PSP/NPPL announces OPEN PRESS CONFERENCE Sun. Jan 12th

[Craig Miller]

Press Release – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Paintball Sports Promotions announces Open Press Conference

Paintball Sports Promotions is holding an Open Press Conference in Chicago, Illinois on Sunday, January 12th, 2003, at 12:00 PM, at the Chicago O’Hare Hilton, located at the Chicago O’Hare International Airport.

Topics will include new developments for the 2003 PSP/NPPL Tournament Season, including the unveiling of the intense new X Ball (™) division and the NXL, the National X Ball League. The conference is open to all members of the Paintball Media Corps, and all interested Tournament Team Members, Owners, and Sponsors.

The P.S.P. is already fully equipped to present their 2003 NPPL events, with confirmed dates, established tournament sites, PRO Refs, complete construction crews and administrative staff, a $100,000.00 Bauer Air System to service over 200 NPPL Teams, innovations in safety netting, TV air-dates and an increasing opportunity for expanded television coverage. With the full support of the established, winning paint manufacturers, and all of the Top Teams, the PSP/NPPL is geared up for their 2003 Season.

In addition to the “10-Man” and “5-Man” formats with Rookie, Novice, Amateur, and Pro Divisions, the P.S.P. is excited to bring the new X Ball (™) format to the show. The P.S.P. consistently presents the most competitive and best attended events in the world, including the annual World Cup, Chicago Open, L.A. Open, Atlantic City Gambler’s Cup, and the recent X Ball™ feature at Disney’s “Wide World of Sports” in Orlando Florida, which is planned to become the World Cup’s new home.

2003 PSP/NPPL scheduled event dates:
EVENT DATES Location
L.A. Open March 5–9 Los Angeles
Nevada Open Apr 30–May 4 Las Vegas
Chicago Open June 18–22 Chicago
Atlantic City Open Aug 20–24 Atlantic City, NJ
World Cup Oct 19–26 Orlando

For more information: 770-466-5558, or visit
www.nppl.com for registration, details, updates, galleries, links, forums, and chat.

 

[headrock6]

Its Funny..

i read the post about 3 times and the one thing that sticks out in my mind every time i read it was $100,000 Bauer Air System..Wierd


And im assuming they are using all the same sites as last year??

 

[Beaker]

I thought they had said they were dropping the NPPL bit to not confuse the innocents?

If so, seems like they are going back on their word - good start.

 

[shamu]

Beaker - you might be thinking of the bogus press announcement someone posted to another board a few weeks ago. AFAIK, PSP hasn't officially said they're going to stop using the NPPL name. Maybe one of the guys with connections can confirm this one way or the other.

The thing that strikes me is both PSP and NPPL (Chuck's league) are planning to use PRO refs. Should be interesting to see how that works out

 

[Wadidiz]

Originally posted by Craig Miller
...established tournament sites, PRO Refs,...and the recent X Ball™ feature at Disney’s “Wide World of Sports” in Orlando Florida, which is planned to become the World Cup’s new home...

There are some interesting tidbits here IMO:

...PRO Refs,...

Does this mean only PRO refs or a mixture like we've seen before?

...and the recent X Ball™ feature at Disney’s “Wide World of Sports” in Orlando Florida, which is planned to become the World Cup’s new home...[/

This seems to say that the WC will no longer be held at the "WC Fields" cow-pastures. Am I getting the right impression? Since I wasn't at the last WC, was that location better than the main site?

I hope "open" press conference means that they will field honest questions. If so, I hope someone asks them about minimum numbers concerning refs and about enforcement of minimum safety requirements.

PSP may have their act together in 2003. I hope for them and I hope for us they do. More power to them in that case.

Steve

 

[shamu]

This seems to say that the WC will no longer be held at the "WC Fields" cow-pastures. Am I getting the right impression? Since I wasn't at the last WC, was that location better than the main site?

The Disney location was pretty good. Real grass playing surface, no cow pies on the field The only drawback I see is the size. I don't know if they'll be able to fit a dozen 10 man fields like they had at last WC. Also, team staging might be problematic. If they can do it, World Cup at Disney would be pretty outrageous.

As for the press conference, I hope someone from PGI attends and asks the questions we've been asking here on the boards. TG, Justin, Tyger - any of you guys going?

 

[Mark/Static]

The actual X-Ball site was on 3 acres just outside of the DWWS complex. If the entire WC will be held there next year it will have to be within the turnstyles of the park.

A few problems I see with this is:
The access of 1500+ players and their families coming and going all day long. There will need to be some kind of ID system to keep from having to pay each time you enter. When everyone talks about more professional venues I doubt they realize what goes along with it. Anyone who was in Vegas, and tried to go to the indoor concessions on Sunday afternoon will tell you the added hassle of having to go all the way around to the front door rather than the back lest you sneak a free peek of the Arena-style football game going on inside. This may seem like a small inconvenience, but not when your feet are aching and you're tired from playing all weekend.
Another thing is that I ate at the All-Star Cafe at DWWS prior to the finals of X-Ball, and the $8.00 I spent on a small bowl of chili and a drink, while tasty, was a little excessive. Disney is not known for there frugal prices on food, so I hope they allow players to bring in coolers and food. On a side note Jerry, Dave, and Renick were also in there and it didn't appear that they needed to consult their wallets before ordering, I just hope they consult mine before finalizing a deal.

 

[raehl]

Indeed....

Each year of Skyball has a new set of Stadium-mandated insanity, often revoling around where and when you can get on and off elevators and which escalators you can take in which direction. Like having to take the elevator up to the 200 level and your gear down the ramp to the 100 level, but being able to get right on at the 100 level to take your gear back to the garage.

But it's more a laughable annoyance than anything serious. Food pricing is typical for stadium venues, which while not cheap, is on par with what everyone is used to paying at PSP events anyway. And you're playing in the skydome - guaranteed perfect paintball climate.


Disney: It's a theme park. WWS is the athletic portion. I'd imagine that if we're playing in Disney, the athletes will be treated as athletes and the spectators will be treated as spectators. That means athletes have their own area with the the stuff (including food) that they need, and the spectators have their own area where they have to pay to get in and pay theme park prices for food. There won't be any athletes in the spectator area and vice versa.

Which is as it should be.


Mark hits on a good point: A serious change to the stadium format, where the athletes/games are intended to be watched, will mean a serious change in the behavior and movement of the participants. You don't see Brett Favre grab a footlong from the concessions stand at halftime.



- Chris

 

[Mark/Static]

Indeed....

Originally posted by raehl
Disney: It's a theme park. WWS is the athletic portion. I'd imagine that if we're playing in Disney, the athletes will be treated as athletes and the spectators will be treated as spectators. That means athletes have their own area with the the stuff (including food) that they need, and the spectators have their own area where they have to pay to get in and pay theme park prices for food. There won't be any athletes in the spectator area and vice versa.

Which is as it should be.

Mark hits on a good point: A serious change to the stadium format, where the athletes/games are intended to be watched, will mean a serious change in the behavior and movement of the participants. You don't see Brett Favre grab a footlong from the concessions stand at halftime.

- Chris

Wow, he really does miss the point doesn't he? You guy's weren't bull****ting.
While your points make sense to an extent, you weren't looking at the bigger picture that I was implying.
The "athelets" that Disney is used to seeing at DWWS are typically soccer kids and moms, softball players, highschool football teams etc. Wanna take a guess what they all have in common? Better not, you'll miss it. They might pay one tenth of what we do in a season in order to play. All these different sports are what? Non-profit Or at least there are no individuals making a direct profit off the players.
On other occasions spring training brings in the Cleveland Indians, or Toronta Blue Jays and they are treated like athelets. I'm afraid we'll be lumped into the former catagory. Which isn't that bad if you weren't already paying a decent chunk of change to compete in the first place.
As for participants' behavior needing to change so as to appear more professional. Well that's another argument. Some attitudes aren't fit for the cow pasture we just left, and still may return. But I wasn't going there, I was thinking that DWWS Complex is a great place for highschool sports teams, the Softball World Series, the National Cheerleading Competition, MLB spring training, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' training camp, but for a middle of the road enterprise like competition paintball it maybe a little too rich for our blood. Not until we get the TV and outside sponsorship, and the PSP begins to get its revenue from those sources.

 

[raehl]

Hrm...

I'm not entirely sure I'm the one missing the big picture here.

Disney has these sporting events because they figure people will also spend money at their theme parks while they are there participating in or watching the sporting events. I know I and the girlfriend spent about $250 in 3 hours at Epcot on Sunday after X Ball (the only time we had to visit the park) between admission, parking and dinner. We don't need TV revenue to be there any more than the high school events do.

Or are you saying getting the treatment the non-major-league-pro teams get isn't good enough to begin with?

I'd say the worst treatment possible at DWWS would still be a step up.

As for non-profit, I'd be willing to bet the folks running those non-profits take in more in salary than PSP pays in salaries/profits. Non-profit doesn't mean nobody makes a living.


- Chris