Paintball Up to 8,700,000 players!

[E99Beekz]

In the most recent APG (Nov. 03) they had an article say that paintball was up to 8,700,000 people! And that is just tourney people, that's not including all the people that just play woods ball or in their back yard! There is another article too that says it's the safest extreme sport in the world. The last article said that pb broke a world record by holding a D-Day event and having 3000+ people! Just thought I'd let you all know how fast paintball really is growing!

[something nasty]

The 8.7 mil is NOT just tourney players. Its people that participated in the sport 4 or more times in the year. Back yard ballers and recballers make up about 95% of that number too.

[woolf]

jeez u got the nov. issue its not even october in fact sept just started and i got my sept. issue about 1 1/2 weeks ago

[paintballer42o]

This is both a good thing and a bad thing:(

[LAMANTEthePBguy]

somtimes i kinda liked being the only person who knew what pb was.

[E99Beekz]

Originally posted by LAMANTEthePBguy
somtimes i kinda liked being the only person who knew what pb was.
I know what you mean. But now I think it's a good thing. I get APG very quick it seems, i always have it about a week b4 everyone else, not really something I look forward to though. I'm always waiting for PGI and PB2X, they wont come for another week or 2.

[Crash Danger]

I wish I was born 10 years earlier and got to play paintball when it was first invented.

[mrpsycho]

mamaaaaaaaaa, ooooooooooo
didn't mean to make you cry
if I'm not back again this time to-morow,
carry on, carry on
as if nothing really matters......

felt like singing a lil b. rhapsody. great thread:tup:

[Crash Danger]

Originally posted by mrpsycho
mamaaaaaaaaa, ooooooooooo
didn't mean to make you cry
if I'm not back again this time to-morow,
carry on, carry on
as if nothing really matters......

felt like singing a lil b. rhapsody. great thread:tup:

:cool::tup:

...any way the wind blows.

[cocker kid 2k2]

Good, i'm glad more people are playing, now people will realize that i'm not wasting my life by dedicating it to paintball.

[paintballer42o]

Plus with more people, if they decide to destroy paintball, there will be a lot of us standing our ground.

[Calebd2]

Originally posted by cocker kid 2k2
Good, i'm glad more people are playing, now people will realize that i'm not wasting my life by dedicating it to paintball.

True, true

When I would tell people about how much I was into paintball a few years ago, I use to get these blank stares and comments such as, "wow, what a stupid thing to waste your time on"

Now it seems, that only happens half as often...

[evan123]

Its good to hear that, no more stupid jocks saying paintball isnt a sport i say o yeah, then how come there is almost 9 million people who play it ?:rolleyes:

[dawgs712]

i hate to burst your bubble, but 9 million people is really not a lot. i mean yeah paintball is growing, but saying "9 MILLION PEOPLE PLAY PAINTBALL" wont get much attention.imean 9 million people probably play cowboys and indians

[E99Beekz]

Originally posted by dawgs712
i hate to burst your bubble, but 9 million people is really not a lot. i mean yeah paintball is growing, but saying "9 MILLION PEOPLE PLAY PAINTBALL" wont get much attention.imean 9 million people probably play cowboys and indians
That is somewhat true. Considering fishing has near 51 million participants, and that is second to bowling (:eyes: ). But then again 9 million pb players is still a hell of alot.

[Spartan 2]

Originally posted by Crash Danger
I wish I was born 10 years earlier and got to play paintball when it was first invented.

More like over 20 years ago....

[spencer_dale]

I don't understand why people want paintball to get so much bigger. I like it the way it is. It's like liking a favorite band, and you feel like it's yours, but then it becomes popular, then the fad is over, but you still love the band, and people think of it like a big cliche. It happened to me with Bob Marley back it 8th grade.

[paintballer42o]

Originally posted by spencer_dale
I don't understand why people want paintball to get so much bigger. I like it the way it is. It's like liking a favorite band, and you feel like it's yours, but then it becomes popular, then the fad is over, but you still love the band, and people think of it like a big cliche. It happened to me with Bob Marley back it 8th grade.
Like i said, good and bad with more players.
Good - Lower paintball stuff prices
Bad - Too many crowded fields(not a prob for tourny players, until a few more years, or months:| )

[evan123]

Originally posted by E99Beekz

That is somewhat true. Considering fishing has near 51 million participants, and that is second to bowling (:eyes: ). But then again 9 million pb players is still a hell of alot.

muhaha agreed

[paintballer42o]

Originally posted by E99Beekz
But then again 9 million pb players is still a hell of alot.
but what can we do? I dont think we can do a thing...:(

[evan123]

It is sad, we used to play (a paintball friend) a lot at Official Paintball Games of Texas, like one of the biggest fields in texas until it got swamped and games were huge.:(

[paintballer42o]

You think thats big, look at SC village...

[E99Beekz]

Originally posted by paintballer42o

but what can we do? I dont think we can do a thing...:(
No, but I dont see why we should. Expansion is a good thing, lower prices. If you think it'll get that crowded, with more people come more fields.

[LAMANTEthePBguy]

yea expansion is good for the industry, but that also means the feilds will be filled with newbs. Mabey if there were some way for the good players to play alone.....(besides tourney)

[E99Beekz]

Just make a team and practice against other "good" teams so that you are prepared for tourneys. (or rec ball whatever you play)

[paintballer42o]

Originally posted by E99Beekz

No, but I dont see why we should. Expansion is a good thing, lower prices. If you think it'll get that crowded, with more people come more fields.
Well, thats a good point, having more fields will be fun, and going to new places is fun. So theres a good point. But still, there will be more people, and then more...we'll just have to wait to see what the future brings:o

[LAMANTEthePBguy]

9 million is still only roughly 4% of the US population. not that many people

[beaverbuddy]

Originally posted by paintballer42o
You think thats big, look at SC village... hear you there! I can't stand SC anymore. Well besides the speed ball courses. (which may i remind you are still cluttered with noobs) But SC gets way too crowded. I went on super bowl sunday and the smallest game was like 30 v. 30

[Blacksheep]

I think fields should start making days for experianced players only...

[Mrfxiitxx]

Cool to hear the sport is growing so well.

But all this keeping the newbs away idea will only hurt the sport. Lets face it for paintball to grow we need to get the people off the sofa and out playing paintball, and that means making it more accessabile to them and making it fun.

Trying to exclude new players(openly at least) wont help our sport.

I would say the best thing to do if you dont like playing with rentals and random newbs. Is have the field divide out groups, on newb only group and one experinced group etc.. Or just have the field managers tell the other players your a private group. Happens all the time at my local fields tons of private groups and no one gets upset at being excluded from them.

But lets face it we NEED these newbs if we want paintball to grow. Lower prices, more fields, more tournaments, bigger prizes, more power(voters etc..) to use to fight legislation to limit paintball.

Mr.Fixit