Millennium --- missing the point!

[Just Curious]

What the fcuk is going on??

Is it just me or does there seem to be a total lack of professionalism in the way this Series is being not only run but set-up?

1. They don't release the dates for the coming season until nearly a month into the new year and even then they cannot confirm the Venues.
2. They seem to be making up Rules & Regulations as they go along and just dumping them out in 'Press Releases'.
3. Problems they have had in previous seasons, i.e the infamous 'F' mark that is required in Germany do not seem to have been addressed at all.

All the above from a 'self-proclaimed' leading professional series! Seems to me that the local 10-year old kiddies Sunday League is more professionally run.

On the point of the 'F' Mark that is required in Germany, why continue to hold an event there when the problem has clearly shown that Players/Teams run the risk of losing there equipment. If the do decide to continue to hold the event, which they have, then why have they not come up with a solution to the problem and assist the Foreign Teams that wish to attend?

Flame away, just my rant!

 

[Dark Warrior]

Originally posted by Just Curious
What the fcuk is going on??

Is it just me or does there seem to be a total lack of professionalism in the way this Series is being not only run but set-up?

1. They don't release the dates for the coming season until nearly a month into the new year and even then they cannot confirm the Venues.
2. They seem to be making up Rules & Regulations as they go along and just dumping them out in 'Press Releases'.
3. Problems they have had in previous seasons, i.e the infamous 'F' mark that is required in Germany do not seem to have been addressed at all.

All the above from a 'self-proclaimed' leading professional series! Seems to me that the local 10-year old kiddies Sunday League is more professionally run.

On the point of the 'F' Mark that is required in Germany, why continue to hold an event there when the problem has clearly shown that Players/Teams run the risk of losing there equipment. If the do decide to continue to hold the event, which they have, then why have they not come up with a solution to the problem and assist the Foreign Teams that wish to attend?

Flame away, just my rant!

Nothing from me but agreement

 

[Liz]

I think the biggest problem I have with how the "F" mark thing has been handled is that the Millennium seemed to ignore it completely, even after last year's problems with confiscated markers, until someone demanded a public announcement on the subject.

The largest problem to me personally has been how late they announce the dates. The domestic leagues held on for as long as they could to avoid clashing with Millennium dates, but had to publish their schedule before Christmas. THEN the Millennium finally announce their dates, which of course do clash with many domestics. If the local leagues can get their acts together, why can't the "Professional" guys?

 

[irons69]

WORD
thay are not intressed in the player,s only the MONEY
but what else are we going to do
last year my old team wolf-pac came 4th at DMA and no prize,s and we were short on trophy,s
until someone else has the money and time to set up another series we are stuffed
i am not saying that the NPPL is the way to go i want 10 game,s not 8 but it would give us the paying public another series to play
team,s have already paid entry,s and flght,s to bitburg and still no word on the F MARK or under 18 thing,s
**** if this was a major sporting event like the football world cup these thing,s would have been sorted long ago
or there would have been a all mighty stink in the british press and on tv
outside sponsership my arse who would want to put money in to this series if the paying public have the hump
even trade stand price,s have gone up this year and i know a few peaple that are thinking long and hard about attending this year

 

[Dark Warrior]

As far as i'm aware markers were confiscated in 2003 and 2004
and that was by Airport security after the event in both cases

 

[Chicago]

Maybe because most domestic leagues have their events at commercial fields while Millenium has their events at non-paintball locations, and while a field owner can have a tournament at his field whenever he'd like, scheduling an event at, say, a stadium, is dependent on availability and the willingness of the venue to ocmmit to a date in a particular time frame?

I never understood why people got their panties so in a bunch about having event dates a year in advance.

I'm also amused anytime someone accuses tournament promoters of "only being interested in the money". That's laughable - if these guys were truly only interested in money, the first thing they'd do is stop running paintball tournaments and start doing something both easier and more profitable.

 

[Just Curious]

I never understood why people got their panties so in a bunch about having event dates a year in advance.

Possibly because they need to book time of work, make sure enough players are available to travel, book flights & accomdation, just generally give people enough time to sort things out...do u think that qualifies?

scheduling an event at, say, a stadium, is dependent on availability and the willingness of the venue to ocmmit to a date in a particular time frame

Agreed, it is problamatic but as with previous seasons the Millennium Series are aware that Teams do require this info a.s.a.p so that the teams can sort all the above, which leads me back to my point in my first post, its a problem that they have refused to address!

if these guys were truly only interested in money, the first thing they'd do is stop running paintball tournaments and start doing something both easier and more profitable.

Ok, so why do they do it? If they did not make any money on these events why don't they do something easier and more profitable? Do you think they do it for the love of the Sport? The simple fact is that they do make money. How much is irrelevant.

My 'gripe' is not the Events themselves, imo they are all quality and well worth the money, its the way things have been advised, rule changes from week-to-week, venues not being confirmed, websites not being updated and so on. If the Millennium want to be recognised as the 'Professional Organisation' and 'innovator of Paintball in Europe' that they claim to be then they need to get their collective fingers out!

Flame away, just my rant!

 

[Chicago]

Originally posted by Just Curious
Possibly because they need to book time of work, make sure enough players are available to travel, book flights & accomdation, just generally give people enough time to sort things out...do u think that qualifies?

No. If you need more than 60 days to plan to go to an event you need to adjust your life or acquire some organizational skills or, if you're in some exceptional case where more than 60 days is required, just accept that playing national-level tournament paintball may not be the best hobby for you.

Agreed, it is problamatic but as with previous seasons the Millennium Series are aware that Teams do require this info a.s.a.p so that the teams can sort all the above, which leads me back to my point in my first post, its a problem that they have refused to address!

Teams have no reasonable need to know precise event dates/locations more than 90, and really not more than 60, days out.

Ok, so why do they do it? If they did not make any money on these events why don't they do something easier and more profitable? Do you think they do it for the love of the Sport? The simple fact is that they do make money. How much is irrelevant.

I would imagine, yes, because they do like the sport. Are you saying that the only way someone could be doing something for the love of the sport is if they're losing money? That's just stupid, and selfish. "They make money, they OWE us!" Bull****. If they were making a ton of money, maybe. But I suspect that the amount of money they make is way, way less than the amount they would make if they were to do something else. And somebody who spends a lot of time doing something for what amounts to a quid an hour is doing you a favor. People's time is valuable, and if they're giving it to you at far below market value, they're doing you a huge favor.

My 'gripe' is not the Events themselves, imo they are all quality and well worth the money, its the way things have been advised, rule changes from week-to-week, venues not being confirmed, websites not being updated and so on. If the Millennium want to be recognised as the 'Professional Organisation' and 'innovator of Paintball in Europe' that they claim to be then they need to get their collective fingers out!

I would imagine that Millenium wants to have a continental paintball series, and not lose money while doing it, and things like updating the website is a lower priority than whatever it is these people do that puts food on the table.

 

[Parksy]

Originally posted by Chicago
No. If you need more than 60 days to plan to go to an event you need to adjust your life or acquire some organizational skills or, if you're in some exceptional case where more than 60 days is required, just accept that playing national-level tournament paintball may not be the best hobby for you.

Teams have no reasonable need to know precise event dates/locations more than 90, and really not more than 60, days out.

Sorry but I got to comment on that!!

What sort of company do you think people work for?

A lot of people that play paintball are profesionals, they need to be to be able to afford to play events abroad unless they are well sponsored.

My holidays for the entire year have to be submitted and approved well in advance of 60 days. My wifes holidays are booked in a year in advance. Not to mention most companys run on a first come first served booking system in that you can only have certain numbers oif staff from key areas off during the same period of time.

To say that this is uncommon I think is a reflection of how the company you work for runs not a reflection of how a lot of others do...

 

[Nick Brockdorff]

MS

1. They don't release the dates for the coming season until nearly a month into the new year and even then they cannot confirm the Venues.
2. They seem to be making up Rules & Regulations as they go along and just dumping them out in 'Press Releases'.
3. Problems they have had in previous seasons, i.e the infamous 'F' mark that is required in Germany do not seem to have been addressed at all.

Everyone who is a regular on these boards, know I'll be the first to criticise the MS, when I believe they are doing something wrong.

But, in this case, I think you are slightly off the mark (I could find OTHER things to criticise - but that belongs in another thread I think )

1. They have still released dates nearly 3 mkonths before the first event.... and as everyone knows, the winter months have been spent negotiating with the NXL, NPPL, individual MS promoters, and others.... add to that some fairly significant personnel changes in the MS organisation, and it all makes sense.
....... so obviously they were unable disclose any information, until everything was in place.....

Last year that was just shy of a month before the first event (which was ridiculous) - this year about 3 months... so I say WELL DONE - Nice improvement there!

What exactly is it that is so important about knowing the exact venue, of events that are so long away?
- You know the city, so you know what airport to book flights to... what else do you need so much time in advance?

2. Subsequent to my reply to point 1 - it should also be quite obvious that they would be unable to release rule changes, etc. - until they knew what format they were playing, and who (if any) they partnered up with.

And where else should they release news, rule changes, etc. - other than with press releases and by posting news up on their website?

3. I totally agree - but think maybe this falls in the lap of the German promoter, rather than the Series, as the German promoter is the one dealing with German authorities about his event.

Now... if you ask me about X-Ball, or other issues.... you'll get me fired up - but that is a whole other thread

Nick