Before I delve into this issue, I would like to introduce myself. I have been playing paintball on and off since 2003, taking breaks for school and military deployments. Even in my absence from the sport, I have always been passionate about helping new players, as well as learning all I can about the ins and outs of paintball. In all my travels since I started playing, as far away as Afghanistan and Kuwait/Iraq, I have always met paint ballers passionate about the sport. When I was offered a trial to write for this blog, I thought this would be a great topic to start off the discussions with, so here goes.
Since I really got back into the sport in 2008 I have heard this argument over and over again; “paintball is dying because of _____”. Is paintball really dying? No, I don’t think it is. I do however see a shift in the dynamic of the sport. To give a little background, paintball started in NH between Vermont and New Hampshire farmers, using Nelson paint markers used to mark cattle for slaughter, and trees for cutting. The sport was born out of pure fun. It was born in the woods, and as of recently, that’s where it seems to be returning to. Woodsball transitioned into speedball, which transitioned into hyperball, which had transformed into today’s tournament air ball. But, with the general playing populace not having as much expendable income to support tournament play, it would appear that the masses are turning back towards the roots of paintball and venturing back into the woods to shoot each other.
Now, does this shift mean tourney ball is dying? Not at all. There will always be some kind of national event circuit as there will always be a need for it. Every sport/hobby has its high level athletes, even it it’s not a physical activity like paintball. There is one thing that is detracting from paintball. An attitude of “if you don’t wear/shoot this gear, you must be a sh*t player” or “if you don’t look like this then you must not be a good player”.
I see this attitude all the time with the younger “tourney inspired” players. Most of us know them as “agglettes”. The “agg” movement within paintball isn’t a good or bad thing, it’s just a natural progression of the sport, but when you have some players taking it too far, then it becomes a bad thing. This “agglette” attitude is chasing away prospective life long players. Who knows maybe the next Nicky Cuba is at a field this weekend, and some agglette treats them like dirt, and they never return to the sport. But, I digress, back to the topic at hand.
Paintball dying…. Not a concept I like to hear, and it is one that I see crop up more often on a few forums. The responses I see are pretty typical, “no paintball isn’t dying, its just your area”, “paintball is just shifting towards woodsball/rec ball/scenario ball”. What are my thoughts on all of this? I see a strong speedball/airball following in my area. Yet, we have an even stronger following for woodsball and scenario play, as evidenced by the 350+ numbers which Outdoor Strategic Games (OSG) Paintball saw this season at BYOP (bring your own paint) and scenario games. Bunch Of Lost People (BOLP) pant ball field also saw record numbers of 60+ people for Monday Night Under the Lights speedball, with an average of 30 people a night. That to me doesn’t scream “OMG!!!111!!1! PAINTBALL IS DYING!!!11!1!1!”. What it says to me is that more and more people are going back to the woods to play versus heading out onto the air ball pitch to ball it up. What’s the cause of this? Could it just be the natural shift in the sport or could it be that the economy is forcing diehard players to revert back to pump and mech play to save money as well as out into the woods for lower cost vs. fun?
I personally still play both. I love getting out on the air ball field and having a blast and I have also gone back to the roots of the sport, picked up a pump, and plan on hitting up the woods as much as I can next season. With events like Living Legends, Invasion of Normandy, Supergame; all pulling in 3 and 4 digit participation. Also, look at the number of vendors, industry and non industry, that show up to sell merchandise at non tournament events.
So, in conclusion, is paintball dying? No. Has it hit a plateau in terms of sales and new players? Perhaps. I think it depends on the area you live in. Most importantly, the sport is shifting away from tourney ball and going back to its roots. Is this a good thing? I think so. Look at the top of the line tourney companies now making equipment for woodsballers; PE, Dye, Mac Dev, Angel (RIP); they all have or had a line of equipment that was suited for woodsballers. What does that mean for the agglette attitude? Are agglettes taking over speedball? If so, how can we, as veteran players, stop them? Do we need to stop them? Is there room in the sport that kind of fashion baller attitude and look? Well, it may push some companies towards making gear that is functional and also looks good. So, in a way this seemingly negative attitude will push the manufactures to make functional and better looking gear, but at what cost? Do we really want to let an attitude like this prevail, and drive away the next potential all star? I sure don’t, do you? I am curious to hear what you readers all think about the direction paintball has taken? Where do you want to see it go? Why is it thriving? Why is the sport dying? This blog is a place where you can man up and post your honest opinion(s) and or analysis of topics that will span all of paintball. From in depth analysis of tournament games to general trends in the sport, I will get us started. It’s up to you to tell us what you think and post it up for discussion… if you have the balls? ; )
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I have to agree on your article. 10 years ago was the first time I played and was hooked ever since. However the pricetag of a paintball gun back then were $200-$300, So I never really had the funds to afford such a luxury item. The last year I was able to afford to buy a gun, though my decision to buy the gun was because I found a group to play with. If it wasnt for those guys, I would have decided against buying it and the $400 for the gear after the fact.
Paintball isn't dying. It is getting it's second wind.
It comes down the geography of where everyone lives. I live in a town covered in woods and with little to do it is basically a dead heat between playing video games or going out in the woods. I love the sport and to even for a second to believe that it is "dying" is to depressing to listen to.
I think the majority of the "paintball is dead" is comming from those who only think of their division (i.e. Sppedball, hyperball, air, ect) as the sole division, where it isn't the one division that make paintball what it is but all divisions. I think segregation is one of the problems. I have heard woodsballers say that speedball sucks and vice versa. Neither division sucks. People need to realize that paintball should be a sport for everyone no matter what your preference is.
I think maybe for people out int he country woodsball is bigger. But for me and a lot of other people who live in a city, speedball is definitely a lot more popular. I personally love both as well. I do enjoy speedball a little more though. I live in Canada though so maybe its just different here. I don't find anyone who isn't nice to renters here unless the renter puts up a fight or something but that would be the same if the renter was an owner. Idk I don't agree with everything this guy has to say but hey, can everyone?
I don't think paintball, as a whole, is dying. I think that people in general are starting to figure some things out, however. For instance; if a team without backing plays a national event and wins, each player is still in the hole about (+ -) $300. There isn't much return in participating in national events. Also I feel that people are figuring out that there isn't a whole lot of difference from one gun to the next and from year to year. I think we've gone about as far as we can in terms of technology. The only thing that seems to be changing now days is gear is getting smaller. Even the industry itself.
I do disagree about the Agg movement not being good or bad. It is bad, but unavoidable. You run into this attitude everywhere from all walks of life. Just deal with it, ignore it, and don't take it personally.
I think paintball is simply contracting from expanding.
I don’t think paintball, as a whole, is dying. I think that people in general are starting to figure some things out, however. For instance; if a team without backing plays a national event and wins, each player is still in the hole about (+ -) $300. There isn’t much return in participating in national events. Also I feel that people are figuring out that there isn’t a whole lot of difference from one gun to the next and from year to year. I think we’ve gone about as far as we can in terms of technology. The only thing that seems to be changing now days is gear is getting smaller. Even the industry itself.
I do disagree about the Agg movement not being good or bad. It is bad, but unavoidable. You run into this attitude everywhere from all walks of life. Just deal with it, ignore it, and don’t take it personally.
I think paintball is simply contracting from expanding.
I think woodsball is just more popular at the moment due to the gear available. Most new players cant afford high end tourney markers or gear, such its much easier and much more economical to play in the woods. And when you have to pay $50+ for a case of paint at a field, players will always go for the cheaper option.
It is not dying, as with any sport you reach a high point then it levels out , for Instance NASCAR is not what it was back in the 90's but it still is moving along. Paintball will always be in me and my sons life.I enjoy woodsball more just because, hard for me to hide behind inflatables being 6'4" inches and 270 lbs, My butt is always getting hit. This was a great article, keep up the good work.
I have to agree with the article. I have been playing now for about 14 years now. I truly live the sport and integrate it into every aspect of my life. Even my children 8,11, and 15 play. I have seen a shift in paradigm from the beginning of the sport and the current climate. There is definitely a elitist attitude towards players. As a whole the sport as alienated some of it’s oldest, may not be in the worlds greatest shape. But they have a passion for the sport and have been cast aside. It is a shame that not all people and skill level are accepted into this sport. This sport is a true sport of teamwork and brotherhood. Teams succeed as a group not as individual talent. It is my wish that paintball will finally open it’s eyes and see the truth.
the whole point of me writing articles like tis is to not only get the discussion juices going, but to inspire some kind of change… the issues i see is that there is always some hate between the different communities within our sport… i view it much like the inter-branch rivalries in teh military… yes, the marines and the army may lock horns every now and then, but when it comes down to it, they kick ass and take names together… i woul dlove to see paintball somehow unite… even if its as simple as the NPPL or PSP and UWL all merging under on ruling body and bringing all aspects of the sport to the front lines, not just 7-man or x-ball…
I don't think paintball is dying at all! Although we have seen the demise of a few companies, we are seeing more pop up as well. The dynamic is changing, as anything will with time but I believe paintball will keep on trucking.
paintball is deffinantly a very wide spread deversified sport I don't think there is any rite or wrong way and that there is most definantly diferent types of players just like there are different styles and most deffinantly there are different satusses I my self am a devout speedball player I played woods ball once for a friends birthday I was honestly hooked I went straight to the pawn shop and bought me and my lil brother our 1st guns I got a spider mr1 and he got a tipman 98 custom we thought that we were set then the new paintball shop/feild for the local pro team opened 2 blockes from my house we went in 1 day wearing our camo and sneakers thinking we were ready to play we failed horrably I fell and almost broke my gun when I tried to stop behind my bunker I didn't shoot 1 person thad day and watching the pro level players with there fancy guns and sweet gear I definently thought that what you had made the player but natruly being an athlete I got over that quickly I started to pick up the game and now I play for the local field (utah xtreme paintball) for team tombstone and I have all the good gear and the fancy gun but I know that now of it is what makes me a good player and at our feild we never turn amatures away or make them feel unwelcome we are always looking for the newest and youngest talent possible and try to promote good sportsmanship and help the sport grow we need new players in order to keep our sport that we all love growing every feild/team/player should try to thinkabout it in those terms.
Paintball did NOT start as a contest between New Hampshire and Vermont farmers.
There’s more than enough historical information out there not to get this right. It is a minor fact, but getting such a foundational fact wrong brings everything else in the article into question. It was not even important to the article (could have, should have, been left out if not sure).
Dying? Yes, paintball IS dying. One only need look at the number of manufacturers that have shut down, not to mention the fields and stores that have closed. The solution is sustainability in our approach to everything, but most are still concentrating on short-term profit. Change this, no more death. Leave it as is and one company will be trying to sell oodles of brand names to twenty people scattered around the country.
The point of the article was to show a phase change in the sport that I noticed, not to go into the details of how or where the sport started… I have noticed that at both BOLP in Lee, NH and at OSG in Center Barnstead, NH that the numbers have been increasing… When I first started playing at BOLP in 2009, we averaged 15, maybe 20, people on a Monday night… Those numbers have more then tripled… Summer of 2010 Nate, the owner of BOLP, was lucky to get 3 teams to sign up for the 3 man tourny there… This past season… 8-10 teams for each event… From what I hear from other events from friends in Canada, and across the US, that scenario and woods ball games are seeing more numbers then in previous years… that to me does not say that the sport if dying, just changing… maybe downsizing a bit… but not dying…
Companies come and go, some by their own doing, some by trends in the market, and an unwillingness to change will impact sales… That goes for shops and fields too.. A local NH indoor field, Crossfire, went under a couple years ago because people stopped going there… The owners didnt run a good field, and they lost business… As the economy takes it toll on the job market, expandable income becomes less and less for most families, and luxury sports like ours takes a hit, which is why I think a good number of players are going back to the woods.
as for the start of the sport, I know that the first documented game was in Henniker, NH, and played between 12 men using a paintball marker George Buttler saw advertised in a forestry magazine… Unless both the state of NH and these 12 men have their accounts wrong… And if I am not mistaken, a couple of them were from Vermont…
http://www.unionleader.com/article/20110826/NEWS/708269977
Thank you for your point of view, as the purpose of my articles will be to stir up discussions like this. All opinions will be welcome here.
I actually go to OSG and I agree. Just a few years ago, on Bring Your Own Paint days there would be like 200-250 people max. Now it's usually up to 300-350. And that's not all people reverting back, it's a lot of new players.
I don’t think paintball is dying. I do think that more people are playing in the woods and maybe less speedball. Ballers do need to stop with the whole speedball vs woodsball thing and just accept that they are different games. I’m sure if some woodsballers played some speedball they would enjoy it just as much and vise versa. I’ve also seen the numbers at OSG in Barnstead NH grow. see new players and new teams popping up and it’s a pretty good mix of old and new players. Paintball is not dying it’s just changing like everything else does.
I don't think paintball is dying at all. I do think the economy has had a big effect on it just like anything else that you might use your money on every month. Also, woodsball is a lot of fun and I think it's easier to play for someone who is new to the game. it gives them a better experience of what paintball really is. I've also found that in a woodsballs you will find a many old guys always looking to help out and make you better. Don't get me wrong the very first time I played speedball I was hooked and I rarely play woodsball now but different strokes for different folks. I think more exposure of the woodsballs side of paintball would help attract new people. and does any one else remember that ESPN aired paintball for the first time in a long time 2 years ago? and good article.
thanks for your input… i remember watching 7man NPPL on espen back in the day… was a shame they took it off the air… but, given today’s commentators, a non-paintballer wont understand what they are talking about… Matty Marshall does a great job, for those of us that understand the sport. but to those that don’t, they need someone like John Madden to dumb it down….
It’s simple. Paintball died with the electric marker and high rate of fire.
paint ball is far from dead its just become very spread out and with us in a 3rd world country can see that more then most and with bushball rec and scenario being our biggest field of play that u normally booking a spot to play 3 weeks in advance we have amazing players out here in south africa and the numbers are growing open your eyes and look at the different types of game! we had out first night game of bushball the other day and it was a turn out of 40 people per a side and now a 2 day non stop &2 hour game is being planned on a 300 acres farm. this would not be happening if the sport was dying
I think paintball is dying because people are jerks to the new players
I do think PB is dying, i realize this after starting 2006(fairly new) went on it aggresively and bought all kinds of gear,went from woods and then speedball field,then both,buy and sold gear like crazy(I was really into it). I used to even go PBling every weekend,sometimes even twice a week(even 3 times a week and visited different fields all the time)indoor and outdoor to a point on going to different states just to PB…Now 2012 what I’ve got to show for it NOTHING just some marks all over my body and an empty deep deep pocket(all kinds of crazy gear that i mark the trees in my backyard). I could have bought that motorcycle i’ve always wanted,i could have had that steak and lobster instead eveytime I played,i could have went on a date watch some movies and maybe even got lucky cause of it instead,etc.etc….It’s not even a real sport(did you win the game, did ppl. cheat,did the ball break,did it curve,did they just not felt it, what did you really win,did you loose/win b/c the ref did not see it, are you a hero at the end of the day)For some reason it’s never as clear cut as the real sports that ppl actually get out of the way to watch,,, there really are toooo many variables. PB is one of those games/recreation that you felt you got screwed 1 out of 3 times when you play it and that sometimes happen every game in any given whole day outing.I can go on and on…point is go take your wife,girl friend and kids out to the movies,fishing,basketball,dinner(heck go to the local bar even)all kinds of stuff to do out there,,, instead of going PBling all the time for $50 to $100upup an outing/day…. I personally think it’s a joke along the ways of airsoft, sure i’ve got a trophy or two but who really cares, i mean really… You don’t