Illinois State’s Bowling and Billiards Center has long been a hub for Redbird recreation, and a 2022 renovation will allow it to serve the next generation of students. The forms of recreation offered have evolved over time; at various points, they have included pinball, arcade games, air hockey, table tennis, and a craft shop (air hockey and table tennis remain). Last year’s renovation saw the construction of a new Redbird Esports facility, which was visited over 6,500 times in just its first two months. But the Bowling and Billiards Center’s namesake activities have remained constant over the half century, and students come seeking strikes and spares today, just as they did in 1978. (Archival photo/Dr. Jo Ann Rayfield Archives at Illinois State University).
