Agreed, it would also be ironic because of all the good they've done - as NPPL might never have happened if Millennium hadn't been putting the pressure on from this side of the pond
Millennium Madness
- Thread starter Robbo
- Start date
As an outsider to all this (in as much as I'm not a manufacturer, promoter, organiser, or even a well-known and respected player or ex-player) and someone who's only been playing for just under a year, it seems that with the advent of X-Ball we've hit a dangerous time in the progression of paintball from past-time/hobby to sport.
I've tried to follow the wranglings of the PSP and NPPL. I've listened to the various discussions during the later half of last year on X-Ball; future of paintball or flash in the pan. I've read with interest the views of those who attended Huntingdon Beach, and the impact that tournament may have on paintballs future.
But I've always thought "That's ok.... do what you like over there. I'm probably never gonna play X-Ball, for cost and skill reasons. I'm probably never going to get the chance to go state-side and play but they'll always be a Campaign Cup and the Millenium Series."
I think as players we should accept that this sport we call paintball will change. It has to if we want to get to where we would all like paintball to be; a sport that the normal public want to watch, either live or televised.
Are we now hitting a stage where paintball will fracture, or has fractured, along financial lines?
It seems to me that X-Ball has already expanded the fissure that existed between US and Euro ball, certainly with regard to the number of US teams that will be visiting Europe this year, as many of those that could afford it now seem to be tied into X-Ball. This appears to have sent ripples through out the paintball world. I gather that X-Ball requires a truck load of cash to play, cash that is provided by the sponsors. This has surely got to have a negative impact on the revenue and sponsorship available to those teams, and events, outside of the X-Ball franchise.
Despite the postings by Robbo and others describing what happened, I still cannot see why X-Ball isn't happening here as part of the overall plan. Is developing the sport by individual geographical regions going to be of any more benefit than developing it as a single, united entity?
Given that, for the foreseeable future, X-Ball seems to be the way forward, how is this going to impact the other formats and other series'? Is the Millenium Series in danger, both in terms of respect and finance, of being relegated down the ladder of top class paintball events?
The Nations Cup X-Ball events that are planned to co-incide with Millenium events seems to me to be both a sideline to the Millenium Series and a sideline to X-Ball itself, regardless of the way the various nations teams are picked.
Urban
I've tried to follow the wranglings of the PSP and NPPL. I've listened to the various discussions during the later half of last year on X-Ball; future of paintball or flash in the pan. I've read with interest the views of those who attended Huntingdon Beach, and the impact that tournament may have on paintballs future.
But I've always thought "That's ok.... do what you like over there. I'm probably never gonna play X-Ball, for cost and skill reasons. I'm probably never going to get the chance to go state-side and play but they'll always be a Campaign Cup and the Millenium Series."
I think as players we should accept that this sport we call paintball will change. It has to if we want to get to where we would all like paintball to be; a sport that the normal public want to watch, either live or televised.
Are we now hitting a stage where paintball will fracture, or has fractured, along financial lines?
It seems to me that X-Ball has already expanded the fissure that existed between US and Euro ball, certainly with regard to the number of US teams that will be visiting Europe this year, as many of those that could afford it now seem to be tied into X-Ball. This appears to have sent ripples through out the paintball world. I gather that X-Ball requires a truck load of cash to play, cash that is provided by the sponsors. This has surely got to have a negative impact on the revenue and sponsorship available to those teams, and events, outside of the X-Ball franchise.
Despite the postings by Robbo and others describing what happened, I still cannot see why X-Ball isn't happening here as part of the overall plan. Is developing the sport by individual geographical regions going to be of any more benefit than developing it as a single, united entity?
Given that, for the foreseeable future, X-Ball seems to be the way forward, how is this going to impact the other formats and other series'? Is the Millenium Series in danger, both in terms of respect and finance, of being relegated down the ladder of top class paintball events?
The Nations Cup X-Ball events that are planned to co-incide with Millenium events seems to me to be both a sideline to the Millenium Series and a sideline to X-Ball itself, regardless of the way the various nations teams are picked.
Urban
Urb, to be honest, you are not an outsider, you are a player who pays to play just like the vast majority of others who attend the Millennium, you don't have to be a manufacturer / promoter or even well known to be able to comment on this debacle, all you need to possess is common sense, an attribute that seems to have escaped the legislative arm of the Millennium Board.
The reason I like your post is because you have no axes to grind, have no angles and no self-interest other than the objective observation of a player.
And if you are looking to me for answers as to the rationale employed by the board in all of their recent decisions, I can't help mate, it's beyond me too.
It would seem in their attempt to keep two parties happy (Super 7’s and PSP but never their own teams) they are now leaving themselves open to ridicule and invasion.
And to be honest, this was all so easy to avoid if they had actually 'thought' about what they were doing.
Pete
Hey Beak, the NPPL did not happen because of any pressure from the Millennium, it happened because of two events, the estrangement of Chuck (NPPL) from the PSP and because of Jerry Braun's treatment of WDP at the World Cup.
These two disgruntled parties (WDP and Chuck) then joined forces to create what we now know as the Super 7's.
And the greatest irony of all is that Jerry has now created a situation that rocks the very foundations of his own PSP !!
Funny how what goes around comes around ain't it ?
But what can be said is this, the US tournament circuit will be the greatest beneficiary of all this because without this competition between PSP and Super 7's, we would still be seeing the world cup played in a field with all its shortfalls for the next ten years !
Pete
There should be a
prevention rather than cure attitiude running though the organisers minds now
bring a rule out now! regarding where padding is allowed and not allowed this way the firms Know what they can design in the future.
there no reason why the millenium can't say 2003 padding on the shoulders can be used( dye shirts) but by 2004 the padding must be phased out.
regarding the x ball
Im pretty certain a few wealthy people will be watching america very closely and if it is a hit then an X ball league will be set up.
whether or not its part of the millenium
America has PSP/ Nppl
can see it happening over here
Millenium and XXX?
prevention rather than cure attitiude running though the organisers minds now
bring a rule out now! regarding where padding is allowed and not allowed this way the firms Know what they can design in the future.
there no reason why the millenium can't say 2003 padding on the shoulders can be used( dye shirts) but by 2004 the padding must be phased out.
regarding the x ball
Im pretty certain a few wealthy people will be watching america very closely and if it is a hit then an X ball league will be set up.
whether or not its part of the millenium
America has PSP/ Nppl
can see it happening over here
Millenium and XXX?
Agreed, but I also meant to reflect that fact that the Millennium has been showing the US how tournament paintball could be run for the last few years. The Millennium has been held up as an example, and if they hadn't existed, perhaps the pressure on PSP might not have been so great (which in turns generates the market gap that Chuck and WDP are also gunning for).
I didn't mean to say that it was the catalyst for the events from WC on. But that maybe it helped sow the seeds by showing how things could be done.
STOP THINKING OF YOUR BANK BALANCE GUYS you are responsible for the passion of millions of people across the US, Europe and the rest of the world.
If you wanna be the best you got to work real hard for it put hours of training into your game but we expect our tournaments to be of top class quality, judging to be fair, don't be affraid to pull out a pro player cause he shouts at you, if he is hit he is gone (It dont take a Pro team to judge, just a judge who cares about the game. I have witnesed many Pro judges who could not give a toss who wins.
If the organisers have to spend money to develope the sport further, pay out wages to judges etc, provide better food facilities, changing areas etc its there responsability because as people have said if the current organisers cant do it someone always takes over.
If you wanna be the best you got to work real hard for it put hours of training into your game but we expect our tournaments to be of top class quality, judging to be fair, don't be affraid to pull out a pro player cause he shouts at you, if he is hit he is gone (It dont take a Pro team to judge, just a judge who cares about the game. I have witnesed many Pro judges who could not give a toss who wins.
If the organisers have to spend money to develope the sport further, pay out wages to judges etc, provide better food facilities, changing areas etc its there responsability because as people have said if the current organisers cant do it someone always takes over.
Get a grip
Not being funny, but while the NPPL and PSP have to worry about losing business to one another, the European promoters can really, if they thought about it, take the time to get in place a system that actually works.
When you look at it, there is little pressure on them from rivals. There is one major euro series, and so they don't have to think fast, but they should think. They have the chance to make a series that both leagues in the States aspire to emulate.
Forget following the rules of one and the trends of the other. They can make their own rule book, make their own decisions about what happens to Euro ball.
It's time that they all just thought: wait a sec. Let's think about what the fallout (pun not intended) would be from this decision. Will it work? Or will we have to retract it?
Maybe they can post possible changes, and see how players react. Then if it looks as if it would work, then implement it. It'll save them face, and us a lot of hassle.
Maybe I'm just living in a dream world, eh?
Not being funny, but while the NPPL and PSP have to worry about losing business to one another, the European promoters can really, if they thought about it, take the time to get in place a system that actually works.
When you look at it, there is little pressure on them from rivals. There is one major euro series, and so they don't have to think fast, but they should think. They have the chance to make a series that both leagues in the States aspire to emulate.
Forget following the rules of one and the trends of the other. They can make their own rule book, make their own decisions about what happens to Euro ball.
It's time that they all just thought: wait a sec. Let's think about what the fallout (pun not intended) would be from this decision. Will it work? Or will we have to retract it?
Maybe they can post possible changes, and see how players react. Then if it looks as if it would work, then implement it. It'll save them face, and us a lot of hassle.
Maybe I'm just living in a dream world, eh?
