With the St. Louis Ad Club Bowling League is about to kick off for 2025, perennial semi-disappointment Elasticity has been confirmed as one of the participating teams.
We recently sat down with team leader and Elasticity Associate Creative Director Chase Koeneke, one of two Gingered Americans on staff, to discuss what can be expected.
Q: Chase, how long are you going to be annoying us about bowling again this year?
The season officially starts September 24th, but we have a bye week for the first game, so our season will run from October 1st to November 26th. Every Wednesday game starts at 7pm at Saratoga Lanes in Maplewood (except the last game which has an 8pm start). There’s a full schedule attached below.
Q: 9 weeks?! This sounds like a big time commitment. Do I have to play every week?
While I would be over the moon to see such dedicated teammates, no, you don’t have to play every week. Ideally, we would have 4-5 players each week, and I have a pool of friends and former Elasticians who have been willing to sub in when needed. We also welcome your friends, significant others and/or moms to join us and play too. I’ll be ecstatic even if you only come to a single game.
Q: What happens if we have more than 5 people in a week?
Hahaha, very funny.
Q: What’s a typical night of bowling entail?
Get to Saratoga a little before 7pm. There is some parking behind the venue, but also a decent amount of street parking. Grab your shoes and maybe a drink and meet us on the assigned lane for that week (listed in the attached schedule). We bowl two games each night. Many teams do a “beer frame” where the best score in a particular round gets their drinks paid for by the other team. Have fun, meet people, have an existential conversation with Meg out on the smoking balcony during the intermission and go home around 9pm.
Q: I’m scared to play because I suck at bowling and you’re all going to make fun of me!
Not a question, but I’ll allow it. This is about as casual a league as can get. While scores are kept, no one really cares. There are some people who are pretty good bowlers, but most everyone is there to just have a good time. I think former Elastician Mary scored a sub-30 once (out of 300), so skill is not prerequisite.
Q: Oh god, are you going to write up recaps every week like you did last year?
You bet your ass!
Q: Will I have the opportunity to wear silly costumes or donate to worthy charities during the season?
You sure will! Every night has a theme (see the schedule attached below) and there will be two donation raffles for the St. Louis Crisis Nursery as well as a food drive for the Oasis Food Pantry on the last game. I will include more info about the charities before the games on those given weeks if you’re interested in donating. Saratoga gives out gift certificates for teams who show the most spirit, so we can go for that if you want.
Q: Do I have to do any of that, or can I just bowl?
The themes are completely optional. I’d say participation in the themes is like 35-50% for any given week. No judgement either way.
Q: How much is this going to cost me?
Elasticity has graciously agreed to sponsor our team again this year, so all you’ll be on the hook for is shoe rentals ($2) and your own drinks. As always, I’m happy to pay for your shoes and your first drink the first time you come play. What a deal! You’re basically leaving money on the table by not playing!
Q: OK, your superior copywriting skills have sold me — where do I sign up?
I’m going to do things slightly differently this year. I will send out calendar invites for all the games next week. Please accept the ones you know you can and want to go to, decline the ones you know you can’t go to, and select maybe or ignore the rest. I don’t love gunking up people’s calendars or email inboxes, but it has proven to be a good system for the volleyball team, so we’re going to try it here too.
