Addressing the “Outlaw Ball” Topic
By Murdoc:
Now this is a VERY interesting thread with valid points and lot’s of opportunity to help the scene.
Everyone knows why Joel and myself started OKC. If you don’t, watch the OKC intro video. My argument has been stated over and over and over in this thread, it revolves around a few key things: Friendship, Quality of experience and Affordability. These three things will single handedly dictate a persons view of a field, a store and event or player.
It’s true that in American society, a first impression is of the upmost importance. Unfortunately for us, some of our local business’ need to work on their ability to present a desirable package of the three above factors and exploit the hell out of it.
Some of them do it well, but others, need to look at their business model and decide whether it’s tangible for todays times or simply in need of revision. Now please understand, I honestly do not think there is a field owner/store owner who purposely and intently out to scam a player. The people who own the business’ are out to make a living, not a killing, and people need to respect that. Without these people our sport wouldn’t exist and that is where their argument would lie in this conversation.
People like Dan Bonebrake who have built numerous fields and events of upwards of 900 players, putting the NW on the map and Splat Action who have been in operation FOREVER providing a place for people to experience the sport. Or stores like Rush paintball or Oregon Paintball who have been around for YEARS providing players with insight, gear and at times, just a place to go hang out and meet other players. Without establishments like these (there are many more) we wouldn’t be where we are today.
My first paintball experience; Hit and Run indoor paintball downtown Portland about 15 years ago. It was my birthday party, my mother took 4 of us down for our first game. Back then, 4 people, 200 rds per person and a couple hours of play = over $100. I knew right then, that if I ever wanted to play the sport, I was going to need to discount my paintball somehow. There was NO WAY my parents were going to help support my paintball habit at those prices.
So, I turned to private property. People forget, we live in the freakin’ Pacific NW, there is land EVERYWHERE!!! Over years we mainly stuck to the “outlaw” games I called woodsball, and every now and then scrounged up enough money to play at a P2P.
When I got back into the Sport 18 months ago, I went and bought all new gear at the local shop, and headed out to a local field…. $80 later… I had a very mediocre experience. I don’t know about you all, but is the average income for an individual in the US? I instantly wondered how the heck they were in business and came to the conclusion I refuse to pay $80-$120 to play a sport for a DAY. For $80-$120 I could join a basketball league for 6 months, I could enlist in a Gym for 3 months and go workout everyday I wanted to, or even buy a keg of beer and throw a party for a bunch of my friends.
So, I went back to playing on private property, and 1 year later, we are here having this discussion. My story is VERY similar to most everyone here.
Private games let us call the shots. We decide where we spend our money, what games we play, who we play with and when we start or stop. The game is pure in situations like ours. We don’t have to worry about cheaters because we are in a group of our peers and if we catch you, your gone. We don’t have to worry about the politics or the ding dong tool boxes throwing ropes.
Groups like ours are contagious, we are great everyday normal people who gather on local property and use paintball as the center piece to hang out. Is there a problem with that? To some business owners, no. But to others yes. To the ones who run their business correctly, then they don’t need to worry, it’s those who need to re-identify their business plan who have the beef.
It’s groups like these who play weekend in and weekend out ALL YEAR LONG. What do we need to play? Paint, air, gear, camo’s and guns. Where do we buy these things? At local stores/fields. So, I can guarantee we spend a considerable amount of money weekly with the numerous shops in the area. It used to be almost solely one, but now we spread the wealth.
Once OKC was established, we started reaching out and attending local events and fields. We have a blast going to these places. number one, we’re all together so spirits are high, but second it’s a nice change of pace to run a new course. The draw backs, money being one. Some fields have offered discounts for groups and BYOP, BUT what about the introductory players who are looking to get into the game? They face the same problem I did 15 years ago and again 18 months ago. Conclusion, they either don’t take up paintball or they turn to groups like this one.
People like us will continue to be around regardless ANY measure people take to stop us. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Fields are starting to see this and I can feel change coming. Until then, we’ll continue to embrace whoever and whatever people call us. If that name is “Outlaw” baller, then so be it. BUT, if you’d like to label us, then get on here and let us know you don’t want our money supporting your business.
Cheers
