The paint situation looked bleak and bleaker where we left off in the last post, Paint It Blue, but here's a thought for all the big leagues – (and the paint guys?) to consider. In keeping with the Pro Circuit concept what would happen if the NXL (or the NPPL repping the pro division) worked out a deal for an official paint sponsor of the league to provide paint to all the competing pro teams during the event(s)? Or if that seems too daunting and costly what if the individual events were offered up to paint sponsors? Draxxus sponsors the Chicago Open, for example. The sponsor can't lose whoever wins and gets the value added of associating the brand with pro paintball, not just a single team. Within that framework there also exists some creative ways to structure the deals that might be beneficial during the difficult period coming. The potential advantages are both practical and competitive. With everyone shooting the same paint there's no advantage or disadvantage on the field; it would be a big plus for teams struggling in a reduced sponsorship environment while leaving teams free to pursue alternatives for practice; it would instantly justify the current entry fee structure (in the NXL) and it would be a step toward legitimizing the NXL brand as distinctive from the PSP (which may have real relevance in the future and was a goal in the original formation of the league.)
Would the result be a better, more stable model?
Friday, November 7, 2008
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7 comments:
A possible disadvantage in this scenario is I can't think of any reason for a paint company to sponsor teams. For instance, let's say XO sponsors a team. The team wins one tournament that year: The Chicago Open brought to you by DraXxus. What's XO get out of it?
Hey Anon
The issue is paint sponsorship period. Real numbers are down across pro ball and if the manufacturers are in the kind of trouble that is rumored those numbers will shrink further and in some cases disappear altogether. The contraction is going to continue to squeeze pro teams out of the game. If the leagues and PBIndustry value the pro game I'm simply suggesting it may be time to try and figure out new ways to keep the game viable.
I understand your reasoning. I'm just wondering who will pay for practice paint? I mean, Kenny R isn't the only player who watched Jerry McGuire recently. Are you saying that not only are "pro" players not going to be paid, but in fact they are going to have to pay to play?
Yes, it could come to that but my larger concern is that the way the pro game works now even that isn't a viable option im most cases.
I think the more important question is, are there any paintball companies who are going to want to foot the bill for an entire Pro division for an event?
As I suggested in the post there are more options for negotiating a workable deal with my formula than simply hoping traditional sponsorship deals will suffice to keep pro teams viable.
To answer Raehl: the value of paint shot in one pro event is way less than the value of that shot throughout an entire season by one team in practice and events. Based on that, I'd assume the answer is YES. Why not?
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