Yes, we’ve all heard that paintball is one of the fastest growing sports in the United States and Canada; but did you know that statistics are showing the sport’s growth rate has actually declined these last few years? Not by much of course, nothing to really notice, but it certainly isn’t growing as much as it was a few years ago. Why is this?
Peter Irizarry, owner of Reball, testifies to the sport’s current standing in America by saying,
Paintball doesn’t have a focal point. There isn’t one thing to look at like most other sports have.
Peter is right and makes a good point. When you go to a baseball game you watch the pitcher throw the baseball and then watch the batter try to hit it. If he hits it, then you watch the ball and see where it goes and what’s done with it. Same thing with football, soccer, or all the other major sports.
Paintball has a completely different kind of playing style. There isn’t one focal point. When you sit in the stands or the sidelines you’re watching at least 2 players trying to shoot each other and capture the flag. Your eyes shift everywhere, not sure what to even watch. That’s what causes paintball’s popularity to take a hit.
I’m not saying that this is necessarily a bad thing. It’s just not what we’re use to. Paintball reached its popularity peak a couple years ago. Once everybody got into watching the games, they became somewhat confused on how to watch it. Do we watch the center flag? Do we watch the refs? The thousands of paintballs flying through the air? Ollie Lang? …Keely Watson ;)? You get my point?
Only time will show how we adapt to the sport’s new style of play. Paintball has such a solid foundation in this generation’s culture that it has to and will persevere through this “slump” of popularity. I believe people will eventually understand how this game is played and realize that it’s about watching a team work together, pull some tricky moves and strategies, then pummel the other team with paint. That’s paintball.
i think the reason paintball isn’t growing because its too expensive
Paintball has always been expensive though, so it doesn’t make much sense that it slows down now, after 15-20 years of uninterrupted growth.
Yeah i very much think Paintball is expensive because every thing cost just so much
As an avid sports fan/watcher and an avid paintball player, my 2-cents on why I don’t care to watch paintball. I’m a woodsball, scenario player. Guess what? There’s a lot of us out there too and we’re not big fans of speed/hyperball, which seems to be the only type of paintball exposed. Nothing against it, but just not our style to watch or play and I dare say that many people watching speedball on ESPN for the first time assume that’s all there is to paintball. It’s unfortunate that is the focal point of paintball these days and I think it really limits growth potential. Once you’ve tapped the X-game watching, urban/suburban, deep pocket youths, you’re pretty much done with your speedball potential. Woodsball and scenario, on the other hand, have a much deeper pool that has far greater growth potential. Yet, it seems like this market is an afterthought to the mainstream. Creative exposure (and I’m no expert on how you show woodsball on t.v. and make it interesting) and marketing for non-speedball events are desperately needed. Another side to the same coin: I’ve been involved with multiple entertainment and service businesses and people smarter than me have said many times that the real money is in the “family”. You need mom and dad’s money, not just jr.’s. Speedball doesn’t lend itself to “family fun” and therefore, a lot of potential is missed when that is a field’s only or primary focus.
Why The Hell Do You All have Warped Sights On Why Paintball Dosnt Grow The True Reason Paintball Dosnt Grow Is Because Of No Focal Point None Really Wants To Watch That Kind Of Stuff The Only One Here With A Bit Of Sense Is JM And Paint Ball Is In No Way Too Expensive Yes Some Guns Are Pricey But You Can Go And Buy A Gun Off Ebay For Five Bucks Or A Nice Veiwloader Pack For Forty Bucks You Dont Need A Top Of The Line Gun And CO2(cause i know someones going to say something about it) Yes It Is A Bit Pricey On That Side But There Are Other Routes Like Compressed Air Its Ten Times Cheaper The CO2 So Dont Be Saying The Only Reason It Doesnt Grow Is Because Of Price Youve Got Some Warped Point Of Veiws
I have two things to say here.
One is that I agree with previous comments that it is the high costs of the sport that is slowing it down. Paintball is one of the few sports out there where it costs you money every time you play (because paintballs are non-reusable) not to mention the high costs of equipment. Over the past few years it may have flourished with all the people who could afford to play but in order to continue to grow, it has to accommodate even those on a low budget. And it doesn’t, so we can only expect its growth to slow.
The other thing is that I would have interpreted Peter Irizarry’s quote a little differently that the article writer did here. Based on that except he posted, I would have guessed that by “Paintball doesn’t have a focal point” Peter was referring to the fact that there are a variety of types of paintball. Speedball, Woodsball, Scenario etc. so the followers of the sport are divided. We may all be playing paintball, but we are not playing the same game.
Differences with this sport most other sports is how easy and cheap u can play a sport. Most sports all u need is a ball, hoop/net, court/field. And most parks supply 2 out of the 3 for free and all u need to own is a ball where as paintball requires lots of equipment and the purchasing of non reusable items air/paint. And plus u gotta pay for ticket admission to wherever you’re playing at. Paintballing is fun but just not as simple to play. And about the issue of focal point for the viewers. Theres other types of scenario games that can easily give focus on like capture the flag or protect the VIP.
I think paint balling is fun but i agree it does cost to much to get all thet stuff but it is fun and i will keep playing…………………….
Paintball is not as expensive as it use to be, i remember the days paintball started and remember the angel prices from back when it came out to be the best thing you can get but look at those proces now, or the days a case would cost you 90 dollars! Paintball is gonna cost you some cash but the adreniline you recieve from playing is unpayable!
paintball is only expensive if you make it.
when is get newbs to play we only make the pay cost for a few times.
then there hooked or there not.
even if you compare it to other sports the cost a lot of money in fee of all sorts. and many you only play for a couple months. so the price is comparable for paintball.
The money issue, players could play more if the paint was cheeper . Paint should be around $50 a case. Addmission around $20 include air. That way players can play more often. Also some fields do have memberships which generally run you $150 a year and then you could always BYOP and pay $10 addmission instead of $20.