# ARCADE REPORT: Bowlmor - Times Square, NYC (December 2019)

**Source:** Knapp Arcade  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2019-12-01  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.knapparcade.org/arcade-report-bowlmor-times-square-nyc-december-2019

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## Analysis

A brief visit report to Bowlmor Times Square bowling alley in Manhattan, which features three rock-themed Stern pinball machines (AC/DC Pro, Metallica Pro, Kiss Pro) alongside a Dave & Busters-style arcade. The pinball section is minimal but affordable at 2 credits per play, though playfields were dirty. The author notes Manhattan has surprisingly limited pinball availability outside of Modern Pinball.

### Key Claims

- [MEDIUM] Manhattan has a surprising lack of pinball machines — _Author's observation: 'There's a surprising lack of it there.' Suggests based on personal experience visiting NYC._
- [MEDIUM] Modern Pinball is the best pinball location in Manhattan — _Author states 'By far the best Manhattan location is Modern Pinball' but provides no comparative data or specifics._
- [HIGH] Kiss Pro played well despite dirty playfield conditions — _Direct experience: 'Surprisingly, Kiss played great through several games' despite noting 'Their playfields we're pretty dirty.'_
- [HIGH] Pinball machines at Bowlmor were the least expensive games at 2 credits per play — _Author's direct observation: 'The pinball machines were by far the least expensive games, only 2 credits per play.'_

### Notable Quotes

> "There's a surprising lack of it there."
> — **Author (Knapp Arcade)**
> _Establishes scarcity of pinball in Manhattan, supporting broader industry narrative about limited location availability in major metro areas._

> "By far the best Manhattan location is Modern Pinball, but it is a half hour walk from the tree and Times Square."
> — **Author**
> _Identifies Modern Pinball as the premier Manhattan pinball destination but notes accessibility challenges._

> "The arcade section of Bowlmor is very Dave & Busters-esque. That's both good and bad."
> — **Author**
> _Characterizes the venue as a hybrid entertainment space with redemption-heavy arcade games alongside pinball._

> "Surprisingly, Kiss played great through several games."
> — **Author**
> _Notes positive gameplay experience despite maintenance concerns, suggesting Stern rock-themed pins hold up well._

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Bowlmor Times Square | organization | Bowling alley and arcade venue in Manhattan, NYC with three pinball machines (AC/DC Pro, Metallica Pro, Kiss Pro) and Dave & Busters-style arcade games. |
| Modern Pinball | organization | Identified as the best/premier pinball location in Manhattan; located approximately 30 minutes walk from Times Square area. |
| Stern Pinball | company | Manufacturer of all three pinball machines at Bowlmor: AC/DC Pro, Metallica Pro, and Kiss Pro. |
| AC/DC Pro | game | Rock-themed Stern pinball machine at Bowlmor Times Square; one of three pins at location. |
| Metallica Pro | game | Rock-themed Stern pinball machine at Bowlmor Times Square; one of three pins at location. |
| Kiss Pro | game | Rock-themed Stern pinball machine at Bowlmor Times Square; played by author and son; reported to play great despite dirty playfield. |
| Nintendo Store | organization | Retail location in NYC visited by author prior to seeking pinball venues. |
| Knapp Arcade | organization | Author/content creator publishing arcade and pinball venue reports. |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Pinball venue availability and scarcity in Manhattan, Bowlmor Times Square as a bowling/arcade hybrid venue, Stern rock-themed pinball machines (AC/DC, Metallica, Kiss)
- **Secondary:** Game maintenance and playfield condition, Pinball pricing and accessibility at commercial locations

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.72) — Author is complimentary about the venue experience ('cool location', 'Kiss played great') and finds value in affordable pricing. Minor criticism of dirty playfields and lack of pinball focus. Overall tone is friendly and encouraging for casual play.

### Signals

- **[community_signal]** Casual family pinball play (author with son) demonstrates pinball appeal to non-competitive players at accessible commercial venues. (confidence: medium) — Author notes 'My son and I only played Kiss' and describes it as 'fun time out with friends' rather than competitive play.
- **[market_signal]** Manhattan pinball venue scarcity signals limited commercial deployment in high-density urban markets; only one standout dedicated location (Modern Pinball) available. (confidence: medium) — Author notes 'surprising lack' of pinball in Manhattan and identifies Modern Pinball as 'by far the best' location, implying limited alternatives.
- **[product_concern]** Dirty playfields observed on Stern rock-themed machines at Bowlmor suggest maintenance issues at commercial locations. (confidence: medium) — Author explicitly states 'Their playfields we're pretty dirty' for AC/DC Pro and Metallica Pro.

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## Transcript

After seeing the sights and visiting the Nintendo Store in NYC the other day I said to myself, let’s try to find some pinball in Manhattan. There’s a surprising lack of it there. By far the best Manhattan location is Modern Pinball, but it is a half hour walk from the tree and Times Square. I managed to find three pins at a super neat bowling alley called Bowlmor Times Square.

The bowling 🎳 part of Bowlmor is really cool. There’s lots of different small sections, each with a few lanes and their own theme. The arcade section of Bowlmor is very Dave & Busters-esque. That’s both good and bad. It means that they have a ton of new fancy games, but that most of them are redemption.

The location had three pinball machines, all rock themed Sterns, AC/DC Pro, Metallica Pro & Kiss Pro. Their playfields we’re pretty dirty. My son and I only played Kiss because we’d played the other two the other day. Surprisingly, Kiss played great through several games. The pinball machines were by far the least expensive games, only 2 credits per play.

This was a quick stop so I don’t have much else to say about it. It was a cool location. Definitely not a pinball destination, but it would make for a fun time out with friends.

_(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 24bdecdc-4dba-4ae8-b964-1f75dcc8fa29*