Campaign @ Crystal Palace, opinions...

[H]

As a spectator, it sucked....

After all the hype about moving the event back to Crystal Palace because of this reason or that reason, i think they missed the point on why it was moved from there in the first place. The problem is that the location defines the layout too tightly, leaving little room for positioning more suitable for what was needed.

My main beef was the retarded decision to make the majority of the fields in-accessible to spectators (people without MS ID). When i got there on Saturday i couldn't believe it.... The only field that was decently visible was the (excellent) CPL field... The JT field was too far back from the stands to be watchable not to mention after the wind pulled the netting down was next to impossible to see. The M5 fields on the astro turf could be seen once they opened up the walkway around the top, but this didn't last long before they sealed it off to players only.

I didn't manage to see anything really of the 7man tournament aside from what was played on the Sunday on the CPL field.

I can see the reasons for locking off the lower deck of the stadium to players only, security and what-not... But, why the bloody hell couldn't spectators get round the right hand side and back of the other fields?? It was just stupid. At the NEC they had the right idea by having one side of the fields being accessible to players and the other to spectators, maintaining security and allowing people to watch.

I'm not sure how well the layout worked for players, i suspect it went down quite well. But i really think more thought needs to be given to rest of us.

Personally, i preferred the NEC as a venue. The large open space allowed the organisers to define the layout and not work within as many constraints. Easy road access, a train station and central location with an airport next door made it much better than CP. Yeah yeah, there were issues with the catering being supplied by the NEC and other quibbles but these I feel could have been worked on.

If the NEC is not an option then i feel it would be worth the MS looking into other options for a venue. Something with open space that the organisers can craft into a world class venue. Keep it in the south if you want to maintain that boner you have for London... (yeah i know Esher was a bit of a mess to all the smart asses out there)

Oh, and all this 'Crystal Palace is it's spiritual home' crap, may i point toward the the groans of ambivalence that greeted the MC's question of 'isn't it great to be back at CP?'

 

[Cusack]

I liked the NEC better, what was wrong with it?

 

[true_death]

It was all down to a complete lack of organisation on the managment side try telling a frenchie who speaks 3 words of english that a scaffolding tower has collapsed

 

[Cusack]

im guessing it was more like 'try telling a frenchie who doesn't understand 3 words of english not to build a useless scaffolding tower that falls over'

 

[conion92]

by all accounts security at CP was crap, what with vehicles broken into, never heard nothing like that at the N.E.C last year, which to me was an excellent venue, all fields spectaitor freindly....bring it back to the N.E.C please

 

[Magic_8ball]

Yeah I agree the security and the layout was crap. The M5 fields seemed like they had been rushed as well. For example them being laid on astroturf...that stuff isnt a good playing surface, and more importantly the sand you pick up off the ground wrecks your marker etc.

 

[HERMITT]

I thought this year's Campaign cup was excellent. For me the NEC just didnt do it for a range of reasons and highlighted how inadequate esher had been. Crystal Palace was a great venue that had a few problems all of which were addressed this year.

The weather has conspired against the MS throughout the season and when the netting collapsed all that could be done, was done. Unfortunately this meant closing some of the stands to spectators. Better to be safe than sorry though.

The players area was great and taking a break for lunch meant that when we went in for afternoon session we had a clean a secure place to kit up. There was little overcrowding as teams piled for the nearest table and left time for teams to clean up and vacate their table. Air was ina great place to get on the way to and from the fields and i never once had to queue. My only gripe being the age it took to fill the tanks, but i think we all know why.

Security was tight, and a little officious at times but i think this was preceded by the events on thursday and friday. Unfortunately crystal palace doesnt allow access all the way round the stands and due to the scale of the complex the dye and tomohawk fields were set away from the far stands anyway giving no value to use for spectators.

All this may be a shame and i understand the concerns raised but these are more than offset by what was a well run and really enjoyable close to the MS season. Crystal Palace is the spiritual home of the Campaign Cup and long may it continue to be. Just ask anyone who hasnt been there before how they felt when they stood in the stands fore the first time and looked out over the paintball heaven in fron of them.

 

[H]

Yeah I agree the security and the layout was crap. The M5 fields seemed like they had been rushed as well. For example them being laid on astroturf...that stuff isnt a good playing surface, and more importantly the sand you pick up off the ground wrecks your marker etc.

I thought it was a joke when i saw the M5 fields on the AWFUL astro turf that was so heavily criticised by players a few years ago for destroying players knees and equipment. Organisers seem to have short memories...

 

[Magic_8ball]

I know what you mean mate. I had our new team kit, I'd worn the jersey twice and the pants once... didnt particularly fancy sliding into that snake and having to shell out the next day... Utter crap.

 

[HERMITT]

On a security note. The company hired had been asked to ensure the entire site was secure and patrolled. Unfortunately from what i saw they failed to operate throughout the car parks until after the first thefts. It is also worth remembering that the spate of break ins happened over a 45min period. As soon as the security received some rather stern instructions from the organisers there was a visible presence and the break ins stopped. This was too late for a number of players but the blame doesnt lay with the MS for this since they had provided security in excess of what was provided by the CP to start.