Fets

Is the economy killing our sport? It seems like no one is buying gear anymore. When is the last time anyone went to a commercial field for a game?

Even outside the team I don't read as much about people buying gear or playing. It seems the non-commercial fields are still doing ok, but the online activity seems way down.

I know of at least 2 people who probably would have gone to Monster Game if money wasn't so tight.

What do you guys think?

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koolaid

The price of gas is really taking away from my ability to get out and play. I live in Akron and work at Cleveland Metro Hospital so it costs me $75 a week to drive back and forth to work. My wife works in Solon and it cost $100 a week in gas for her to go to work and back every week. That $700 a month in gas is killing us!

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RedMonkey

Agreed! Yeah, it's rough. Pump games should be making a comeback for players... lol.

I still love the game of paintball of course, but it's hard to justify spending $100 on a game every other weekend when you have to put that in your tank. After going to EMR, and then saving for MMG, with Synergy in between, that's pretty much been my playing time so far this year aside from a private property game here or there every now and then. Probably would have played another time if I hadn't been in an iar cast for the first 3 months of this year also. But still, cheap hobbies are definitely getting some attention right now.

Fets and I went fishing the other day, and I was thinking... $2.50 for a little cup of worms, and I can keep myself busy for hours and hours. Hadn't gone fishing in like 20 years, and I can't wait to go again. Very relaxing, and CHEAP!

Wonder if shooting fish with paintballs would work? lol

Fets

I find that where it use to cost say.... $20 to drive to Wadsworth and play a private game, now you have to factor in the cost of the gas... another $30 for my probably driving to Wadsworth and back. So that $20 game has become a $50 game all the sudden. And that is just for a non-commercial game.

To go to Battlefront was abuot $55 and now with gas add $30 on to that. So for me it has become $85... if you are someone that shoots a lot of paint and was spending $90 to play at BF now you are spending $120.

In addition to increasing the cost of games, everything else is so expensive the extra income is dwindling. I can't believe how much groceries are now.

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RedMonkey

Yeah, all that stuff in the grocery stores are brought in by truck...as fuel rises, the cost of everything rises.

My wife and I were talking the other day... the costs are rising faster than normal people have the ability to make more money. If you are lucky enough to get a 4% raise every year, that doesn't even come close to the cost of living increases that seem to go over 4% every few months. Crazy.

JDobbs

Not to get off topic...but next time you guys go fishing let me know

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tacsnipa

I wouldnt say it is killing the sport but discouraging people who are new to the sport from playing. If you are a dedicated player you will play, not maybe as much as you like but you will play. I think there will be a rise in non-commerical fields and a fall in commerical fields because of the low margins in commerical paintball.
It is sport is slowing down but its not going to die.

SnipaJackel

All i can say is that in order to really go anywhere and play i need to get my car running, which my parents were supposed to do for my birthday... yeah this really sucks but as of right now i am not getting out much in the first place so... i cant realy say much unfortunately

Fets

D'oh, just got back from fishing! I think I am going Sunday again if you want to go.

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JDobbs

It'd have to be on one of my days off. About 5 weeks and counting till I'm Mon-Fri.

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meatcircus

I was thinking about doing some fishing... but no one to go with. It's hard to carry all your gear and the beer by yourself.

Yeah. Gas is killing my paintball participation. Driving up to Monster Game is going to kill, and I'm trying to justify buying a second case for the next day.

Jax

The following has impacted me:

- Getting laid off from Regressive
- Being unemployed for 4 months
- Taking a slighty lower-paying job
- Price of gas. 33 gallons at $4 is kicking my ass. I'm seriously considering riding a bike to work.
- I have bought everything that I need for paintball. I splooged on Christmas.

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"Catch you on the flip-side."

Blacksheep32

Indeed it's time to work with what you got. I don't expect paintball to dry up and disappear, but I do agree that the number of new players is going to slow down drastically.

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Inflictum angelus, Invito diabolus