Only 8 prelim gmes in MS

[Wadidiz]

Originally posted by Buddha 3
Steve, how will this plan make the MS more money?

I really haven't a clue about how. I just brought that up for the sake of discussion. Nick points out aptly the things that probably would make the most difference.

The fact that they are continuing with eight or ten games in an archaic format is the main thing I think we should be concerned with. Some peepz in Mill and NPPL were looking at some hybrid format ideas that would give multiple rounds in an arena setting like X Ball and that no longer seems on the horizon. That would give much more average game time and be much more convenient, spectator-friendly...all those benefits we've talked much about before.

Maybe the opportunity to play an X Ball tournament with a mix of top teams could yet avail itself here in Europe sometime, somewhere nice this year. Would be great IMO.

 

[Buddha 3]

Originally posted by Wadidiz
I really haven't a clue about how. I just brought that up for the sake of discussion. Nick points out aptly the things that probably would make the most difference.

The fact that they are continuing with eight or ten games in an archaic format is the main thing I think we should be concerned with. Some peepz in Mill and NPPL were looking at some hybrid format ideas that would give multiple rounds in an arena setting like X Ball and that no longer seems on the horizon. That would give much more average game time and be much more convenient, spectator-friendly...all those benefits we've talked much about before.

Maybe the opportunity to play an X Ball tournament with a mix of top teams could yet avail itself here in Europe sometime, somewhere nice this year. Would be great IMO.

And then he posts something I find myself in total agreement with.

Word.

 

[Crock_O'Sheet]

I think there is a spot of hypocracy going on here. After Campaign Cup 2004 a lot of the more vocal minority were posting that the Esher venue wasn't 'Special' enough for a Millennium event even though the event itslef was good. Now we here a similar vocal minority saying that what they actually want is value for money and that all the extras (ie venue, player facilities etc) are not what they want. I can imagine it is very hard to find great venues with enough space for 7,8 or 9 fields. Add to that the cost of Pro Refs for all those fields and may be you have another reason why MS, NPPL etc have 8 games in the prelim phase.

How about these options:

Same entry fee, 8 prelim games, Pro Refs and a great venue

Or

Same entry fee, 10 games, teams judging and some field near somewhere-ish.

As for the profit or not for the Millennium, I have no opinion, I have never tried to put on a 100+ team event so what do I know.

 

[USELESS]

That just it the MS keep saying each year that this series is gonna be bigger and better each year well i dunno about you but they just aint delivering

 

[gaff]

Originally posted by Crock_O'Sheet
I think there is a spot of hypocracy going on here. After Campaign Cup 2004 a lot of the more vocal minority were posting that the Esher venue wasn't 'Special' enough for a Millennium event even though the event itslef was good. Now we here a similar vocal minority saying that what they actually want is value for money and that all the extras (ie venue, player facilities etc) are not what they want.

the reason most complained about your points were exactly what we are discussing at the moment.......the promises of a new venue allowing a spectacular event with this and that and shinny things etc, just did not happen!

as Nick has said its not the cost (to me!) its the fact that the Millenium series Business is not run like a business, and should consider itself very fortunate that there is not an equal series running in competition! i am not a fool, nor are lots of p8ntballers, so stop treating us like begging dogs.

also 8 games (max 7min/game) how many games last anywhere near 7mins? christ teams could be spending 10,000euros per event for 16minutes of p8ntball! thats just plain ridiculous!

**please note these are my feelings not those of the UK Jags or any sponsors of ours!**

 

[fred1]

Originally posted by Crock_O'Sheet
I think there is a spot of hypocracy going on here. After Campaign Cup 2004 a lot of the more vocal minority were posting that the Esher venue wasn't 'Special' enough for a Millennium event even though the event itslef was good. Now we here a similar vocal minority saying that what they actually want is value for money and that all the extras (ie venue, player facilities etc) are not what they want. I can imagine it is very hard to find great venues with enough space for 7,8 or 9 fields. Add to that the cost of Pro Refs for all those fields and may be you have another reason why MS, NPPL etc have 8 games in the prelim phase.

How about these options:

Same entry fee, 8 prelim games, Pro Refs and a great venue

Or

Same entry fee, 10 games, teams judging and some field near somewhere-ish.

As for the profit or not for the Millennium, I have no opinion, I have never tried to put on a 100+ team event so what do I know.

Green grass, a decent number of games (at least 15 over 3 days), decent reffing, a table and a tent that shields you and your gear from the rain, a bar and a grand stand, to watch the pro games is all I deem necessary..... for the rest I don't care. I'll **** in the woods, bring my own grub, drive for miles, don't care if anyone outside of paintball comes to watch, party in a hotel room instead of the player party, get my hairy team mates to walk down the catwalk in the latest WDP pink G-string, and have them lip sink and play air guitar to Nickelback at the same time.

Funny but the best tourney I've ever been to is Euroball III though everybody complains about it (the score part did suck) but we played 23 games in 2 days! It was just crazy. We had about 15 prelim games! It was awesome! A real paintball weekend.

To be honest I think that 10 games is a little short......

 

[Chicago]

The MS may very well have lost money last year

Originally posted by Nick Brockdorff
The ONLY thing that pisses me off, is that the MS thinks we are all idiots.

I'm sure they hold the esteemed readership of p8ntballer in higher regard than that. The average paintball player, however, well..... Millenium may be onto something there.

 

[Dark Warrior]

As far as I see it the Millennium series makes most of its money off the weaker teams. The very teams that it should be encouraging to play, the teams that stand little chance of getting through the prelim but go for the experience. Even the teams that are border line now have less chance to qualify.
They talk about better venues yet I do not see any venue changes, in fact they have dropped what was probably the best event, Toulouse. They have also cut down choice of events to 5.

As a novice player what do I get from the Millenium this year
Less time playing and more time watching
Less choice in venues so less oppurtunity to play
Better facilities and better refs - they should be as standard

They would have got a better response if they had just increased entry fees by 10%

"Give us a pot of gold to hold, then cut off our hands why don't you"

 

[penfold]

we can all moan about the MS as much as we want. it wont change a thing. i just cant understand how they can make a decision like this when they cant sort out venues etc in in time for their grand announcements. just one thing to consider ive heard a rumour about the english leg venue and it could be pretty spectacular (sshhhhh millenium dome has been mentioned dont tell anyone else) if that was the case and the facilities were up to scratch would we all be happy getting less game time for our money and be helping put paintball on the map by playing at a prestige venue. im not sticking up for the MS here and they have wound us all up with the global harmonisation crap but wouldnt it be good if when you told peeps that your playing paintball they dont think wargames in the woods. still it was only a rumour and as usual i'd be very surprised if the MS deliver on their promises.

 

[Red_Merkin]

As far as I see it the Millennium series makes most of its money off the weaker teams.

From what i have been told, this is probably the biggest factor contributing to financial success in the Millennium Series...
In My (Personal) Opinion here's why:

Div 2-3 teams have disposable income. They generally pay their entry to events themselves, buy paint from the sponsorsing paint companies,and buy kit from the trade vendors at (close to) full price.

These teams also pay for flights and hotels themselves, which makes the cost of attending a single event quite high. If they're getting less 'paintball time' for their money, i believe they will start looking for alternate tournaments within their own countries.

I don't believe that even a big serious series prize is going to seduce teams into playing more than a few events...



However i'm going to offer a possible solution. Friday and Saturday, games run as normal, Sunday is finals day as normal, but at some point open up the un used fields for players who didn't make the sunday club to play. You could do this sunday afternoon, (although most people will want to watch the finals), Sunday evening, and of course Monday.

Scutty set this up in Malaga, and it was great. No refs needed (maybe somebody to keep an eye on things though) just strait up paintball... against whoever shows up. If some team gets knocked out on Saturday, but plays 10 + games of fun paintball on Sunday, they may feel like the trip wasn't totally wasted.

I know that Street Paintball (putting the Pain back into Paintball!) was really fun, and made Malaga that little bit more satasfying. It dosn't cost the Promoters anything to leave 1 extra field up for an extra day, nothing compared to the satasfaction of the customers...

Players come to the big events to play better teams, to have a good time, party, drink some beer, and play paintball. I think opening up a Fun field would really boost the astmosphere and give the unlucky teams who didn't make the cut something to look forward to.

My 2 cents of course.