Paintball as a sport - Question for players.

[Cook$]

Kit would probably improve a lot and get cheaper as more stuff like the ion would come out to satisfy people who don't have a lot of money to spend.

A lot of money to spend? A 2nd hand Ion costs about £150 with ups... Hell, a new set of rollerblades cost £150, so does a decent fishing rod/games console etc... Stuff is pretty much cheap enough. Well, maybe not, but people are still willing to pay it.

 

[TOOLE]

A lot of money to spend? A 2nd hand Ion costs about £150 with ups... Hell, a new set of rollerblades cost £150, so does a decent fishing rod/games console etc... Stuff is pretty much cheap enough. Well, maybe not, but people are still willing to pay it.

I'm just saying that there would be a vast improvement in the quality of lower priced markers if a lot of people come into the sport. More sales in the 150-200 pound range is going to mean more manufacturers target it, and therefore competition will increase. Increased sales volume and high competition can only bring prices down and quality up.

 

[KitsuneAndy]

I'm just saying that there would be a vast improvement in the quality of lower priced markers if a lot of people come into the sport. More sales in the 150-200 pound range is going to mean more manufacturers target it, and therefore competition will increase. Increased sales volume and high competition can only bring prices down and quality up.

But the point is, why would a lot of people come into the sport?

The problem we have now, is that we play an 'unrecognised sport' and no one outside of the community knows about it. Most of us probably stumbled across it in one way or another while playing a days rec ball, then progressed to walk on's then to sup air.

If we were a sport, we would have the situation were we play a 'recognised sport' and no one outside of the community knows about it. Most of the new players will have stumbled across it in one way or another while playing a days rec ball, then progressed to walk on's then to sup air.

No difference whatsoever. Certainly not in the short term. It may have long term benefits but it will take more than just becoming a sport to reap these benefits. People still wont know about it without someone funding a promotion campaign and who is going to do that?

Sponsor's wont really be interested, it's a small niche market in the UK, there just aren't enough players to make it worthwhile and no spectators. A sponsor wont be interested until there are people watching, they wont get involved until they can get some benefit out of it.

It *might* have an impact on the teams playing at a higher level, so Kellys for example, might have a slim chance of securing some government funding for competing abroad. But that's probably the only difference without a *lot* of groundwork at every level of paintball.

Edit:

I know you said in your previous post that the increase in numbers would be over time and I agree, but we could make that happen without being recognised as a sport. Just with a bit of promotional work of the scene in general, right from rec-ball through walk ons to tourneys. But a lot of people seem to think it being a sport will suddenly make a few hundred thousand people dash online and start ordering their kit.

 

[TOOLE]

But the point is, why would a lot of people come into the sport?

The problem we have now, is that we play an 'unrecognised sport' and no one outside of the community knows about it. Most of us probably stumbled across it in one way or another while playing a days rec ball, then progressed to walk on's then to sup air.

If we were a sport, we would have the situation were we play a 'recognised sport' and no one outside of the community knows about it. Most of the new players will have stumbled across it in one way or another while playing a days rec ball, then progressed to walk on's then to sup air.

No difference whatsoever. Certainly not in the short term. It may have long term benefits but it will take more than just becoming a sport to reap these benefits. People still wont know about it without someone funding a promotion campaign and who is going to do that?

Sponsor's wont really be interested, it's a small niche market in the UK, there just aren't enough players to make it worthwhile and no spectators. A sponsor wont be interested until there are people watching, they wont get involved until they can get some benefit out of it.

It *might* have an impact on the teams playing at a higher level, so Kellys for example, might have a slim chance of securing some government funding for competing abroad. But that's probably the only difference without a *lot* of groundwork at every level of paintball.

Edit:

I know you said in your previous post that the increase in numbers would be over time and I agree, but we could make that happen without being recognised as a sport. Just with a bit of promotional work of the scene in general, right from rec-ball through walk ons to tourneys. But a lot of people seem to think it being a sport will suddenly make a few hundred thousand people dash online and start ordering their kit.

I was saying that an official recognition wouldn't get us anywhere, I was referring to my second point, in that if the conception that most people hold of paintball being what you get on a Sunday down at delta force was miraculously corrected and they knew about the sporting side of it, people would consider it a viable hobby as opposed to something you do for a birthday party.

If you walk up to somebody in the street and ask them what paintball is, most will know. They will, however, think of it as being woodsball as served up by god knows how many punter venues across the country. If someone knew about the sporting side of paintball, with tournaments, walkons, semi pro teams etc. then they'd consider it as something to get involved in sooner than something to do on a day out.

Take windsurfing as an example. Windsurfing is a great laugh if you're just dicking around on a lake or off the shore for a day, but not many people would windsurf if that was it. The thing with windsurfing is that the sporting side of it is very well publicised, and so people see something they can get involved in on a regular basis as opposed to just a way to pass the time. Paintball doesn't have that close connection. Our sporting side isn't half as well publicised as the playing army men in the woods for a day variety, and so people never see it. If they did, a lot more people would see the attraction of competitive paintball and so there *would* be a marked increase in the number of ballers worldwide.


I personally got into paintball because I enjoyed it when I went punter balling and had the good fortune to go to the same school as Cowboy on these forums. He put me on to this site and from there I attended a few walkons before getting into tourney paintball. I'm not sure I would ever have gotten into it had he not been around, and I'm sure a lot of people are put off by the lack of knowing or being able to contact those who are connected to the sport.

 

[VagabondStarJXF]

If Paintball is recognised as a sport here in the UK the most we can hope for is about half of what happened with PB in the US and no more. American Football, the biggest mainstream sport in America, didn't do too well over here so PB, being such a niche sport, won't fare too well. All in all I don't think the UK will see much change. We generally resist change unless popularity and fashion dictates that we should jump on some sort of bandwagon...

Maybe if we can get some really high profile Hollywood types to make a film about PB starring the latest, hottest actors, directed by John Woo and songs by whoever the latest, hottest pop princess is we might get somewhere lol!

 

[mikey601]

what makes it so unique is that its a niche sport. Its also more expensive than any other sport which puts most people off
But its deffo a sport and some media coverage would be pretty kool. Even if it is on Eurosport at 4am. Sky Plus can cover that one.

Are you for real?

Paintball being the most expensive sport?

 

[IonBadger]

Yeah if paintball become a recoginised sport it will make little difference.

The only think I can see that would have a huge impact, would be some some one (think large company here) to seriously promote paintball.

Well organised training events, tournaments with spectators, which means improved venues and facilities. This in turn is self promoting so if you get spectators interested then more companies will be willing ot provide sponsership and it would sprial into a more serious sport.

However and this is the tricky part, for a business to invest that heavily in paintball is unlikely, they need to see a return, and will paintball produce enough revenue for said company... and to be honest I think the answer is no

Sorry think I went a bit off topic there, but I just can't see anyone investing enough in paintball to make it a mainstream sport

 

[Rider]

the IF essay.....

to be honest i think there are too many hurdles in the way for us to ever see paintball as an "official" sport......but that wasn't the question.

there are too many "ifs" involved.

IF: there was a major sponsor, then there would be the possibility of media coverage.

IF: there was media coverage we would need first class venues with suitable spectator areas and facilities

IF: there was media coverage then there might be bums to fill those spectators seats.

IF: some of those spectators thought it looked like something they could get into then they might be tempted.

IF: some of them are tempted then there might be a few more new players that grew into dedicated players.

IF: there were more dedicated players there might be more dedicated teams.

IF: recognition as a sport makes players feel like they are part of something then they might actually be willing to travel to events.

IF: more teams travel, there could be bigger events, and more big prizes

IF: there are more big prizes, then there is more reason for people to get involved, a chance to pocket ££, which makes the world go around.

IF: there is more money involved, the profile of the sport goes up = more media coverage.

IF: there can be a solution to a governing body, then there would be someone to drive this all forward.

IF: this happens i'll personally donate my entire fortune to the needy in some small eastern european country.....

the big problem as that all these things need to happen in the right order - making us a recognised sport is not going to be a magic bullet - but it might IF things progress, be the start that is needed.

 

[TOOLE]

Are you for real?

Paintball being the most expensive sport?

I'd probably say equestrian sports are an easy one to see that's a lot more expensive than pb.

 

[mikey601]

I'd probably say equestrian sports are an easy one to see that's a lot more expensive than pb.

There are lots of more expensive sport than pb


What you have to ask yourself is why does it matter if we are a recognised spot? who cares? and personally what would change for you?

For me:

It doesnt

Not me

Nothing