Every pair of lanes in a bowling center has a small seating area behind it, usually called the settee area. It's where you sit between turns, keep your bag and drink, and watch the scoring monitor. How it's arranged affects how comfortable a game feels, and it comes with a few unwritten rules.
How a typical layout works
- Bowlers' seats: a bench or curved row of seats facing the lanes, shared by the people bowling on that pair. In a lot of centers they're fixed in place.
- Scoring console and monitors: a console or touchscreen near the seats for entering names and fixing scores, with monitors overhead or at the end of the seating.
- Table: a small table or ledge for drinks and food. The bowling alley table guide covers what goes on it.
- Ball return: between the two lanes, in front of the seats.
- Spectator area: a second row of seats or high-top tables further back, on a step up from the bowlers' area.
Etiquette in the seating area
- Keep food and drinks at the table or in the settee area. Never take them onto the approach. A drop of soda on the approach can make someone stick and fall.
- Be ready when it's your turn, but don't stand on the approach while someone on the next lane is about to bowl.
- Keep bags under or beside the seats, not in the walkway.
- In league play, each team keeps to its own side of the pair.
The bowling etiquette guide covers the rest of the unwritten rules.
Accessibility
Centers in the US are expected to make seating and lanes accessible. Many keep at least one lane with step-free access, space beside the seats for a wheelchair and a bowling ramp available on request. If you need any of this, call ahead and ask for a lane near the entrance.
If you're fitting out seating
For a home lane, game room or small center, the same principles apply.
- Leave clear space between the back of the seats and the start of the approach so nobody walks through someone's backswing.
- Choose wipe-clean surfaces. Bowling seating gets spilled drinks and pizza grease.
- Put the scoring display where seated players can read it.
- Give spectators a slightly raised view if there's room. People watch more than you'd think.
Planning a full home lane? See what a home bowling alley costs.