovery, Leagues & New Experiences

We're excited to announce BowlingAlleys.io v1.2.0 - a major update focused on smarter location discovery, deeper leagues integration, and new experience pages.

This release brings a user-first approach to location permissions and enhanced venue features for league bowlers.

📍 Smart Location Discovery

"Find Alleys Near Me" Button

We've completely redesigned how location works on BowlingAlleys.io with a user-first permission flow.

How It Works:

The Explore page now shows random bowling alleys by default
A prominent "Find alleys near me" button lets you opt-in to location sharing
Once enabled, venues are sorted by distance with a location indicator
Your preference is remembered for future visits

Why This Matters:

No more surprise permission popups when you first visit
You control when and if you share your location
Better privacy by default

Auto-Location for Returning Users

If you've previously granted location permission, the site automatically shows nearby alleys - no need to click the button again.

"Bowling Alleys to Explore" Carousel

The locations page now features a beautiful carousel of bowling alleys:

Shows random alleys by default
Switches to "Bowling Alleys Near You" when location is enabled
Displays distance to each venue

🏆 Enhanced Leagues Integration

Leagues URL Support

Venues can now link directly to their leagues sign-up page, making it easier for bowlers to join.

New Features:

FAB Priority: The floating action button now prioritizes leagues (Reserve > Leagues > Specials > Website)
Contact Section: "Join a League" link appears when a venue has a leagues URL
Clickable Leagues Pill: The "Leagues" amenity badge is now clickable - tap to go directly to sign-up

🎓 New Bowling Lessons Experience Page

Bowling Lessons

We've added a dedicated Bowling Lessons experience page for venues offering instruction and coaching.

Features:

Browse bowling alleys that offer lessons by state and city
Full sitemap integration for SEO
Added to the Experiences hub

Perfect for beginners looking to improve their game or parents seeking youth bowling programs.

🏙️ New City Hub Pages

New York City Hub

Launched Best Bowling in New York featuring:

Venues across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx
Local FAQs about NYC bowling
Interactive map with all New York venues

City Hub Network Now Includes:

🗺️ Enhanced Locations Page

The Explore page has been transformed into a comprehensive bowling directory with state search, venue counts, popular city guides, and experience links.

City-level pages now include photo galleries, "Top 5 Bowling Alleys" rankings, and integrated maps.

🛠️ Bug Fixes & Performance

Fixed Blank Page Bug

Resolved a critical issue where users navigating directly to venue URLs would see a blank page. Pages now load reliably with automatic retry logic.

Simplified Pricing Display

Removed the complex pricing grid in favor of a cleaner "Average Pricing" card - easier to read and understand.

📞 Get Involved

For Bowling Alley Owners:

Claim Your Venue: Start here - it's free
Add Your Leagues URL: Help bowlers find your leagues
Join Founding Partners: Limited spots in our exclusive program
Reach Out: ace@bowlingalleys.io

For Bowlers:

Find Alleys Near You: Use our location-based discovery
Join a League: Look for the "Join a League" button on venue pages
Leave Reviews: Help others find great places
Take Lessons: Find venues offering instruction

🙏 Thank You

To our growing community of bowlers and bowling alley owners who use BowlingAlleys.io every day - thank you.

Your feedback shapes every feature we build. Keep the suggestions coming.

We're building the most transparent, modern bowling resource in America. 🎳

— The BowlingAlleys.io Team
ace@bowlingalleys.io | bowlingalleys.io

Quick Links:

For questions, feedback, or partnership inquiries, reach out to us at ace@bowlingalleys.io

Release Notes v1.2.0 - Location Discovery, Leagues & New Experiences