League Setup and Home Arenas
The NBL featured ten franchises in two divisions:
| Eastern Division | Home arena | City |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit Thunderbirds | Thunder Bowl | Allen Park, Michigan |
| Kansas City Stars | Midland Theatre | Kansas City, Missouri |
| New York Gladiators | Gladiator Arena | Totowa, New Jersey |
| Omaha Packers | Packer Stadium | Omaha, Nebraska |
| Twin Cities Skippers | Convention Center Arena | Bloomington, Minnesota |
| Western Division | Home arena | City |
| Dallas Broncos | Bronco Bowl | Dallas, Texas |
| Fort Worth Panthers | Panther Hall | Fort Worth, Texas |
| Fresno Bombers | NBL Lanes | Clovis, California |
| Los Angeles Toros | Jefferson Arena | Culver City, California |
| San Antonio Cavaliers | no home arena | road team |
The minimum salary was $6,000, with some making upwards of $20,000, a payday that rivalled many top PBA bowlers; the entire league payroll set at $800,000.
For his part, PBA secretary Ed Elias did not consider the NBL a threat to his organization: "At no time has the PBA ever opposed the idea of a National Bowling League. Having struggled through our early formative days, we knew full well the many problems that could arise for any such new organization. However, we were quick to welcome the idea of additional employment for the man who makes his living bowling. The National Bowling League offered just that, and if it had succeeded as originally planned, it would have meant additional income, prestige and recognition for the bowler himself, and added recognition for the bowling industry — something we are all seeking continually."
Read more about this topic: National Bowling League
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—Dudley Nichols (1895–1960)
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—Bill Cosby (20th century)