KINGPINS
ENTERTAINMENT CENTER
CONTENT STRATEGY | COPYWRITING | SOCIAL MEDIA
AGENCY: WATSON CREATIVE
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Bowling. Arcade games. Laser tag. Delicious food and drink. When it comes to fun, KingPins Entertainment Center has a little something for everyone. They were preparing to open their largest facility yet and needed to generate buzz for their grand opening. My work with Watson Creative included multi-channel messaging that built excitement for the new facility.
OVERVIEW
Before there was KingPins, there was Sunset Lanes.
A cornerstone of the community, Sunset Lanes was Beaverton's go-to bowling spot for families and competitive bowlers alike. After over 50 years in business, the proprietors learned that it would be torn down to make way for new construction. Instead of closing Sunset Lanes completely, they decided to reimagine it as a new, state-of-the-art facility nearby. And so the pins were set for KingPins Beaverton.
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Understanding Sunset Lanes' impact on the community, KingPins wanted to generate buzz for their new facility while remaining sensitive to those who would miss the old one. As Lead Copywriter, it was my job to work with the team at Watson Creative to strike the balance between excitement and compassion for the community.
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My job for Watson was to create clear and consistent messaging across web, social media, and email campaigns. I also managed all press communications and secured coverage on KGW-8, KPTV Fox 12, and the Beaverton Valley Times for the grand opening.
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In the end, the grand opening was a roaring success. The house was packed, the community was impressed, and the KingPins team was bowled over.
A ROLL DOWN MEMORY LANE
KINGPINS HISTORY
Whether casual or competitive, bowling is a sport enjoyed by millions of Americans every year. Its history dates back as far as the Middle Ages, but it was during the late 50s that the sport’s popularity really began to surge. In 1955, there were 6,600 bowling centers operating in the U.S., according to The Atlantic. By 1963, that number had almost doubled to 11,000, thanks to the invention of the automatic pinsetter. Sunset Lanes bowling center first opened its doors in Beaverton, Oregon during that boom in 1963.
THE GRAND OPENING
ANNOUNCEMENT EMAIL
PRESS
KPTV FOX 12 OREGON
KPTV Fox 12’s Good Day Oregon aired 3 live video segments to promote the grand opening of KingPins Beaverton.
KGW8
The ribbon cutting ceremony for the grand opening was aired live on KGW by entertainment reporter, McKinzie Roth.
BEAVERTON VALLEY TIMES
"Tom Burke and Jon Tang bring family fun center to town, keep the history of Sunset Lanes."
Watson Creative Team
Creative Director & Designer: Angi Arrington
Lead Copywriter: Ava Goodling
Photo & Video: Summer Luu
Digital Strategist: Brenden Bittner
Agency: Watson Creative
Client: KingPins Entertainment Center
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