PRO-TOUR Press Release

[ascutt]

Campaign Promotions Ltd is proud to announce the start of a new concept in British paintball, Pro-Tour.

We have brought together the cream of British teams mixed with a brand new format, a format designed to showcase the talent and present a more spectator based game. With fast paced 7-man games, using the Millennium Series rules, combined with the rapid turn around of X-Ball, Pro-Tour offers not only the best teams but best competition and the best spectator paintball in the UK.

For the first year, Pro-Tour is limited to 8 teams. However, at the end of the 2005 season, we intend to invite the Div 1 winners of the UK Masters, Series 2005, NSPL (SE) and NSPL (SW) to join the tour for 2006. At the completion of the 2006 season the intention is that the 3 lowest placed teams will be relegated from Pro-Tour and be replaced by the 2006 Div1 winners from the same regional leagues. By offering this promotion opportunity from the top of the regional league we can create a natural progression for winning teams.

Selecting the teams for the inaugural year of Pro-Tour was a difficult task. Although three teams were guaranteed to be invited onto the tour, the remaining 5 spots were harder to fill. We were looking for not only pure performance but teams that would represent the idea of Pro-Tour – spectator-pleasing teams with talent and a drive to be the best. With a locked league it was important to find 8 teams that can not only play hardball together every month but work together off the field to promote British paintball. We think we have found the teams to make Pro-Tour a success.

The 2005 season Pro-Tour teams are:

London Nexus
Manchester Shockwave
London Tigers
UK Jaguars
Birmingham Phoenix
The Kellys
Campaign 2k5
Manc Union


The events for the 2005 calendar will be played alongside current regional league events. Pro-Tour will be held alongside the following events:

8th May NSPL (SE), Reading
26th June UK Masters, Skirmish Leicester
13th/14th August, S2005 Simply the Best, Elsham
24th/25th September, UK Masters Welsh Open, Wrexham (to be confirmed)
23rd October, NSPL (SE), Reading

Pro-Tour is unable to operate without the support of the regional leagues and we would like to thank the promoters of these leagues for their assistance. Also, Pro-Tour is proud to be associated with the UKPSF, player membership of the UKPSF is mandatory for teams in Pro-Tour.

Finally, teams wishing to experience the Pro-Tour format will be able to compete at Heaven’s Gate event. The first 8 teams to register will play a special 2 day Pro-Tour event in exactly the same environment the regular Pro-Tour teams experience.

Pro-Tour contact: Andy Scutt, Campaign Promotions Ltd
Tel: 07921 922343
Email: andy@scutt.net

 

[kris]

what a great idea, get all 'THE' best teams in the uk
sounds wicked

what a great idea

 

[John C]

I hope that the incentive of getting on the pro tour will raise the standard of play at the local tourneys because it has been disappointingly low recently.

What I fear is more likely to happen is the teams that qualify from local tourneys will be completely outclassed by the teams already on the list. Resulting in games with predictable outcomes.

Also there are a number of teams who spring to mind, who would easily cut it on the pro tour, but they only train and play MLTs, they would have no way of qualifying into the pro tour.


I realise the pro tour has to provide some incentive to their hosts, but is this the only way ?

 

[Flash-Bugout]

So the idea of this pro-league thingy is that we, the "non-superstar" baller can go along and watch, support, and learn.

Now, I'm playing the first leg of the NSPL (South East/Central ) where the first leg of the "pro-tour" is.

I see the options like this - these games are played either

Alongside the tourney - I'll be too busy playing a tourney to go and watch these uber-stars.

After the tourney - I'll be too busy going home - watching paintball is as much fun as watching presentation speeches. Unless of course spectators are allowed to get stuck in and shout, but that's one of these "silly rules that nobody likes", right?

So when exactly do I watch, support and learn? And wouldn't I improve a damn sight quicker by spending time training instead of drooling over the moves of some folks who are playing a format that I can't, which requires different game plans and playing styles?

 

[Duncster]

Well, us spectator types are all right! I'm just happy to have a cool new format with good teams to go along and watch on a regular basis

D.

 

[McD]

gutted thought you might have wanted the highest ranking UK Div 1 Millennium team in it, nothing like a good old bit of "not where you finnish but WHO you know" who you playin for scutty is it that team we beat without loss in Malaga?

 

[jeff]

It may be that decisions were based on the attitude of some teams and individuals within those teams.
Tell me............why haven't your team been invited?

 

[Dusty]

my secretary obviously has misplaced my invitation to guest for whoever i like.............................

silly girl...........

 

[McD]

jeff you clearly hav not been to one of our tea partys we all behave splendidly

 

[jeff]

...unfortunately even tea drinkers throw their toys out of the pram once they set foot on a paintball field!

Remember....it's only a game