Since we're talking the real deal....
Originally posted by stongle
Maybe I'm stuck in the 18th Century Mercantilist theory of Paintball economics, but surely the sort of commitment to play EXL, Super league, the odd NPPL / PSP Div 1, train, have a coach, pay entry fees, fly, hotels, eat etc (all pretty much requirements of any pro squad), are beyond the realms of even some of the hallowed 8? I'd have thought there was only so much sponsorship to be had in Europe, and EXL seems to have upped the Ante significantly?
I mean it all sounds good to be included in the exclusive club, but are some peoples eyes bigger than their bellies, or are egos writing cheques their sponsors can't or won't cash?
Obviously you shouldn't be allowed to buy your way into the top 8, but what if the financial commitment is simply too great for some teams, what then? Surely the MS have to implement some form of trap door? As soon as a squad drops out we introduce scheduling problems, the predictable "I told you so's", and a possible credibility problem for the EXL.
Either that or was a Financial commitment a requirement / bond required up front prior to entry to the EXL. Money maketh the paintball balls spin'eth, and what you gotta be looking at finger in air: 250,000 Euros + a year to run a pro squad?
Ok it's feasible to drop all bar EXL, but then surely playing 4 competitive tournies a year, is going to lead to a can of whoop ass being opened up on you, and then the paintball equivalent of being torn limb from limb.
Hey I'm not trying to poke holes in what's being suggested, just suggesting that either a contingency plan or fund needs to exist to ensure the success of the EXL league? Are the MS series promoters going to underwrite the team franchises as well as the events themselves? (hence this is a suggestion to add some value or security not a dig)
Or are the financials hush hush???
Oh sod it, Rancid I'll get the light and me coat.......
Oh, and Happy New Year to one and all!
Hey Glen, some good points well made, as usual !
I think your primary concern, that of ‘eyes bigger than bellies’ is a valid one.
When teams jump on the XBall bandwagon, it ain't all fun and games, it's a commitment, a huge one.
Any ole team can
say 'we want in' but I wonder how many can actually compete.
With team rosters having to expand, almost double in some cases, with training requirements having to get 'real' for the first time in most of their paintball lives, with huge drains on resources both financial and domestic, I think some are gonna struggle real bad.
XBall, ostensibly seems like a natural extension of tournament paintball and thus can easily be assimilated into the structure of a team, IT CANNOT, it's an evolutionary jump that will kill some participants if they ain't prepared and managed correctly.
The only thing I hope is that the integrity of the league remains intact as the season progresses because as sure as sh1t, this league is gonna sort the men from the boys.
As far as the structure and logistics in concerned, Richmond is I think underwriting some of that expense with of course the promoters themselves shoving their arms in their pockets.
As far as the teams go, your guess is as good as mine as to who can hack it and who can't.
But...I can foresee some teams who can't hack it but will still turn out to each event. They will go through the motions of being a member of the top 8 by attending each event but their standard of play and results indicate otherwise because their team infrastructure wasn't able to withstand the pressures XBall puts upon them.
So..what do we do when this situation happens, offer them a freebie franchise just because they turned up or give somebody else a chance?
Lots of questions, lots of doubts but I still think this is the right way to go.
By the way, there is nothing going on with regard to 'hush hush' finances, no need really !
Have a great new year Glen and make sure u keep 'er indoors' happy
