For the past year, members of the Kansas University bowling team have lacked an on-campus facility to roll their strikes and spares because of the Kansas Union’s remodeling project.

That problem finally will be remedied after Labor Day when the Jaybowl, located on the first floor of the Union, reopens on Sept. 3.

Jesse James, of Lawrence, positions one of the new scoring tables at Kansas University's Jaybowl in the Kansas Union. The bowling alley, which had been closed for the past year during renovations, will reopen Sept. 3.

“It was a very significant renovation,” bowling coach and Jaybowl manager Mike Fine said. “We basically gutted the place. The lanes are in, but we’re still working on tile, electricity and plumbing.”

Last-minute renovations have forced the facility’s opening back a bit from the originally scheduled date, but everyone involved prefers better safe than sorry.

“There’s still a long way to go the life safety issue especially,” Fine said. “We need to make sure we have our fire alarms and safety issues taken care of before we open the doors.

“It (the opening) slid back a little bit, but these things happen in major projects and this is a major project that’s affecting the entire building. We’re just happy to have it September 3.”

Although the facility still needs work, the finishing touches shouldn’t interfere with the dozen bowling classes being offered by KU when school starts Thursday.

“We’ll have limited access to the facility for only bowling classes prior to that,” said Fine, who teaches the courses, “but we’ll be opening the doors to the public on September 3.”

The bowling team may have to wait until September as well. If so, the team will continue to practice at Royal Crest Lanes, the site of practices and KU courses last school year.

“We should get some access,” Fine said of the bowling team. “I haven’t really thought that far, to be honest. My guess it that we’ll continue to visit our friends at Royal Crest. Our key concern is getting the facility open.”

KU bowling club coach Mike Fine looks over the refurbished Jaybowl. The remodeled facility is set to open on Sept. 3

Royal Crest manager Mary Sexton said she didn’t think she would see much difference in business once the Jaybowl reopened.

“It’s not going to really affect us any,” she said. “We just won’t have the KU team practicing here.”

Like the previous incarnation, the remodeled Jaybowl will feature 12 lanes and electronic scoring machines, as well as updated pinsetters. Other features will include a new control desk for employees and a new video game arcade.

The Hawk’s Nest, which will feature a food service location and also will be used for acoustic performances, has been added next to Jaybowl as part of the renovation.

“We’re really excited about that,” Fine said of having the Hawk’s Nest next to Jaybowl. “That’s going to do a lot in terms of the programming on the lower level of the Kansas Union. We think that’s going to be a good addition.”

Fine said students have already shown interest in the renovations and are pleased to have a bowling alley back on Mount Oread.

“More people are coming back into town,” Fine said, “and they are certainly extremely interested in seeing it. I know everyone’s very excited team members, people that bowl in leagues and our regulars.

“It’s been a long year that we’ve been down for renovation and we’ve had a lot of people, especially at Royal Crest, that have bent over backwards, and we’ve really appreciated their assistance. We’re excited to have our facility back and look forward to September 3.”