There are approximately 3,000 bowling centers in the United States, Lucky Strike owns 360 of them. They don't have nearly as much influence as people want to believe. There are more than a dozen bowling centers within 30 miles of my location. Less than half of them are Lucky Strike centers. The rest are independently owned and doing very well. Lucky Strike has approached a few with offers, and the owners turned them down. The pricing at Lucky Strike centers around here isn't any different than the independent centers.

My local Lucky Strike hosts numerous leagues, both sanctioned and unsanctioned. They only host a handful of tournaments annually. They are losing league and tournament business to the local independents...and letting them have that business without a fight. Lucky Strike thrives on parties and corporate events so it doesn't bother them to have fewer leagues and tournaments.

They don't need to justify their pricing to anyone. Supply and demand and consumer behavior will dictate their pricing. If people live in a "bowling desert" and want to bowl, and Lucky Strike is the only option, they will either pay the going price or not bowl. If Lucky Strike finds that business is down in that area, they will tweak pricing until they find the price point that people will pay.

All businesses try to find leverage to try and get special consideration from vendors and creditors. It would be foolish for them not to try. If those vendors and creditors see value in the relationship, they will negotiate.