|
|
pbReview.com / Area 51 Paintball Park (indoor @ Downsview Park) / Area 51 Paintball Park (indoor @ Downsview Park) / Area 51 Paintball Park (indoor @ Downsview Park) / Area 51 Paintball Park (indoor @ Downsview Park)
Area 51 Paintball Park (indoor @ Downsview Park)
|
|
|
Reviews: |
|
|
Website: |
Click here to visit the field's website. |
|
Email: |
Click here to email the field. |
|
Phone: |
416-636-0657 |
|
Address: |
75 B Carl Hall Road - Downsview Park
Toronto, Ontario M3K 2B9
Canada |
|
Distance: |
Fill in the text box below and click 'Go'
to calculate the distance to this field.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Keenada |
|
Wednesday, January 16th, 2008 |
|
Period of
Field Use: |
|
|
| Date There: |
January 12th, 2008 |
|
Paintball
Experience: |
3 years |
|
Directions
to the Field: |
Here is a Google Map of the field: http://tinyurl.com/28x3fn ... it is located at Downsview Park in North York, near Shepphard and Keele streets. |
|
| Review: |
After having read a few reviews, I wanted to put up a review by someone a bit older and wiser ;-)
I have played a lot of different places in Ontario, and this one wasn't the "hot stuff" pbreview makes it out to be.
We picked this field because of the reviews on pbreview.com, and we wanted to try a good field in Toronto. Turns out we were only half right. The field was alright, but a lot of the other things were crap.
The first thing we noticed was how nonchalant everything was. Which was fine, people who play paintball are pretty "cool" but this attitude bordered on comatose. The staff were generally knowledgable, but apathetic.
The referee told us he was the only person willing to ref that day, so he was "taking it easy" and not working too hard. He stood by the doorway the entire time, only coming over to take players out who had been blatantly shot 15 times and refused to leave. I had to scream at him about 20 times to take out cheaters.
The field itself was interesting, and setup to be really strategic. There were about 9 different scenarios listed in the lobby. We only played 2. Attack & Defend and Team Free-For-All.
We also had a few major incidents with people being arseholes. Seeing as we only were there to have a good time and shoot each other, we didn't really care about whether the guys wearing camo and carrying $1500 guns thought we were newbies. We weren't newbies, and it honestly didn't matter.
There were two major incidents that would keep me from going back to Area 51 again. The management should fix the requirements that referees jump on these sort of idiots much more harshly and quickly. They completely ruined the rounds in which we played.
- 1) There were about 25 new guys who had never played PB before (which is cool). Apparently the instructors didn't tell them that if they get shot, they're out. I must have shot 3 of them 20 times each, hearing them scream each time, but they just remained hiding in the corner. When the ref finally came over, one of the guys was crying, and the others were upset. The ref told them to get off the field and to put their hands up when they get shot. They grunted.
This scenario happened again and again for the next 2 hours. Then they learned how to wipe the paint off their coveralls.
The problem was that the ref never clearly told them that this action was bad. He mumbled stuff at them, but they never really got it. (English was a bit of a problem for them)
- 2) Teamshooting by jerks. Again, the ref just watched dispassionately as a guy on our team shot our own members, as he yelled at us to "get the f out of the way", because we were blocking his sight. My friend almost left at that point, he was so upset at how the ref did nothing. He shot my friend in the chest 6 times just for turning around and getting angry.
(Keep in mind, my friend and I never cry to refs. We take our lumps and we have a good attitude. This was just the over-the-top stuff.)
Overall area51 paintball is overhyped and they underdeliver. I would go there again, provided I could bring my own paint and not pay $200 for a case on a Sunday. I would come back if the refs got a bit more serious. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Period of
Field Use: |
|
|
| Last There: |
January 3rd, 2008 |
|
Paintball
Experience: |
4 years |
|
Other Fields
in the Area: |
Splatters, Easties, Dragonfire, PBC, NEXT |
|
Directions
to the Field: |
go to the site, the place can be hard to find if you haven't been there before (obviously lol) |
|
| Review: |
Safety- Nice guys that run the place, but if you endanger yourself or other people, they're all over you (which I think is a good thing). They yell to get the point across, but because of this I've never seen anything close to an injury happen here.
Hours- Pretty standard, they close kinda early but it's reasonable.
Prices- Weekends are kinda steep, but they pull alot of people. Weekdays are good for owners, cheaper paint.
Fields- Speedball I've heard is closed due to a water pipe, the recball is big, real big. 2 stories, attack and defend building. It's pretty good temperatures too. Ground is dirty, but it's not too bad, just bring older shoes and don't go crawling everywhere, lol.
Rules- Standard as any other field, well enforced.
Staff/Refs- Funny guys, sarcastic but not mean. They enforce everything, catch most people cheating and such and are loud and clear about games. They help out when they can with gun problems and give advice here and there.
Facilities- Bathrooms are on par, nothing fancy but the bare essentials are there. Kinda dirty but it's paintball right? No food, but there's fast food and some resteraunts around the corner, couple of snacks and the basic drinks.
Overall this field is pretty good, keep it up guys.
8.5/10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Period of
Field Use: |
|
|
| Last There: |
November 22nd, 2007 |
|
Paintball
Experience: |
More than 5 years |
|
Other Fields
in the Area: |
Almost all - some on par, most below the quality here. |
|
Directions
to the Field: |
Mapquest.ca |
|
| Review: |
Safety - they will HOUND you with safety now. Forgetting to have your barrel bag on will result in you having your next game missed. The refs will stop the ENTIRE game if people lose their mask, and they make sure all owners and refs chrono their guns before the game.
Fields - Amazing rec and Speedball fields. Both are HUGE and offer the ability to play many scenarios and they have plenty of cover. The ground there is gravel, not sand, and will not muck up your gun. However, the ground can get pretty bogged with paint making your shoes all gunky. However, they have a shoe-washing station there, so it should not be much of a problem.
Hours of Operation - M-F --> 1-10pm
Sat --> 11am-10pm
Sun --> 11am-8pm
Price - Probably the BEST prices in Ontario. It used to be that only Mondays were half price, but now it is MONDAY TO THURSDAY that is half price. Fridays are discount days BEFORE 5pm, and the weekend Speedball is BYOP (White or Yellow fill only). Membership is $200 to get, and $100 to renew, but once you get it, you will get free entry and 5 CENT paintballs!
Rules - Pretty standard, no wiping, hot guns, etc.
Services - They offer FREE advice and help with minor problems about your marker.
Proshop - Good prices, decent stock, REALLY helpful staff.
Refs - AMAZING refs compared to other fields I've been to. They try their best to catch cheaters, and if there isn't enough people at the field, they will join in the game and allow walk-ons to fully experience paintball. They will also take it easy on noobs and not unload 25+ bps on them, unlike some refs at places like Sgt. Splatters.
Players - Mostly renters there with some owners. Most renters there look up to owners and they ask them for help. The owners will usually help out as best as they can, and they treat the renters like equals.
Facilities - The only complaint that I have is the state of the guy's washrooms. It is fairly dirty, and there is really no place for a guy to change.
Food - No REAL food there, but they do sell snacks and drinks for $1-2 depending on what you get.
Overall - 10/10, an AMAZING field now that there is new management.| Last edited on Sunday, November 25th, 2007 at 1:23 pm PST |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| The accuracy of this review is disputed. Please see discussion on the comments page. |
Period of
Field Use: |
|
|
| Date There: |
October 8th, 2007 |
|
Paintball
Experience: |
2 years |
|
Other Fields
in the Area: |
Sgt. Splatters
Next Paintball Outdoor Field |
|
Directions
to the Field: |
Downsview Park, mapquest it. |
|
| Review: |
Safety: They kinda care. They never emphasize the rules the way other fields do though, which makes it kinda dangerous to be around newbies.
Fields: There's the noobball, whoops excuse me, speedball field and then there's the ****ball field, whoops, the really dirty "urban combat simulation field". Didn't try the speedball field( because I actually have a pair and shoot semi-auto) and the urban field was the filthiest thing I've ever played on and is terribly designed. The side away from the exit is BLATANTLY stacked with cover.
Hours: Are bad...they open at 1 on Mondays (the only half-price day).
Prices: Everything in this place including the proshop screams overpriced, except on half-price day.
Rules: Are usually enforced and refs sometimes do paint-checks.
Proshop: Very helpful guys, but extremely overpriced items. They have many things on display which is a good thing but some items are just very obviously overpriced.
Refs: Are complete and utter @ssholes. I have never seen a more idiotic group of people. They get all the refs to grab their fastest shooting speedball guns and make everyone in the place defend the second floor while they go 25BPS on you with their free paint. Not only do they not have the testicular fortitude to use stock guns but they selfishly make it only fun for themselves. Their guns are never chronied and are shooting hot. Half the first timers were bleeding after being bonus balled to death by these morons and complained. "It's part of the game" they were told. "Bull****." I interupeted. "You're not supposed to bleed if the guns are running 250FPS, you guys are shooting hot and are selfish ***holes who only care about your own fun." After that I grabbed my team and left. Many people followed after.
Players: Speedballers on the urban field always present which is a con. Mostly gun owners on the field and renters stand no chance.
Facilities: Fine... bathroom and vending machine, great.
Overall: This is the worst game experience I've ever had. Planting one in the ref's forehead was my pleasure during that unfair game.
DO NOT COME HERE, YOU WILL BE ABUSED AND WON'T HAVE FUN!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| The accuracy of this review is disputed. Please see discussion on the comments page. |
Period of
Field Use: |
|
|
| Last There: |
August 6th, 2007 |
|
Paintball
Experience: |
1 year |
|
Other Fields
in the Area: |
Sgt. Splatters - doesn't come close to comparing to Area 51. Splatters charges $6 per HPA fill (completely ridiculous considering air is free with a compressor). |
|
| Review: |
Safety - Standard safety precautions with barrel covers required at all times. Could be a little stricter enforcing these rules however.
Field - Nice, well-lit field. Not as big as splatters, but just as fun. Area 51 uses pebbles instead of sand, which won't muck up your marker if you drop it.
Prices - Very reasonable prices, especially on mondays. Admission for owners is $5, and $15 for renters. Air is always free, and the CO2 is cheap.
Rental guns - Haven't used one, but they look really good, and come with an air tank instead of co2.
Staff and Refs - Very friendly and helpful staff who make it fun to play there, compared to the grumps at Splatters.
Proshop - Amazing pro-shop with a huge selection and very fair prices. Again, beats splatters by a long shot.
Facilities - Mediocre washrooms, games, etc. No real food, but pop for only $1.
Bottom line: Go to Area 51 instead of Splatters. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Period of
Field Use: |
|
|
| Last There: |
July 23rd, 2007 |
|
Paintball
Experience: |
More than 5 years |
|
Other Fields
in the Area: |
every singe field in the world |
|
Directions
to the Field: |
i forgot |
|
| Review: |
This is a great field. The scenrio smells and is soo slippary. I havent been to the speedball, but will soon. Their pro shop is amazing. The workers there are very nice and helpful. I had a gun problem and they helped me out. Thankz to the workers at proshop.
Ive been to the rentals field but me and my friend wanted to try the speedball field and when we went there they said u need a minimum of 8 people to play on the speedball field........ WTF IS THAT Man after that my impressions on area51 has changed...... How the hell do u expect to invite 8 ppl for 1 day. Man the person working that shift at area51 must of been mentally retarded or something. So i change the rating on it to 7/10.
Man i really wanted to try the area51 speedball field but i guess i wont be able to. =(| Last edited on Saturday, October 13th, 2007 at 7:42 pm PST |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Period of
Field Use: |
|
|
| Last There: |
June 13th, 2007 |
|
Paintball
Experience: |
6 months |
|
Other Fields
in the Area: |
Sgt Splatters. Splatters was OKAY. The darkness brought out a new element of play that most other fields don't have= night time scenario.
Other than that, Splatters was overpriced, the staff were rude, the basic rental markers were not great (just workable), and the ref's were arrogant. |
|
Directions
to the Field: |
Area 51 at first is hard to find. But after a a few visits, finding it is easy like the way a dog can find it's way home after miles of wandering. |
|
| Review: |
I've been to both Area 51 and Sgt Splatters.
Area 51 has many more benefits than Splatters in my experience.
Pro's;
- The recball field itself is spacious and has many many many buildings, bunkers, objects to seek cover behind and hide.
- The rental markers are awesome! I don't know but I think they are Tippmann 98 Customs and they work just fine. Long range distance they are effective, and close range they perform very well. 100 paintballs and a mask are included in the rental package. $15 plus taxes on mondays all day.
- The staff are very very conversational and to a good extent helpful.
- The muddy marbled/pebbled field would give you a basic idea what it was to fight in a muddy environment like the jungles of tropical Vietnam. Its messy, slippery, and confusing! And at times HOT!
Some may complain about the messy muddy conditions,;but people like me who like to experience things that go against what we are accustomed to (spoiled to) in society as civilians respect the field for what it is.
- good pro shop with many many diverse items/products.
-------------------------------
NOW, on to the few CONS;
- The washrooms. Ewwwwww the men's washroom needs improvement. But what can I say, its a paintball place and a very busy paintball place. What can one expect??? Though a bit classing up would make the washrooms more usuable.
- Changing spaces. Not a lot of places for a guy to take his clothing off... the washroom is an ackward and dirty place to change.
So often a guy would have to change in the main lobby..... where women who come to enjoy paintball would consider us rude lol.
- OMG.... GET RID OF THOSE AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL
Squadbuster grenades made by Tippmann!
Honestly I think Tippmann creates great paintball markers BUT, the Squadbuster
grenade they should just get rid off or improve before selling any more.
Seriously you can throw the Squadbuster 4 times hard against a wall and it might
not even burst! Now picture you in a rec ball game
and you throw one into a bunker full of enemies... and it doesn't burst and spray your
foes!!! They would just laugh at what you threw in and you will realize $7.99 + taxes
for a SquadBOUNCER was not worth it. Honestly, I think Area 51's pro shop should
just order Fbombs or something that is effective. NOT the Squadbouncer!
----------------------------------
that is all I can think of for now. But Area 51 Paintball in Toronto is a decent place to play indoor recball. I'm still trying to find good OUTDOOR Woodsball and scenario fields in TORONTO and not
have to travel all the way to Wasaga beach.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RuMpLe |
|
Saturday, April 28th, 2007 |
|
Period of
Field Use: |
|
|
| Last There: |
April 29th, 2007 |
|
Paintball
Experience: |
6 months |
|
Other Fields
in the Area: |
sgt splatters BLEH! the staff blows, 2 groups of 20, waiting 20 min to play no problem but when our group went on they wanted all gun owners back out off the field so the owners could crono,15 gun owners equaled a big line at the crono and then our game was over so the other group was up. ERM WE COULD HAVE CRONOED WHILE WE WERE WAITING TO PLAY NOT WHEN WE WERE ON THE FIELD , IDIOTS, OR BETTER YET A S S H A T S ! and by the way ,the 20 dollar a box white box balls they use and sell for 15 bucks per hundred, curve 10 ft outta the barrel. oh and check out the comment on their website about the shelf life of paintballs, they dont want you using field paint you bought the day before cause they say it goes bad in 6 hours. MAKE EM OPEN UP CASES WHEN YOU BUY THEIR PAINT TO MAKE SURE ITS FRESH!! LMAO !!! SCAM!!! |
|
| Review: |
area 51 staff rocks, they all play, and are more than helpfull to tech your marker and give advice. My a5 had some serious problems and they didnt charge me a dime to get it solved. other fields sell you hundreds of dollars of equipment and then charge you to put it together, these guys breathe and eat paintball and for me at least didnt charge me a thing to get my marker running the way its supposed to be outta the box. The paint is quality, draxxus blaze(which my flatline hates) or for members xball bronze or gold, free air fills, and co2 is reasonable. The place gets cleaner and cleaner everytime i go in there as the management is new and doing its best to clean the old paint up. The rec field is pea gravel which doesnt get into your markers like sand and the speedball field is cleaned daily and seems great for 5on 5 though im not into that. the recball fild is about 20,000 plus square ft 2 level and has some moveable obstacles so its not always the same. they just installed a hpa fill station on the desk so you dont have to wait for a staff member to get a fill if you know what youre doing and that just equals more time for headshots. The proshop is getting bigger and bigger all the time and has tons of opsgear and scenerio ball gear, more than ive seen elsewhere. and the speedball section is growing fast. check this place out, you wont be dissapointed. at least im not.| Last edited on Saturday, April 28th, 2007 at 10:30 pm PST |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Banach |
|
Saturday, April 14th, 2007 |
|
Period of
Field Use: |
|
|
| Last There: |
April 1st, 2007 |
|
Paintball
Experience: |
6 months |
|
Other Fields
in the Area: |
Paintball Nation- Much smaller Field
|
|
Directions
to the Field: |
Its on the site, but basically Keele and Sheppard in Toronto. |
|
| Review: |
Safety- As usual, number one priority. You get to listen to the rules at the front desk and are briefed about the equipment and field. Refs always check for masks and I know from experience that they make SURE you have a barrel condom/ plug ON before leaving the field.
Fields- Their main field (indoors) is pretty spacious, has plenty of obstacles, a variety of two-story buildings including a UFO and long Wall. Pretty decently clean.
Hours of Operation- Standard really, nothing to talk about.
Prices- Fair, especially if you are a gun owner. Paintballs are 10$/100 and the rates are really affordable.
Rules- Strict and the same as traditionally. A variety of game types exist so it really doesn't get boring.
Proshop- I think its a Battlefield paintball proshop; its pretty decently stocked, the staff are OK but couldn't help me fix by Spyder. I say they are nice though but perhaps not very knowledgable.
Staff- Friendly and attentive, get things done and keep on top of things
Refs- Very good, they are pretty funny and great people. Obey the rules and enforce everything.
Facilities- The washrooms are pretty dirty but they do have a Chrono and all, an arcade, its decent.
Food- Snacks and Beverages, nothing special.
overall- I reccomend this field, its pretty spacious, friendly staff, proshop and affordable prices for great gaming.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
dman71 |
|
Friday, April 6th, 2007 |
|
Period of
Field Use: |
|
|
| Date There: |
April 6th, 2007 |
|
Paintball
Experience: |
Less than a month |
|
Other Fields
in the Area: |
I haven't played at any other ones but im going to Soldiers of fortune soon. |
|
Directions
to the Field: |
Look at the map on the website. |
|
| Review: |
Area 51 is an amazing field that gave me one of the best days of my life. I enjoyed my experience greatly and I am proud to say that I will be returning soon.
Safety: Very good by always reminding you to put on your barrel bags and using the safety button. They also give you a very informing safety speech at the front desk.
Prices: Amazing! Some days the Rental package costs $10 which includes a semi-auto marker, goggles, free air and unlimited playtime. It also includes 100 paintballs. Extra paintballs are $10 for every hundred extra paintballs.
Rules: Many different scenarios. The downside is that the rules aren't inforced that much. Some guys with Autos keep shooting after you have screamed " HIT!!!!".
Some people whipe but its still fun whether you lose or win.
Services: The staff at the desk are really good and will fix your gun and wont act like your an idiot.
Proshop: Fully stocked with awesome markers at low prices. Some Tippman 98s only $200.
Refs: Pretty good but a bit hard to understand and don't inforce the rules that much.
Players: The players are extremely nice. Everyone is so helpful and nice and even though some guys shoot you a kagillion times they are still really nice.
Facilities: Amazing field that has lots of buildings and many bunkers. Has lots of cover and is really layed out well. Is very muddy and there are piles of paint so wear crappy shoes. And make sure you dont lean against the structures because they are covered in paint.
Food: They have chips and pop but nothing speical. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
