Paintball's "image" (Opinions requested)

[Tyger]

I asked this question over on Automags.org, but I wanted to get the European opinion as well. (No fair going over there to see what us Yanks said!)

In YOUR OPINION :

1) What is the "image" of paintball? (For sake of argument, I'm talking about what "non-players" think paintball is.)

2) What SHOULD be the image of paintball?

3) Would a large corporation (Nike, Reebok, And1) help or hurt paintball's image by getting into it? Related, do you think a large company would try to change paintball's "image" to better suit sales results?

4) And finally, what large corporation, if any, would you like to see get into paintball?

Just testing the waters again...

-Tyger

 

[Mario]

Originally posted by Tyger
I asked this question over on Automags.org, but I wanted to get the European opinion as well. (No fair going over there to see what us Yanks said!)

In YOUR OPINION :

1) What is the "image" of paintball? (For sake of argument, I'm talking about what "non-players" think paintball is.)


2) What SHOULD be the image of paintball?

3) Would a large corporation (Nike, Reebok, And1) help or hurt paintball's image by getting into it? Related, do you think a large company would try to change paintball's "image" to better suit sales results?

4) And finally, what large corporation, if any, would you like to see get into paintball?

Just testing the waters again...

-Tyger

1) in the general eyes of the 'non players' were rambo wannabee's

2)would help but they would try to change it

3)would help but they would try to change it

4) BSKYB - television and a **** load of money...

 

[dr.strangelove]

I'm not European, but I think that means my opinion matters even more So...

(1)What is the "image" of paintball? (For sake of argument, I'm talking about what "non-players" think paintball is.)

The image for the average non player, I think, is of a militaristic (and I don't necessarily mean that in a negative way, it's just viewed kind of like a real-life video game) type game played in the woods by pals on the weekends. I don't think most non players have much idea about pro ball or realize the large following that paintball has.

(2) What SHOULD be the image of paintball?

I think it should be the same as any other sport, a fun game with rules and regulations that, if you get good enough, you can have some fun and make some money at playing professionally (obviously, that image isn't even really a reality at this point in paintball's life, but that's what I think it SHOULD be. )

(3) Would a large corporation (Nike, Reebok, And1) help or hurt paintball's image by getting into it? Related, do you think a large company would try to change paintball's "image" to better suit sales results?

Large corporations mean large amounts of money and more recognition, which is precisely what paintball needs at the moment. I don't see how any one big company would be able to entirely change paintball's image, but they could change the image of their sponsored teams and subsidiaries, so to a degree, they could. But I don't think that they would change the "image" negatively anyway, and more sales for them means more money getting pumped into the sport, means more players, which is good for everybody.

(4) And finally, what large corporation, if any, would you like to see get into paintball?

Nike maybe. K2's already on board. Any big name sports or alternative sports brand would be cool.

 

[-Suicide-]

i think that non-players under-rate paintball as a sport and a community, i for one think its under rated anyway, if i was to see a corporation get into paintball sales i think it'd probably be "Nike"

Luke

 

[Gyroscope]

1) What is the "image" of paintball? (For sake of argument, I'm talking about what "non-players" think paintball is.)

The image is much as Dr. Strangelove describes. People always ask me questions about camoflage and sneaking around in the woods when I talk about tournaments.

2) What SHOULD be the image of paintball?

Since I play tournaments, and I don't play rec ball, I wish the image reflected the the 'tournament festival' atmosphere associated with tournaments. I would be even happier if Xball was the first thing people visualized. I would also be happier if Xball was run by the Pure Promotions crew.

3) Would a large corporation (Nike, Reebok, And1) help or hurt paintball's image by getting into it? Related, do you think a large company would try to change paintball's "image" to better suit sales results?

Unless the large corporation already had image problems, I think that the association would likely help paintball. If the company were Enron, that would be bad. If the company were Coca Cola, that would be good. The biggest problem paintball has is the perception that it is an unhealthy preoccupation with killing fantasies. Association with a mainstream company that people accept would benefit paintball. Any exposure tha doesn't involve a crime or injury seems like a good thing to me.

4) And finally, what large corporation, if any, would you like to see get into paintball?

United Airlines- I want an airline sponsorship crazy bad.

 

[Tim R]

1)A lot of people believe that paintball is unsafe and promotes violence (why wouldn't they being that it is almost the only coverage the news will give paintball?)
2) More of an Xtreme sports type of thing. Like if we we're in the Xgames or something.
3)Has anyone seen that Bud Light commercial that shows like 20 people shooting at this one ref that was wearing like some sortof sunglasses (not goggles)? Anyway I doubt that it helped the image any or made it look any safer.
4)I don't know any i guess.

oh yea, i love your show.

 

[Skyhawk]

1) What is the "image" of paintball? (For sake of argument, I'm talking about what "non-players" think paintball is.)

Ask any non-player about paintball, they will probably say somthing about the woods and army men. This is how most peopel see paintball...

2) What SHOULD be the image of paintball?

Sup'air

3) Would a large corporation (Nike, Reebok, And1) help or hurt paintball's image by getting into it? Related, do you think a large company would try to change paintball's "image" to better suit sales results?

It would have good and bad parts. If paintball was to get bigger you would see more accidents and thefts etc... However sales would go up and there would be more chance of getting on tv...

4) And finally, what large corporation, if any, would you like to see get into paintball?

Nike

 

[Bird]

1) What is the "image" of paintball?

People who haven't played, view paintball as an extreme game played in the woods. Most have never even heard of the tournament scene.

2) What SHOULD be the image of paintball?

It would be nice to see it as popular over here as it is in the States, or even as promoted as it is in Toulouse for that matter.
It is good that rec-balling and tournies show the different ways that paintball can be played, and there shouldn't be 'one image' except to show that guys and girls (!) of every age can play.

3) Would a large corporation (Nike, Reebok, And1) help or hurt paintball's image by getting into it?

A large company would help promote paintball, and if it was a company like Nike, the clothing would be good quality and more available to buy (i.e. in local stores).

4) What large corporation, if any, would you like to see get into paintball?

Quiksilver, O'Neill, BBC, Cadburys, Fosters!

 

[Superflyuk]

when i say to peeps i play paintball in tournaments and stuff they just laff. Paintball to them is just a bit of a laff in the woods and thinks its really easy. The amount of times ive had to explain to them what paintball is really about starting to get annoying. the image of paintball to ab-normal puclic (those who dont play) will only change when the sport gets more commercialised and they can see what its actually about.

 

[ANDY MEERCATS]

Maybe some one should try " take a friend paintballing"
If they come they will play I did and never looked back.
Fishing tryed this and loads of people took up the chance to try it and some are still going now. The biggest kill for new comers is the price. If that comes down more people may take up the sport but is that what we need ????

If you get the big money sponcers take over then the little teams that are just starting out may not be able to keep up with the game. You could find that this may push some teams back into the woods. This is not the way to go untill there is more suport for newer teams.

I would like to see paintball in the U.K. go on T.V. so U.K. teams can be seen for what thay are, but if this pushes teams out of the game then leve well alone.

Out side sponcers would be a good thing but what is in it for them, I am trying to get a sponcer for the team I captain were new and finding it hard as most people think that paintball is a toy soldier macho wan`a be thing.