New Year - New Answers Needed ..but What?

[Robbo]

We all know our industry is undergoing a severe bout of contraction that bears witness to the last two financial quarters being the worst in our history.
This actually applies to the US and not to Europe, because over here, we are doing relatively well with regard to site business and retail.

The problem for us is, we cannot disentangle ourselves from the US problem because most of the industry is based over there even though the manufacturing arms for most of those businesses have been displaced to the far east.

And so, this thread is gonna ask you mob, what do you think the yanks need to do to get themselves out of the cr@p or do some of you take the opinion, the US's plight doesn't matter and we're alright Jack ...?

What do we think about the relative states of play when it comes to the financial spreadsheets from either side of the Atlantic ....?

 

[Syd (NSPL)]

Pretty straight forward answer in my opinion. The US paintball venues need to stop selling cheap paintball and stop mixing regulars with newcomers.

The lines between punters and own-gunners are way too blured over the pond and they would do well to look at the European way of running paintball venues.

Concentrate on the grass-roots and new growth/players.

 

[John C]

If Europe is the strongest section of the paintball industry, then surely thats the end for paintball?

Maybe not the end. But a contraction of the industry that makes the recent contractions seem very minor by comparison.



My answer to the industry would be 'get out while you still can'.

 

[foster90]

Pretty straight forward answer in my opinion. The US paintball venues need to stop selling cheap paintball and stop mixing regulars with newcomers.

The lines between punters and own-gunners are way too blured over the pond and they would do well to look at the European way of running paintball venues.

Concentrate on the grass-roots and new growth/players.

Agreed!

There needs to be line drawn between the different level of player. For example a football team, Reserves are the newer, less experienced
players and play other reserve teams/players of the same quality, the first team are the more distinguished proffessional experienced players who play against other pro's and get rewarded and recognised for there skills and efforts in doing so.

Doesnt being thrown in with the lesser crowd deteriate ones motivation and frustrate? Like a Mr David Beckham said when he went to the US "what have i done i feel like i've signed for a pub team"

If the line is drawn the competition gets tougher and people can earn there rightful place in the sport by pushing themselves being recognised for there skill and move upto a higher class of team.

 

[Monkeyboi]

here here

 

[PornstaR]

i know some people may just read this post and say its not possible but i want to know what it would take to get the sport we all love more recognised and publicised to the general public here and the rest of the world.

i have only been playing for about 5 years and always wondered why the major tournaments are not as highly screened on the tv like the "x games".

maybe a huge push towards getting more media coverage may help reignite the large companies with advertising and sponsorship deals.

please feel free to correct me on the above if it has been tried and failed.

 

[Dark Warrior]

Agreed!

There needs to be line drawn between the different level of player. For example a football team, Reserves are the newer, less experienced
players and play other reserve teams/players of the same quality, the first team are the more distinguished proffessional experienced players who play against other pro's and get rewarded and recognised for there skills and efforts in doing so.

Doesnt being thrown in with the lesser crowd deteriate ones motivation and frustrate? Like a Mr David Beckham said when he went to the US "what have i done i feel like i've signed for a pub team"

If the line is drawn the competition gets tougher and people can earn there rightful place in the sport by pushing themselves being recognised for there skill and move upto a higher class of team.

An analogy with Football
Where all the money is divided between the top teams in the world
and Paintball
Where all the money comes from the grass roots

 

[Syd (NSPL)]

i know some people may just read this post and say its not possible but i want to know what it would take to get the sport we all love more recognised and publicised to the general public here and the rest of the world.

i have only been playing for about 5 years and always wondered why the major tournaments are not as highly screened on the tv like the "x games".

maybe a huge push towards getting more media coverage may help reignite the large companies with advertising and sponsorship deals.

please feel free to correct me on the above if it has been tried and failed.

This idea of getting paintball in to the mainstream has contributed greatly to the mess the industry is in.

Tournament paintball is not the be all and end all of the industry - its a drop in the ocean. Shift your sights to the grassroots. Concentrate efforts there. Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves.

 

[DJForbes]

am new to paintball so am most likly have no idea what am on about.

erfore i played paintball i had no idea there was different types. (i enjoy all)
now i didnt even no there was all these companies and major teams.
i dont no what each of the compations offer etc.

i think we need in the sport more money and more new players.

1. advertisment of tournaments
2. Large Cash prizes ) i read somewhere it costs and arm and leg to keep a team going so this could help
3. dont just show one version of the sport. have supair along side scenario
4. dont do it in sites 10 miles from nowhere. take it to public events. each year where am from we have a huge vintage car festival which brings in 1000s of people. having a tournamnet in an areana there and showing people where to play and how to get into the sport.

 

[Buddha 3]

Just playing devil's advocate here, but is the mix of punters and own-gunners that bad? After all, the US has a far larger (in percentage) group of people that make the transition from rental to own-gunner.
If they never saw people running around with their own gear, how would they even know it existed?