Bowling Congress Moves to Texas

I guess this could fall under the "be careful what you wish for" category.

Elites would always whine about Milwaukee's unsophisticated, brats, beer, and bowling image.

They can kiss the bowling headquarters goodbye. Happy?

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Confirming what many had long suspected and feared, the United States Bowling Congress anounced Tuesday that it was moving its headquarters from Greendale to Arlington, Texas.

Kevin Dornberger, chief operating officer of the USBC, met with staff Tuesday morning to announce the decision.

The 2.3-million organization, the sport's governing body, will now move to Texas and partner with the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America. Under the plan, the USBC will purchase a building near BPAA headquarters, with an eye toward building a testing and training facility on vacant land nearby. The move south is expected to take about a year.

The move was viewed as a major disappointment in the Milwaukee area, where officials hoped to keep the group here. The USBC also means the loss of approximately 230 jobs and a $12 million payroll.

[Bowling Proprietors Association of America President Jeff] Boje acknowledged Tuesday that many of the 230 people who will lose their jobs in Greendale will not likely relocate to Texas.

County Executive Scott Walker and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett tried to keep the headquarters in the Milwaukee area.

Alas, "second-tier city" Milwaukee lost out to Arlington, Texas.

It's one thing for a business or group to decide not to come to the Milwaukee area. It's another thing for a firmly established group like the USBC to decide to leave.

It makes Lena Taylor's vision to stoke the flames of Milwaukee County's tax hell that much more irresponsible.