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He is just outside Plymouth and he has sup air field
I honestly think having an up to date field will be a big plus
With a tournament sup air field it is necessary to keep it up to date (both annual bunker updates and regular layout changes)
This will also require a 'regulation' sized room to allow for the layout dimensions
If the layout is not right then it won't attract teams and keep them coming back for training
The surface is just as important - indoors will need some form of safensurface to allow the snake players etc to dive and slide (and all types of players will require a safe, non slip surface that they won't end up falling on their back)
Any health & safety mitigations on the player (don't run etc) will kill tournament training
I Questions I would ask is prices?, BYO paint allowed?, facilities for setting up/food/ open or closed training days? and are air fills available?
Prices & byo will be key to the regular player
As with all sites there will have to be a two or three tier pricing structure:
1) punter rate for the average public - essential customer base for any site, particularly an indoor site which will have full business rates and greater maintenance costs
2) a 'club' rate for regular punters
3) a walkon rate
If byo is to be allowed (tournament teams will either want to or have to use specific paint brands) the green fee will need to be balanced to allow money to be made. Eg if the average walkon green fee of £25 per head was used and a tournament room was used by 10 people doing some 5man training then that is a fixed income of £250 for at least a morning / afternoon, probably a day. Double that if there were more people / teams rotating.
But you have the most demanding customer who will use up the most space in a staging area, demand ongoing costs (keeping bunkers up to date, laying them out, cleaning them etc) and being the least profitable customer
At least if site paint is used then it's still an income to the site while they shoot (even if ordered in to meet their preference)
Other facilities - setting up / staging, food, electricity etc
Staging areas are obviously essential - have multiple rooms for all the potential groups (depending on number of playing areas etc
Punters and walkons have different needs, but essentially benches, some chairs, and lockers for valuables
Food is essential - and is another side area for income, fair but profitable prices for cooked food and snacks
Electricity is an easy benefit for an indoor site - some sockets in staging rooms allow some to plug in phones etc, (and to add value to punter parties with the ability to add music/video to make them stay longer / have a full party etc)
more sockets at benches makes it easier to plug in phones and makes more customers happy
Electricity comes at a cost, both just the supply kWh cost, and the capacity cost of ensuring the building can cope - especially in winter if electric heaters are added to certain rooms
Cover the site in cctv, both for security and for 'customer experience' - put screens in staging areas and parents can watch their kids play
You need the ability to switch screens to any playing room - but not the ability for parents to put on the site security store rooms, shop etc (it's good to let them see you have security cameras but don't want to show them all the things they can steal)
Air fills:
It is almost essential that any new site runs a compressed air system and not co2
Co2 has a much cheaper setup cost, but limits the site to punters only
Scuba cylinders can be brought in for air fills but very quickly drop in pressure and are not sustainable
Diversity:
Get a balance between offering multiple activities for the punters and not being over diverse (having too many different activities with different costs)
Eg .50 splatmaster, laser tag, airsoft
.50 paintbal (if establishing the site this will cut set up costs on equipment and storage space)
.68 paintball alongside .50 would be a cost doubler, but if you want walkons then you need to be able to provide .68 paint and some rental gear
