Cost, Apathy, Money etc

[Crusher]

Its what I seem to hear on the boards here now. Cost, Apathy, Money etc

What would you do IF?

Like motorsport the lower entry classes were fixed into set rules?
You could only use 1 make or model of maker (or even style to allow choice and stop monopolies on equipment)
Limited changes (barrel no longer than X, tank no larger than X)
1 paint brand (this would be hard I think)
But make it so it is cheap and easy to enter,

As you went up the brackets it became progressively more expensive due to rules opening up. Then say the top class bracket would be like an 'open' format, you know anything goes, a bit like F1.

What do you say?

I know as I started playing, I could enter the base division of MM run by SAD and have a great day playing with a base marker, I used a spyder, a cocker and a mag. I DEFINITELY did not feel the need to go and blow 1K on a marker and kit, just to "play". The skills came and we won some. Seems to easy to explain really. If you won the series you went to CC at CP.

If I wanted to go the F1 route, I go play the millenniums.

The only thing I really see different now is the 'perceived cost' of starting playing, and the ongoing cost of tournaments and the travel.

Where have the regional tourneys gone?
Regional tourneys were cheap for us back then and supplied more than enough competition. You would maybe do a couple of series to spice it up a little. The hosting sites probably helped also by allowing tourneys to be held at cost only?

UK paintball is dying because there is no-one following this generation. What is coming through, isn't worth the effort. How can the gap be plugged?

I think for a tournament we would pay 50-60 each for entry including a box of paint. The equipment restricted paint usage.

Thoughts on how to renew dwindling UK ball?

 

[balf]

masters usually costs me 65ish

pa xball cost 70ish.



as for all the limitations you talk on imposing it opens up a whole world of NO.

what about paint sponsorships, clothing, guns etc...


yes i know not many new teams have these...but what about the sister teams of bigger teams whose sponsorships are carried through to the sister team

 

[Cusack]

KOTH, divisions like these, it sounds like a good plan. Problem is you need to be inside paintball to hear about them, but with a little marketing i think you could fill a division with players completely renting out their kit.

Isn't the masters Xball lite format going a little way towards what you suggest, i heard they have a nice paint sponsorship?

 

[Crusher]

masters usually costs me 65ish

pa xball cost 70ish.



as for all the limitations you talk on imposing it opens up a whole world of NO.

what about paint sponsorships, clothing, guns etc...


yes i know not many new teams have these...but what about the sister teams of bigger teams whose sponsorships are carried through to the sister team

Balf, I hear ya.

So you would play the open division.

Now by sponsorship do you mean you get selected to play paintball for a company using their equipment or you get stuff cheaper than the man on the street?

Balf, here is my take, and it didn't hit me until a year or so ago.

The country is full of teams getting discounts (sponsorships) now even those teams are folding as they STILL cant afford to play and get "shop window" time (cos' everyone gives like they recieve).

Take all those discounts (whats it worth????) and use it to run a whole league where it was susidised for EVERYONE to play at a more affordable rate. It would take a lot of diplomacy by the big companies, but it would be for the game (Not a sport). MORE people can play MORE affordable paintball REGULARLY.

The whole world is full of NO already. Locking a division to equipment of the same genre would allow this, it may even generate better basic skill using blow back semis for a while.

 

[Crusher]

KOTH, divisions like these, it sounds like a good plan. Problem is you need to be inside paintball to hear about them, but with a little marketing i think you could fill a division with players completely renting out their kit.

Isn't the masters Xball lite format going a little way towards what you suggest, i heard they have a nice paint sponsorship?

If it happens...I bet that it will be one the most productive league divisions in terms of generating new blood to our incestuous DNA, in paintball (the rednecks are gonna' get me for sure).

 

[sumo89]

i think one problem in this is that people in KOTH use the same guns as pro's do, the only thing i can think of that could change as you progress up is the fire modes (ramping etc) allowed.

 

[sumo89]

Try Masters 5-Man costing £80 before paint or food and drink, that's what the NX boys face each month we play, but we still commit to every event even though that adds up over the course of a season.

well if youve got the money fine, but if there is no possible way of you being able to afford it then its not coming down the commitment.

I think paintball in the UK suffers from too many vested intrests. If you go to a site, how many adverts/banners will you see for Masters Series / PA / Milenium? This may be venturing off topic, but if we can't even advertise to UK paintballers be it rec or tourney at a grass roots level, how can we expect paintball to grow?

its not advertising to UK ballers thats the problem, its bringing new people into the sport that is.

 

[Crusher]

I think paintball in the UK suffers from too many vested intrests. If you go to a site, how many adverts/banners will you see for Masters Series / PA / Milenium? This may be venturing off topic, but if we can't even advertise to UK paintballers be it rec or tourney at a grass roots level, how can we expect paintball to grow?

I think it is part of it, a site needs customers, exposing them to another option (tournament) through an advertisement could potentially lose them a return visit.

Please correct me if I am wrong, (I have been away) a lot of regional competitions were based on an established rec site (talking MM, Series 2K etc). The potential for a walk in/corporate 1 day visitor to see any sort of paintball competition was good.

Few sites seem to have converted a field to some kind of speedball/air ball which could host a local tournament and expose that side to the opportunity player?