At least they aren't making all SPL and CPL teams have the Millennium logo on their jerseys...
Oh.
Oh.
Millennium SPL Info
- Thread starter TalieBun
- Start date
The Millennium board
Where on earth is your customer support! Do you really believe in the saying, ignore it and it will go away.
For Christ sake guys the only thing that will go away at this rate is the players.
You may have a genuine believable reply to the questions/concerns that have been raised on here the last few weeks but unless you address these problems and address them soon, they will get much worse.
I do not understand how a multi-national company can not make someone responsible for public relations.
It would not be beyond the ability of a few senior players to arrange a boycott of Millennium events, a well worded email to ten vocal Captains would cause you no end of bother, and it does not have to be this way.
The vast majority of Players want the Millennium Series to continue as the dominant force in European paintball, and all you seem to be doing is fking that position up.
Stop dithering and sort it out before it is to late -please.
Russ
Where on earth is your customer support! Do you really believe in the saying, ignore it and it will go away.
For Christ sake guys the only thing that will go away at this rate is the players.
You may have a genuine believable reply to the questions/concerns that have been raised on here the last few weeks but unless you address these problems and address them soon, they will get much worse.
I do not understand how a multi-national company can not make someone responsible for public relations.
It would not be beyond the ability of a few senior players to arrange a boycott of Millennium events, a well worded email to ten vocal Captains would cause you no end of bother, and it does not have to be this way.
The vast majority of Players want the Millennium Series to continue as the dominant force in European paintball, and all you seem to be doing is fking that position up.
Stop dithering and sort it out before it is to late -please.
Russ
robbo i ave used another user name becoz i don't want to get problems but wen u said you got things done, thats true but u olny got it done becoz u got the magazine behind you and even if we did get an organisatoin to repersent us we still wouldnt be able to get them to listen to us.i think people are not inetereted becoz they know we wont get anywhere with the millenium.they just wont listen to anything we have to say even thouh we are there cutomers. you keep hinting about otherleagues coming into europe. are you talking about the nppl ,wdp or what are you talking about.
Just one quick note - where are we heading if people don´t even dare putting their own names on replies?!!!! 
Grow some balls people... As multiple people already said - if we get together on this matter and just keep this discussion in a sober though "strict" tone, we can probably do something to make this better for all of us (paintballers!)!
Grow some balls people... As multiple people already said - if we get together on this matter and just keep this discussion in a sober though "strict" tone, we can probably do something to make this better for all of us (paintballers!)!
Just one quick note - where are we heading if people don´t even dare putting their own names on replies?!!!!
Grow some balls people... As multiple people already said - if we get together on this matter and just keep this discussion in a sober though "strict" tone, we can probably do something to make this better for all of us (paintballers!)!
If you grow balls you can stay away from me.
Organisation is the key here. Like russ has said something needs to be done now
Well, I don't know where you will get any problems from because I can assure you, nothing you have said thus far warrants me getting pissed off at you.
If you are worried about having problems with the Millennium then I might begin to understand..well - whatever ....
First off, PGi wasn't the reason they listened, they listened because I made them listen and they realised that I would go public on every little detail thus ensuring the laundry would get even dirtier.
I also don't think PGi had anything to do with their resolution to change their minds (it might have, I don't honestly know 100%) because I think they 'u' turned because some of the guys on that board realised the course they were taking was an unjust one and needed convincing, that's all.
Of course I was bringing pressure to bear all over the place (sponsors / industry etc) but that's all part of the game and I fully realise this opportunity isn't open to most people but if you guys do actually get organised then this is a pressure group that would have significant power.
I realise I am lucky inasmuch I have a privileged position in paintball in being able to bring to the table more than just one voice, but guys, you are the customers here, the most important voice of all.
As for other leagues coming into Europe?
Well, just look at what's going on around you and go back through the archives of this site and this may give you some clues as to what I am talking about.
It could all come to nothing though.......but then again ..
If the teams out there really believe that - they are crazy
I can promise you, if an organisation representing - say 50 % of the teams - threatened to pull all the teams out of the series, they would be listened to in a major way - and largely accomodated.
Unfortunately, most teams can't seem to be bothered, which just amazes me to no end, when seeing how much time some of them spend online bitching about this and that
Nick
If the teams out there really believe that - they are crazy
I can promose you, if an organisation representing - say 50 % of the teams - threatened to pull all the teams out of the series, they would be listened to in a major way - and largely accomodated.
Nick
100% correct and on the money !!!!
I am not a pro paintballer, nor am I anyone important in the industry or a big name but I am going to make some fairly ambitious suggestions, so I offer my opinion humbly and a fully prepared to listen to those who are better informed of the machinations of our sport.
It seems to me that every year there is vast disappointment with the Millennium's provision for European paintball. So why hasn't an alternative been found?
Is it because of the lack of necessary finance to back the costs of running a league of the scale that is now expected? The Millennium is established therefore people such as the organisers or other investors/lenders can be more confident putting their money into it. Teams are prepared to pay fees in advance so that costs can be met as they know the event will go ahead. Event sponsors will pay their money knowing that there will be well attended events that they will make their money back as a result of. A new organisation/league might not inspire that confidence. Players/sponsors might worry it could all collapse leaving them with nothing for the entry/sponsorship fees they have paid. Similarly with investors/lenders.
The lack of an administrative and organisational structure to implement it? The MS have got all the contacts for venues, refs, licences, teams etc. They have got the procedures in place for the collection of fees, the payment of costs, they have got all those little things that need sorting under control. Well, just about. Would a new organisation/league have the ability/experience/resources to run the event?
Lack of support from teams for a new league, the lack of prestige the new league would have? The millennium is an established title. It has the best level of competition, and winning or ranking in it has a perceived value. To be a viable alternative enough of the best teams embraced the new league making it competitive enough and they would have to perceive winning it as significant. With the exception of the top 2 locked divs the teams are not organised in to a coherent group, or definitive list. And many of those teams are just loosely associated groups of friends. How do you deal or communicate with such a disparate group in order to find out what they want and get some assurance that they will come on board?
Realistically I don’t think those problems would be overcome if there was an attempt to start a new league similar to the millennium. So what are the options?
Well, the only one that occurs to me is that we have to take a couple of steps backwards before we can go forwards. What I mean is the millennium needs replacing, but it is not practical to replace it with something as big and shiny, so we have to replace it with something that isn’t quite as grand, but will quickly reach the level of the millennium - and because it doesn’t have the millennium’s problems – shortly after out grow it. It will mean a short term set back, but ultimately it will be for the best.
I believe an attempt to start a new league would need to cut back in the scale of the events - the vast spectacle with hundreds of teams in a prominent venue. We all want to be part of a large glamorous event, a showcase for our sport. But why? It can promote awareness of our sport, increase our profile and bring more people, media attention, funding and recognition for our sport. But there is also our ego to consider. We like the spectacle, it makes us feel what we are doing is important. The first few reasons are long term ones - a year with a little less glamour would not be a problem if it significantly helped us on the road to a better future. But the problem lies in our ego. That is a short term thing which won’t let us make that sacrifice for the long term benefits. But if we can realise this then we can overcome it. We don’t need all the flash spectacle and PR. Eventually yes it would be nice to have it eventually, but it isn’t the foundation that you build a sport on.
So I would suggest the CPL and SPL teams should abandon the Millennium and start their own league. To start with they won’t have any of the luxuries: prominent venues, flash PR, and the spectacle we are used to. But with the top teams competing they would have the sport.
Without all the spectacle, the costs would be less. I often read criticism of players who pay out loads for the newest and trendiest kit, without leaving any money for training. In a way the sport as a whole is guilty of that. Shelling out for glamorous and expensive events rather than focusing our resources on developing the level of play. Currently our top events are too much about exciting holidays than serious sports fixtures.
And I don’t think they should bother with the lower divisions to start with. Yes there are some serious teams working their way up through those. But there are also the uncompetitive players there who are just turning up for the holiday – the hobby players, happy to sit in a lower division without ever pushing themselves. Now there is nothing wrong with them those guys I haven’t got the slightest problem with them or what they do. I just don’t think that the European league is the place for them. And limiting the available spaces means that playing at a European level is a prize to strive for, not something you simply pay your money and turn up to.
And then there is the benefit of the fact that the organisation/league would be player run. That means no cut going to someone’s profit, and thus decisions not being influenced by short term ‘del-boy’ motives.
But practically speaking how would such an organisation work? Well I would suggest a European players association, a member owned and led organisation. They would of course have to elect a board or chairman to lead it. Now someone would have to effectively take that role to get the organisation going, and I suspect they would be a good candidate to lead it once it was established. So first thing is someone prominent in European paintball to step forward and start rallying the players in the top teams to the cause. Get the leaders of the teams united to decide on a direction. Then establish the organisation a legally established not-for-profit or charity or members club or whatever is most appropriate. From there get the top teams players to sign up. Now as nice as it is to be able to offer free membership, I don’t feel someone is part of something and committed to it unless they have invested something in it, even if just a token 10 Euros or whatever. It might also be a good time to bring in id and player registering, as it gives them something for their money. But as this is player led there would be no need to make it a money making scheme like id’s tend to be. Then you have to book the events. They don’t have to be stadiums or top venues, there doesn’t have to be grandstands and spectacle, just fields, bunkers, refs, air and the teams. You don’t even need a huge staging area as with a match format there will be staging at either end of the field for the teams that are competing.
It might be a humble start, but it would provide a much better foundation to grow the sport. Now I'm sure it would be very easy to come up with reasons why this wouldn't work, but i would urge people to think a little harder and try and come up with solutions to those problems.
Vive la revolution!
