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Millennium entry fee up xx%

Beaker

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Jul 9, 2001
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I'm not saying they don't. But with the $ so weak, and the cost of living with hotels/hire cars/food etc cheaper anyway, plus the added cache of playing stateside which might well mean more sponsor support, perhaps people are already considering it.

It's more to point out that the 20% odd percent increase in Millennium fees when the dollar is so weak might make some teams reconsider.
 

Russell Smith

The Paintball Association
Looking at the figures...

Perhaps some SPL teams might prefer to play in the US - the differences in entry fees is much smaller now

SPL costs - 8225€

NPPL Div1 $12250 which is 9450€

Could we see some Euro teams chose the US instead?

Don't forget you could also play open Xball at the PSP and that would total $13,750 for the season and although on paper it looks more in terms of cash, individually it is considerably less than you would pay at the NPPL.
I am of course not taking account of any travel/hotel/paint expenses as per the other examples.
Now if WDP decided to run a European series, I wonder, what format would they go for!!

WDP I believe (and I am by no means a sycophantic lover of them) would be welcomed by all and sundry as the potential saviours of the European game.
The Millennium Series should be looking over there shoulder at this point, because they just may get trampled underfoot if this beast decides to move.

Russ
 

Nick Brockdorff

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But you guys are looking at it from the wrong perspective :)

There is no NEED for WDP (or the PSP or any other entity) to shell out a lot of money for a lengthy European struggle at this point in time.

It would no doubt be GREAT for us players - but the upside for them would be very small, compared to other markets.

Nick
 

Magic_8ball

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but the upside for them would be very small, compared to other markets.

Nick
I think that you've definately got a good point, but I think that whilst in the short run that may be true, in the long run there would be some value for WDP etc to invest heavily. They would establish themselves as the market leader from the offset as it were, and as the market then would likely flourish they would enjoy the position of being the incumbent firm with strong branding and promotional power to maintain their dominance.
 

Baca Loco

Ex-Fun Police
I think that you've definately got a good point, but I think that whilst in the short run that may be true, in the long run there would be some value for WDP etc to invest heavily. They would establish themselves as the market leader from the offset as it were, and as the market then would likely flourish they would enjoy the position of being the incumbent firm with strong branding and promotional power to maintain their dominance.
Excepting of course they ran headlong away from being too closely associated with Pure Promotions and the NPPL and while I could be mistaken I sincerely doubt their foray into operating the world's most well-known tourney series improved WDP's market share.
 

Russell Smith

The Paintball Association
Excepting of course they ran headlong away from being too closely associated with Pure Promotions and the NPPL and while I could be mistaken I sincerely doubt their foray into operating the world's most well-known tourney series improved WDP's market share.
Paul,

You may be right on the button, the senior staff at WDP could be all sitting round the table thinking thank christ we are out of that one.
I just hope they do not put the experience they have acquired to waste and utilise it in Europe, with a better profit margin!!


Russ
 

Robbo

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Jul 5, 2001
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I believe one of the reasons PP couldn't make the NPPL pay was because a large proportion on their staff came from over here, I ain't saying the reduction in travel costs will offset this problem but it would help.
I just got this feeling (an irrational one maybes) that the prospect of creating a new European series might be an interesting one for the guys at WDP.
It's in their blood to be showmen I know that much.
I just can't see these guys sitting back in Brum licking their wounds and their bank balance watching the Millennium people run the show.

I could be way off the mark here but after being around the likes of Ged, Owen, Bart and the rest of those guys at WDP for a long time, I just can't see them staying out the game......

And I tell ya one more thing, if they do decide to come in, they ain't gonna be looking for no amalgamations, nah, they are gonna come in with a bang and as I said before, they ain't looking to take any prisoners.

If I was Laurent at this point, I'd be trying to make as many friends as I could within the industry, develop a strategy for improvement, both in terms of promotion of tournaments and logistics.
They seriously have to do a hearts and minds operation on both team and industry, and they need to start now.

Then I would begin to form my battle plans because if the Millennium guys get caught on the hop, the game is over for them, and I mean over.
And the reason for this is, unlike the US, there is no room in Europe for two big tournament series.
I don't think the Millennium guys have thought this through or even realised this last point because had they done so, we wouldn't be seeing some of the things they are doing of late.
 

Nick Brockdorff

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They would establish themselves as the market leader from the offset as it were
I think that is overstating it quite a bit - as the MS would be quite tough competition, if they bothered to be :)

The MS is actually a really good series, they just need to improve in 4 areas - and those could easily be fixed... problem is whether they will bother without real competition:

1.
Communication with their customers (they SUCK at it - and the list is really too long to write up here, it is just a long tedious history of SNAFUs)

2.
Venues and utilising them properly - I.e. venues that can easily draw in a large local populace, advertising the event locally, and catering for the populace the event draws in.

3.
Supporting their vendors - I still don't understand why any sensible paintball company pays big money for a large trade stand at MS events. They don't reach any new customers, they are put as far away from the few non-paintballing people that happens by as possible, they loose money and the MS seems to be doing very little at all, to help the vendors grow their business at events.... in the history of the series, they have gotten it right ONCE - 2005 at Disney - and never before or since.

4.
Marketing and sales - but here, the NPPL and PSP has been equally unsuccessful, so that is really just something that would secure them coming out on top - being the first to know what the hell they were doing and actually closing deals ;)

I should probably mention reffing - but that improved significantly in that last couple of years, and I don't really see another promoter doing better in Europe, in the foreseeable future.

Nick