P8ntball and the 21st Century

[Tom Tom]

As we have entered a new era in paintball, can we see people changing?

Will Paintball become a greater known and more "socially" acceptable sport.

Will people go down the local to watch on the sky sport channell their favorite team compete in the Paintball World Cup?

One of my students is doing "minority sports" in the media and how they compare to the bigger sporting television events.

They laughed when i mentioned paintball and had the Indian sport of Kabadii higher on the list.

I showed them a video of Avalanche in action and the whole concept field idea and they were shocked. They were still a little sceptical and had visions of "gladiators" BUT they had not even played rec-ball (so that needs to be changed)

They said it took 100 years for football (soccer) to take off but paintball is growing quickly and with things like the X-Games making TV shows, will paintball be able to do the same?

I know bravo had mission paintball and it has done alot for the sport but it is not really a mainstream channel (despite a growing number of houses having sky and cable and digital)

More people need to made aware of the sport and what good ways could we find of getting people to come and spectate at tourneys (not just campaign etc) but the smaller more local ones.

Maybe the big companies could invest in holding events at Uni's and Colleges using their sports fields. It would capture the imaginations of the next generation.

What about more advertising. Radio, TV Newspapers. Advertise events, promote the FREE ENTRY (to watch).

I just would like as I know everyone here would to see P8ntball grow in size and recognition. I just wonder how we can do it?

 

[SPARKLIE CHICK]

Tom tom

a very valid well thought out post congratulations. Well I did invite all our rec players to watch the last tourney and although we had many spectators I think they were all wives girlfreinds and kids. Appart from thunder giving moral support. It is some thing I will consider for next time especially as the weather will be nice

As a site we always encorage parents to watch and if they fancy it go out into the range (goggles on obviously) and have a little go.

I know this is only a small step but every little helps. We are also putting together a collection of fottage of site events that are being eddited together.

Yorklie is planning a paintball awareness day. May be this is some thing that could be done world wide with press releases and footage, badges for players or even T shirts.

If none smoking days ect can get on tv and radio why not paintball.

just my opinoin

peace love cookies and converting the masses

Sparklie

 

[Robin Hood]

I reckon that one of the main hurdles to overcome is that of sponsorship from the outside world (as in, non-paintball related companies). I can already see this happening in a variety of places which is fantastic, on the Mardi Gras web site I saw that Honda was advertising and I think I saw Bicardi in other places too.

As for the free entry - I feel that this is a must. As far as I know, all tournaments have been free to spectate, and changing that now will seriously slow the expansion of the sport. We need to get people there, watching, interested and then playing before we're able to ask people who enthusiastic enough about it to pay.

The TV and media have done wonders in the past year or two (all though it has also hindered), in bringing show such as Mission: Paintball, X-Fire, the upcoming Splatter thing in the states on FOX - a major public TV channel over there!
Now, with the capability of releasing quality videos and DVD's of the sport it's even easier to 'spread the word' as such. There are some very well made PB videos out there and coming soon. After all, it's not good if they're shabilly put together.

Alot is going on and I reckon it's helping the sport to progress even faster and more efficiently as time goes on. Advertising the big events is something that if worked on, could interest thousands more at each event!

One of big problems with paintball is the price too - a lot of people don't feel they can afford to play, but with some sites doing some great deals - especially for the younger crowd, then people can be raked in and converted!!

There's still tons of stuff to do, but I can definitely see stuff being done and changes being made - all for the better.

Anyway, I'm off, AJermstad