Yet another major bowling
tournament has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its lingering
effects on travel and business capacity.

In a statement issued on
Tuesday, Brad Edelman, President of High Roller Inc., said, “I am extremely
saddened and frustrated to announce that we are cancelling the 2020 August Military
Team Classic… This painful decision didn’t come without hours and hours and
days and days of analyzing, investigating, and soul searching before coming to
our very regrettable decision.”

Edelman said that decision
was based on these criteria:

* Dealing with a
worst-case scenario of contestants coming from around the country, visiting
many local attractions in Las Vegas, testing positive for COVID-19 when they
return home, and then having the South Point Bowling Plaza running the risk of
being closed by local officials.

* South Point management
doubts the tournament would receive approval from the state to use all
available lanes.

* Hundreds of teams had
already cancelled. Many more were expected.

* Hundreds of individuals
also had cancelled, leaving their teams incomplete.

* Hundreds of other
contestants were waiting to see what direction the pandemic takes. Many said
they would not decide until the first week of August. (Contestants, staff, the
host venue and sponsors would need more notice about cancelling than that time
frame would allow.)

* The negative prospect of
the future of COVID-19 for Las Vegas and the country, as reported by health
organizations nationwide.

* An increase of COVID-19
positive cases, as reported by many states (some setting new records).

* An increase in the
number of states implementing enhanced face-covering regulations.

* Financial and
unemployment statistics nationwide, as many of the cancellations were due to
financial reasons.

* Only contestants would
be allowed in the Plaza — no spectators. One squad would have to vacate the
Plaza before the next could begin.

“An important personal
factor is knowing that the tournament environment would not be as casual and
friendly as we experience each year,” Edelman said. “We would be dealing with
security guards constantly moving crowds, and long lines as social distancing would
be enforced. Contestants would be shown where and when they could be present.
Although security would just be doing their job, that is not the environment we
want for our event.”

Added Edelman: “Everyone
has an opinion on these sensitive topics, but this is what has led us to the
decision.”