Do We Need the Millennium?

[Robbo]

I know this might seem to be a ridiculous question but it might have some merit if you think about it.
I could not blame the Millennium guys if they all said 'enough is enough' and packed up their money bags and left town.
They have an unenviable task of trying to please us ballers all of the time and it's fast turning out to be a nightmare for them, and it's a nightmare that isn't exactly offset by making them a lot of money, far from it in fact.

When the Millennium begun lord knows how many years ago, I was asked by Laurent and Steve Baldwin to join them in starting up a new premier European league.
I went on record in saying, I made a big mistake in not going in with them because I think they created something quite special and evolutionary.

All seemed to be going well and with the promise of TV always tantalisingly on the horizon, the Millennium league was poised to take full advantage of paintball's next evolutionary leap, that of mainstream acceptance via TV.

Circumstances have however conspired against the Millennium guys and although they are partially responsible for some of their problems, not all is their fault.
For all the flack they have taken, and continue to take, I do believe they have tried to do the right thing in most circumstances, but running a tournament series has so many considerations that it would take a lot more money to get things right all of the time.
They haven’t really done themselves too many favours in some of the decisions they made but hey, nobody is perfect and for the most part, I think they have done a pretty good job.

Back to the point...
If we lost the Millennium series, what would it really mean?
It would certainly put a greater emphasis on our domestic scene and free up considerable monies for all the teams who commit to every Millennium.
There are many possibilities here, not least of which is an improved inevitable development of our domestic tournament series but what of the Millennium; would it really make that much difference if it weren’t there? ...think about it and think about it in terms of the overall benefit of the UK baller, not just the pros.
And before anybody (*******s like Hermit) suggests I am asking this question to create some form of unrest or to cause trouble for the Millennium because I am in cahoots with someone in the background ready to start another league.... I am not .... I am asking the question because it just popped into my head, nothing more, nothing less.

 

[RainbowShooter]

I think people (well I would anyway) prefer one or two less events but the ones that stay of a high quality.

In other words so they have more time to spend on each location which should surely help to meet player's wants.

 

[bmw]

I think people (well I would anyway) prefer one or two less events but the ones that stay of a high quality.

.

do you play the mills?

 

[Magic_8ball]

Aside from the inevitable increase in focus on the UK domestic scene, I think it could lead to an increase in the number of UK teams participating in American events, perhaps not series straight away, but at least events.

The collapse of the MS would - as you rightly say - free up a lot of resources for the regular teams, and I think that many would look outside the UK for competition. I cant see the likes of Disruption or ECI or even NK saying "okay then, we'll play the NSPL now instead". I think a more likely scenario would be that they dedicate more time to training and make a few stateside visits for the bigger tournaments such as Huntingdon Beach etc.

Just a possibility

 

[Dusty]

I personally think that if there was ONE major tournament, in the UK, for the UK per year instead of the milleniums then there would be a much higher turnout of teams for it. I also think that more teams from other countries would enter.

After each millenium, there is the usual bemoaning of how bad it was. Campaign for me this year wasn't bad. Wasn't great, but wasn't bad. Thats after being to Toulouse as well.

My main gripe with the millenium is the expense. To be honest I don't think you get your moneys worth. 8 games in DIV1/2, and 10 in the M5?? I can't remember what the entry fee is, but when you think about it, it works out at over £100 per game entry fee for DIV1/2. Plus paint, plus associated expenses you all know about.

in answer to the original question, do we need the millenium series?

Nope, paintball will still be here in some shape or form long after Millenium decides to go.

 

[mikey601]

In a word, No!

If we lost the mills series it wouldn't take much to replace it.

I've never understood why this hasn't happened.

For example.

Paintball European Cup (excuse the lame name)

You have a board of members

Board then choose the countries who are going to host the 4 or whatever number of events.

OK say its:

UK
Spain
France
Germany

So

UK - February

Spain - May

France - August

Germany - October

(please this is just an example)



So when it comes down to the UK. You have UK Tournament organisers run it. Money going back into UK ball and the same for every country.

I'll use the UK as an example as i know the people.

So the UK event.

Syd - NSPL
Wendy - Masters
Russel - PA

They clump there money together and working out if someone puts in more than the other they then take that percentage in the tournaments takings.

So they pick a venue, new or existing. Group their fields together. They all already have Air and such sorted.

All that i can see that is needed is either some XL Turf, or grass which would be on par as the standard that Wendy used for the Welsh Open last year (cricket pitch if you weren't there).

This way, every country has the possibility to make there own money. Put a good event on, you would be known for a good event and get a better turn out year by year. Do a half assed attempt and either the board gives your spot to a different county or basically teams just wouldn't turn up.

Would give countries/domestic organisers something to battle out for, and we all know that would create better tournaments for us as they would want to be seen as better then such n such.

Sorry for the long babble but i hope i get my point across

 

[Jeff Abbott - Dye]

^^^
Thats how it used to be...

 

[mikey601]

^^^
Thats how it used to be...

So why the change?

How long ago are you talking?

 

[Robbo]

Without the Millennium, it certainly opens up the possibility of a 'Super' event being created for the Europeans ...... much like the Mayhem Championship was of yesteryear.
This would then be a focal point for the year's play if indeed it went that way.
Our domestic teams could flourish in a more parochial environment and we could all benefit from this if managed correctly.

One of the major problems we faced was when we set up a Millennium series with 5 events, locked it down and initiated the process of eroding the 'bang for your buck'.
Too many changes were made that suited the promoter instead of the paying customer; changes such as game times, number of games, format etc.

We need a radical rethink in what direction we need to go instead of trying to keep plugging holes in what is, in practical terms at least, a stricken ship (the Millennium series) - maybe the Millennium guys could think about running one Super event, in France maybes, whereby all the old values of event promotion and customer value are resurrected.
Give me the Mayhem and Toulouse of old any-days; maybe 5 events was too much too soon, especially when we consider how things have gone of late.
The Millennium board certainly have the ability to put on a great event, after all, the architects of Mayhem and Toulouse are still very much part of the existing board, Steve and Laurent.
In this way it could put us all back on an even keel..it's worth a try if nothing else.

 

[Markie C]

I think that if the ms did fold or just gave up there just would be another set of people waiting to jump in and then we would be having this conversation again in a few years time.