Has paintball lost it's target audience?

**Heavy_D** · 10-22-2025, 11:24 PM

Pro Artificial turf (in a Sports stadium) is crazy expensive, and Paintball is Crazy Messy... Nerf darts make zero mess...

I feel paintball misses its target audience by Marketing soley speedball and the industry focusing on Speedball, and Paint volume...

Also alot of people are lazier than the past, Paintball takes effort haha

**Trbo323** · 10-22-2025, 11:30 PM

Originally posted by Heavy_D

Also alot of people are lazier than the past, Paintball takes effort haha

I agree with everything you said, this in particular I just hadn't thought about it much.

Why pack up a vehicle, get a lunch and organize a carpool when you can just turn on the tv and x box

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**Cdn_Cuda** · 10-22-2025, 11:44 PM

Entry cost for brand new gear is very expensive. That’s where people like us come in who fix gear and sell working gear to new players that is functional and significantly cheaper. They can then learn and drawn more into the game.

Same can be said for lending people markers. They get to go hands on and try to see if they like them. Not having any local stores here makes it hard to get into playing. So getting hands on with a marker helps people make the choice on upgrades or first marker purchases.
.

**sonixr7** · 10-22-2025, 11:53 PM

Something different,

Either go cheap. Tippmanns and Spyders.
OR
Super Highend. DYE, Plant Eclipse, even CCM.

Both don’t allow for economic endurance.

There is not a buy once cry once option. Field fees and paint are reoccurring expenses.

Less reasons to play paintball than other forms of entertainment.

Pain, long drives, mechanical malfunctions, not many will pay for that kind of experience.

**SignOfZeta** · 10-23-2025, 02:09 AM

I watched a bit of the video with no sound. I apologize if I missed something.

As to the question of why paintball can’t be like this:

1: We play in townships and corn fields for a reason. We can’t afford to rent a $800M stadium. We can’t even afford the electricity. We can’t even afford the security. We can’t afford a parking lot big enough to hold all the people in this video. My field is “strong” as far as paintball fields go and we have compressor issues fairly often and pay so low no adult will work there. Maybe *once* for some huge event that draws all the maniacs one time you could do this, but not week after week, year after year. If you do this just two times you’re going to see a huge drop off in turnout. Paintball is still going after 45 years. Thats a super long time and competition/events was involved day one. Nerf dart guns are like 20 years old and still there is no established scene, mainly just collectors, fans, etc. No NXL.

2: If all the gear is cheap and the ammo reusable then how does anyone make money? Don’t get me wrong. I am, after all, a Space Commie. Your earthling money is backward and confusing to me and I have no enthusiasm for it BUT it is the system we currently use so it’s an existential question.

3: How hardcore are these people really? One of my hobbies is model rocketry. I’ve seen events where they get 10,000 kids together to click together 10,000 Estes Alphas and launch them all at once…it’s very cool, and it exposes 10,000 kids to model rocketry at once but how many of them will ever build or fly another model rocket again? Kids have very little control over their lives honestly…

4: which brings me to this point: kids have no money. Sometimes the parents are cool and invest in certain things, sometimes they go way too far (hockey parents, travel lacrosse, equestrian, etc) but for the most part kids cant do anything unless their patents approve, pay for, and transport them to the event. Is this really going to happen with Nerf? A lot of the people in that video look like they don’t get out much…

5: this is more of a general point but how long can something inherently competitive maintain popularity if hits can’t be counted?

I will second the idea that fealty to the speedball cause has kneecapped paintball for decades. If there is a solution it’s AWAY from that stuff.

**Olsson** · 10-23-2025, 04:23 AM

Originally posted by SignOfZeta

4: which brings me to this point: kids have no money.

I think you are quite right with most of your points, but even though kids strictly speaking don't have money of their own, they are a demographic with tremendous purchase power.

Proof in point - I used to play Warhammer 40.000 since way back in time. In the 1st edition of the game (1987), the rules were very noticeably influenced by role playing. This was cleared up by the 2nd edition (1993), where the game became more of a true table top game.

However, with the 3rd edition (1998), the rules were significantly dumbed down, and a lot of the tactal choices that were mutually exclusive were removed. Everything became more of childs play, one might say.

I was on personal terms with Games Workshop's senior representative in Sweden at the time. So as a long term fan, I asked him what was behind the rather massive shift in rules and gameplay. He answered that it was to have children as their primary target audience.

I found this very perplexing, since I also thought that kids have no money, and that what parents buy for their kids couldn't possibly be on par with the kind of spending money that long term adult fans must have, with years if not decades of employment and disposable income.

Apparently I was dead wrong - it turns out that what parents spend on hobbies for their kids is way, WAY, more than what entire adult fanbases spend on any given hobby. Thusly, Games Workshop turned their entire portfolio of games around to target kids rather than adults - since kids do have money. Loads of it.

**boomersruckus** · 10-23-2025, 05:38 AM

Getting more people to play a sport where alpha egos are prevalent and pain is dished out at 300 fps is not easy. 50 cal tried to fix that but it was a day late and a dollar short. If they had 50 cal play back in the late 90's early 2000's then maybe today we would have a larger 2nd generation of ballers. Combined with the cost to play at a local field for the day as a walk-on. Its just too expensive and dirty and requires to much effort for most people to even consider it. Kids are soft these days because their parents are soft. We do get new blood but they are the exception to the rule nowadays. Fields that are successful have a big turnout every weekend. Most places are a mix of tourney fields and recball fields and you know what is common at both of them? Peeps smokin the herb. I havent been to a field in the last 2 years that didnt have someone somewhere tokin away and while I am all for it and couldnt care less, I am cool

Most moms and dads bringing their kids to try paintball are not. Not even close.

In closing, The peeps of MCB are the exception and want paintball to thrive. We are considerate, kind, and great ambassadors to our sport. But we are few and the fools are many. The fools get to represent the sport more than we do.....unfortunately. oh... and walk-on days are expensive.

**Chuck E Ducky** · 10-23-2025, 05:49 AM

I think paintball is right where it needs to be. I really don’t care if it goes back to friends Vs friends in their backyard cracking 12g.

**SignOfZeta** · 10-23-2025, 06:08 AM

Originally posted by Olsson

I think you are quite right with most of your points, but even though kids strictly speaking don't have money of their own, they are a demographic with tremendous purchase power.

Proof in point - I used to play Warhammer 40.000 since way back in time. In the 1st edition of the game (1987), the rules were very noticeably influenced by role playing. This was cleared up by the 2nd edition (1993), where the game became more of a true table top game.

However, with the 3rd edition (1998), the rules were significantly dumbed down, and a lot of the tactal choices that were mutually exclusive were removed. Everything became more of childs play, one might say.

I was on personal terms with Games Workshop's senior representative in Sweden at the time. So as a long term fan, I asked him what was behind the rather massive shift in rules and gameplay. He answered that it was to have children as their primary target audience.

I found this very perplexing, since I also thought that kids have no money, and that what parents buy for their kids couldn't possibly be on par with the kind of spending money that long term adult fans must have, with years if not decades of employment and disposable income.

Apparently I was dead wrong - it turns out that what parents spend on hobbies for their kids is way, WAY, more than what entire adult fanbases spend on any given hobby. Thusly, Games Workshop turned their entire portfolio of games around to target kids rather than adults - since kids do have money. Loads of it.

I somewhat disagree. The main reason GW should be targeting kids is that kids are the future of their business. They grow up to be the ones who make the buying decisions in the next household and also the ones who get their own kids into it. This is why Ford markets to 12 year olds. Because in 6 years they will be driving and six years is the dev cycle of an average car.

I think if you’re paying attention to any of the “adult” collectors markets you’ll find people are spending absolutely insane money on childish crap that is absolutely not for children, like $800 Batmobiles and stuff. The two markets have in many ways merged making this a pretty grey line. No kid does horseback riding or goes skiing regularly if they’re poor though. I know because I was poor. Even the poorest adult can pay for a habit though, and THOSE people are an audience!

**COB** · 10-23-2025, 06:39 AM

Here is my two cents, from an old, infirmed and somewhat dimwitted player. Most of us were young at a time when we played anything outside. Sports, bikes, skateboards or our own made-up games. We got bruised, dirty and sweaty. The current generation is adverse to such effort. They tend to gravitate towards activities that can be done indoors, like nerf or laser tag.

**Ecapnation** · 10-23-2025, 06:56 AM

Every couple of years the paintball industry goes "oh wait we should market to kids!" And it backfires entirely.

Many reasons come to light as a former field worker...

1) equipment is to heavy for the little guys...yes even emeks.

2) no goggles fit right and safety concerns have field ops not allowing some kids to play

3) the aspect of willingly submitting yourself to pain or injury.

4) the biggest...... KIDS DON'T HAVE DISPOSABLE INCOME FOR HOBBIES

The field I worked for tried switching it's Friday night bring your own paint night to a kids and rental night effectively alienating an entire crowd of players spending money while barely paying the bills with the few kids that showed. They ran with it for a six month period realized it didn't work. Switched back to the old byop night and completely lost the adult customers. They went out of business in a month.

Kids as a customer base doesn't work

**CFEL08** · 10-23-2025, 07:58 AM

This is what I think -- Hasbro owns Nerf. Ads all over the TV that is constantly being watched and regularly releasing new stuff that is mostly 'affordable'. Their marketing budget has to be sky high, too. I really wonder what paintball would be like if a major company put millions into marketing. The only public-facing ads I ever saw for paintball was the commercial the local field did. That or out of reach tournament stuff for ESPN.

People can play virtually anywhere with a nerf gun and can buy one at hundreds of stores. Friends play in the living/dining room. I can't fire paintball in my backyard, but the neighbors and city would be fine with Nerf.

Then add to it that they are spring or electric flywheel - so no air requirement. Limited access to CO2 here and about an hour and a half round trip to for an air fill with a tiny window of open hours.

As an adult, I also can't go to my job with a paintball mark on my neck - so that can limit play a bit.

Then the reusability of the balls/darts. They tried that with reball locally, but it never took off.

Agree with Chuck E Ducky, I don't mind it being small - but it would be nice to be a little bigger around here so it was more accessible and then I think would draw in some new players.

**Reflex0283** · 10-23-2025, 08:06 AM

As the resident 17-year old of MCB, I started out with modded/hobby-grade nerf blasters a couple years ago, then played paintball at a birthday party and really enjoyed it, and then started buying cockers and other fun stuff. When it comes to price, the nerf hobby space has paintball beat by a LOT. You can waltz into walmart and get a 200fps pump springer for $50, and then get started right away. If you have your own 3D printer, you can get a parts kit for a great blaster for well under $100. Paintball just doesn't have anything that can really compare. If paintball was more centered around woodsball and other recreational play, it would be a lot cheaper for people to get started, but it's not. Fortunately it's still possible to get a spyder for $20, a tank for $40, a loader for $30, and a decent mask for $50. It's possible to get started for under $200, but that's still a lot more expensive that most other hobbies and then you still get killed on paint prices.

**Trbo323** · 10-23-2025, 08:08 AM

Originally posted by SignOfZeta

1: We play in townships and corn fields for a reason. We can't afford to rent a $800M stadium. .

Why not? It's not like I know the back end but that video was done by one person. If not him paying for it then nerf, one company backed it. The NXL buys what 6 or 7 brand new bunker sets for each event, the money is there

.

2: If all the gear is cheap and the ammo reusable then how does anyone make money? Don't get me wrong. I am, after all, a Space Commie. Your earthling money is backward and confusing to me and I have no enthusiasm for it BUT it is the system we currently use so it's an existential question..

By looking long term. Valken just went under because they didn't have enough people buying stuff, you don't get people to buy stuff unless they are interested in the sport, they don't get interested in the sport unless they have a good starting point

.

3: How hardcore are these people really? One of my hobbies is model rocketry. I've seen events where they get 10,000 kids together to click together 10,000 Estes Alphas and launch them all at once…it's very cool, and it exposes 10,000 kids to model rocketry at once but how many of them will ever build or fly another model rocket again? Kids have very little control over their lives honestly….

hardcore enough to show up to a nerf event? For nerf that seems pretty hardcore to me. Have you ever scheduled a day around nerf?

I'm not saying we need to pack a stadium with tournament try hards, quite the opposite actually, get players who have maybe never played or only played a new times in there. No not all of them would come back but if you only got 10% to stick with the sport that's 100 out of 1000 that are buying gear now

.

4: which brings me to this point: kids have no money. Sometimes the parents are cool and invest in certain things, sometimes they go way too far (hockey parents, travel lacrosse, equestrian, etc) but for the most part kids cant do anything unless their patents approve, pay for, and transport them to the event. .

And? Show me the kid that is self sufficient? Show me the kid that bought their own x box, bike and jungle gym. Yes the startup money often comes from the parents and I think that's fine but the problem is a starter setup is no longer a $60 spyder victor, $20 20oz and a $35 mask. If you go talk to Facebook or even here that stuff is never mentioned because it's basically seen as unacceptable. So the parents (or the player themselves) are no longer looking at $150 to try paintball it's around $500 which is a much harder pill to swallow

.

5: this is more of a general point but how long can something inherently competitive maintain popularity if hits can't be counted?.

Go watch the video, they are not counting hits at all, just blasting each other and having fun. If something has to be competitive to be seen as popular then how has nerf survived this long? This is kind of one of my points. Paintball has gotten away from the backyard fun that made it so popular

Originally posted by boomersruckus

Getting more people to play a sport where alpha egos are prevalent and pain is dished out at 300 fps is not easy. 50 cal tried to fix that but it was a day late and a dollar short. If they had 50 cal play back in the late 90's early 2000's then maybe today we would have a larger 2nd generation of ballers.

50cal wasn't intended as a new player attraction though. It was a push mostly by the Gardner Brothers to try and force everyone into 50cal because in order to play it you and me and everyone here would be required to buy all new gear. It found a decent place in the "low impact" side but that was never it's intent. It was a fairly blatant money grab by trying to force an industry change

Originally posted by SignOfZeta

I somewhat disagree. The main reason GW should be targeting kids is that kids are the future of their business. They grow up to be the ones who make the buying decisions in the next household and also the ones who get their own kids into it. This is why Ford markets to 12 year olds. Because in 6 years they will be driving and six years is the dev cycle of an average car.

If you guys are like me then your first time playing was in your teens. Yeah you don't have the most money then but if you start playing then, then when you do have money there's a decent chance paintball is what you are spending it on. And as we all know, one bag of gear multiplies into a closet and then a room

Originally posted by COB

Here is my two cents, from an old, infirmed and somewhat dimwitted player. Most of us were young at a time when we played anything outside. Sports, bikes, skateboards or our own made-up games. We got bruised, dirty and sweaty. The current generation is adverse to such effort. They tend to gravitate towards activities that can be done indoors, like nerf or laser tag.

I won't say you are wrong but also back in college I went to a field once. Teenager there maybe 17 goes out for his first game comes back after and basically yells at the field owner "THAT WAS SO MUCH BETTER THAN CALL OF DUTY". so I do think part of this is that this current generation isn't being exposed to paintball either not just through lack of effort

Originally posted by Ecapnation

Every couple of years the paintball industry goes "oh wait we should market to kids!" And it backfires entirely..

like what?

.

4) the biggest...... KIDS DON'T HAVE DISPOSABLE INCOME FOR HOBBIES
.

See my comments above but if this was really a limiting factor then a lot of us wouldn't be here right now

.[/QUOTE]
Kids as a customer base doesn't work [/QUOTE]

I'm sure nerf and the toy/movie industries agree. The Christmas ads coming up are strictly aimed at the parents

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Has paintball lost it's target audience?

Has paintball lost it's target audience?

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