One sports concept doesn’t work out for Ray Baty, but another one does

Former Joma Bowling Co. manager Ray Baty believes everything happens for a reason, so he’s content that his plan for a new bowling center at the Champtown development in Park City is not going to happen.

“Obviously, we had the opportunity to be part of the Champtown project, and it just didn’t come together,” he said.

“Developers went one direction in what they wanted to do, and it just didn’t fit in my plans . . . or what I wanted to be involved with.”

Champtown is going to have a different entertainment concept that includes bowling through B&B Theatres. However, the bowling will be smaller aspect of it than what Baty had planned.

Baty left Joma when the company sold to Bowlero in 2022.

“For three years, I’ve been kind of a wanderer,” he said.

Initially, Baty planned to open his new bowling concept at the northeast corner of K-96 and Ridge Road.

“That’s a great location. I really liked it.”

Then, he decided to build it at Champtown where his son, Matt, was a partner at the time.

When the deal didn’t work out, Baty decided to take his son’s former general manager position at the Wichita Sports Forum in Greenwich Place at K-96 and Greenwich.

“I’m in my element,” he said. “It’s kind of a bowling center on steroids.”

Baty said he thinks he can help grow basketball and volleyball there.

He also coaches the junior varsity baseball team at Bishop Carroll Catholic High School along with summer ball. He does mental performance coaching at Southwestern College as well.

Still, Baty misses his bowling buddies.

“I love the bowling community,” he said. “League bowling is important to this community”

Baty, who is 67, hopes to work until he’s 75. He’s not sure if his future one day will include bowling again.

“Well, I won’t say never, but I will say not right now and not in the near future.”

This story was originally published March 24, 2026 at 12:34 PM.