tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804718502406028481.post416816462741671483..comments2024-01-19T00:21:36.058-05:00Comments on View from the Deadbox: Paintball Clubs cont.Baca Locohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13014510414015288907noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804718502406028481.post-13673423203789026632013-01-02T09:29:53.840-05:002013-01-02T09:29:53.840-05:00It isn't a 'club' but 187's home f...It isn't a 'club' but 187's home field Fox 4 runs an X-Ball league that is well attended, with good levels of local competition. It keeps their speed ball field busy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804718502406028481.post-67199434375325759142012-12-31T15:06:24.467-05:002012-12-31T15:06:24.467-05:00We have two fields here on Vancouver Island whose ...We have two fields here on Vancouver Island whose owners are tournament players from way back. They have both had "clubs" at their fields for years. Basically anyone that comes up a few times is offered membership in the "club" which I believe is free. They then get super discounted field/air rates and paint rates and they get the status of saying they are part of a club.<br /><br />The rates are so low that I know (being a field owner in the same region) could never sustain a paintball field. Their recreation portion of their business basically subsidizes the club. The only reason they do this, the way I see it, is that they are both passionate about tourney ball and I think there is a bit of an ego issue there as well.<br /><br />They have multi-level teams all playing under the same club/team name and players are groomed and moved along the path. They have done this for as long as I've been involved in paintball (about 25 years).<br /><br />Not having been around paintball in a lot of different areas, I always assumed it was similar at many fields. Am I mistaken?Reiner Schaferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11735297279972068471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804718502406028481.post-36368143202116300072012-12-30T21:36:26.339-05:002012-12-30T21:36:26.339-05:00So, what you are really counting on are field owne...So, what you are really counting on are field owners would be supporting a club to "give back" without a financial motive."<br /><br />One of the local fields has a D5 practice overseen by D3/D2 players twice a month. The field charges an extra five dollars for the practice and the D5 players get good one on one instruction from the "instructors and coordinators".It varies between ten to fifteen players. The instructors are "paid" with free entry when they go to the field to practice with their teams. The field makes a little on the arrangement up front and in a few months the field will offer a D5 tourney which will make them more money. Paintball needs to be built from the bottom up and this is one way to do that. What Baca is counting on is a little imagination out their in the paintball hinter lands...Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09360446989790287877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804718502406028481.post-31391199243904256542012-12-29T18:00:04.304-05:002012-12-29T18:00:04.304-05:00Just because we've allowed paintball to stay p...Just because we've allowed paintball to stay prohibitively expensive doesn't mean it has to be.raehlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14311405248370629057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804718502406028481.post-24472514209028591832012-12-29T00:07:45.198-05:002012-12-29T00:07:45.198-05:00Anon 528
Yeah. I'll get right on that.
jdawg
...Anon 528<br />Yeah. I'll get right on that.<br /><br />jdawg<br />First I don't recall claiming any great insight or innovation. Second I don't see many if any paintball fields doing much of anything vaguely creative, proactive or like real work to keep their businesses in the black so maybe a tired well trod worn out idea or two isn't completely out of order.<br /><br />Finally I'm not counting on anything. I'm doing what I always do--posting on paintball-related topics of interest to me.<br /><br />Nick<br />Don't flatter yourself. :)Baca Locohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13014510414015288907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804718502406028481.post-11253132967283518822012-12-28T22:48:19.818-05:002012-12-28T22:48:19.818-05:00Great, I have a faker now - how flattering :DGreat, I have a faker now - how flattering :DNick Brockdorffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08058065730404049908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804718502406028481.post-64365408895168136132012-12-28T21:51:44.313-05:002012-12-28T21:51:44.313-05:00First, everything you are describing has already b...First, everything you are describing has already been done in other sports. Really, there's nothing new here. What works in other sports clubs, will work in paintball. Just go check out the programs offered by your local tennis club.<br /><br />However, paintball has inherent disadvantages in that 1) it can be prohibitively expensive and 2) opportunities for local and regional amateur competition are not only very limited but also very expensive, compared to other sports. And, 3) for a young person (high-school age), sticking with paintball as a sport provides fewer avenues for tiered participation compared to other mainstream and alternative (e.g., Olympic) sports. As you've discussed, young paintballers can find themselves thrust very quickly into the national level of competition and find themselves with no way to compete locally.<br /><br />The other side of the equation are the field owners, who may not have a motivation to provide a "club experience" because they likely make enough money just doing walk-on and private parties. From a business perspective, the field owner now has to retain staff for the club i.e., instructors and coordinators, who will probably be adults requiring higher pay that the teenagers reffing the recball games. I suspect the money to be made from a club program would be marginal compared to the rec-ball income.<br /><br />So, what you are really counting on are field owners would be supporting a club to "give back" without a financial motive.<br />sdawghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15323770608334563797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804718502406028481.post-33717162590106496782012-12-28T17:28:55.118-05:002012-12-28T17:28:55.118-05:00Next time you feel compelled to add new content to...Next time you feel compelled to add new content to prevent readers from staying please just post a "Happy New Years" pic instead. Your concept of a paintball club is so broad a reader has no idea what the hell your talking about. <br />Admittedly, you say all of your ideas don't have to be incorporated as part of a "club". If that is the case, your either talking about a field improving its services or your talking about just labeling something as part of a "club" in order to make it <i>feel</i> like it is something more than a marketing ploy. <br /><br />I believe your purpose in this blog is to generate a discussion about paintball but to also provide a little focus to that discussion. This post may accomplish the former, but definitely not the latter. Essentially it is a fluff piece, written only for the sake of writing.<br /><br />Please, give us your description of an ideal club. Identify and analyze the positives and negatives. Conclude your thoughts. Then invite others to the conversation. Trust, we will have an opinion. Adjust your thoughts based on feedback accordingly. <br /><br />P.S. The commentariat appreciates you for keeping anonymous posting available.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804718502406028481.post-89696862851849774052012-12-28T15:34:59.371-05:002012-12-28T15:34:59.371-05:00I don't like the idewa of clubs. We got it wro...I don't like the idewa of clubs. We got it wrong in Europe. The US model is better.Nick Brockdorrfnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804718502406028481.post-24168626854350547142012-12-28T13:39:36.652-05:002012-12-28T13:39:36.652-05:00Your idea of a club is pretty much like mine, the ...Your idea of a club is pretty much like mine, the only issue is making it happen, commercial field operators need to be convinced of the benefits and that it isn't going to take a slice out of their income, but could enhance it. There have to be clear benefits for all involved. In my view a club structure should support multiple teams. <br />Full Borenoreply@blogger.com