Indoor airsoft arena

[faber]

Wanted to get some opinions, thinking of starting an indoor arena.

[Mooncruiser]

I've said it before, build it, make the price reasonable (10-15 bucks a evening )  

I'll be there at least once a week for a long time.

Chip

[studdermonkey]

Do a search, man. Just do a friggin search. The topic has been up like 10 times.

[Logan714]

I would go, if I ever get around to getting some guns.

[faber]

monkey: I did a search. i saw no poll. I started one. nuff said.

I am entertaining the idea of starting a large, indoor cqb arena, and i want to get a feel for the market. If there is a good response I will start writing up a business plan and marching around to lenders to scare up enough capital to cover overhead while it gets established. I am thinking of a nice big reconfigurable warehouse with indoor/outdoor games. also a place you can buy quality guns, rentals, upgrades, etc. Maybe a lounge with some x-boxes, and screens where you can watch battles unfold on closed circuit tv. maybe even buy a DVD of your battles so you can post links up here and show everybody clips of your tactics.

From the research i have done so far it looks like it will most likely have to be split between paintball, and airsoft just based on the sizes of the markets. I like airsoft myself, but paintball will probably pay the bills until the airsoft community grows a bit more.

basically if the place can break even and stay above water i will be happy. From the looks of the market this venture will most likely be a labor of love rather than a money machine....

[Cheeze_IZ_G00d]

Hell, if you are willing to do that, I am there every weekend. Just out of curiosity, what do you do for a living that renders you this extra capital to start a business such as this?

[delta_echo]

Alot of people really dislike playing at paintball fields due to the amount of paint that gets on their gear. That being said, if the facility is good enough, I'm sure they'll get over it.

[Mooncruiser]

If I ran a combined Paintball/Airsoft field. I'd invest in a good pressure washer and use it often.

[faber]

I am an engineer. I have been playing airsoft for about a month and a half, and have gotten all of my buddies into the sport as well. I think i see a demand for and indoor venue for close quarters tactical simulation based on an array of factors. In arizona the hot weather would definately put a damper on games during peak summer temperatures, and a place to play that is available in the evening would be more convenient for most people i have talked to about it. when i talk to my friends to try and organize a game they usually have family plans for saturday or sunday, but would be more available and willing to play if it were on say a tuesday night. Also I believe there is a definate demand for an outlet that sells quality equipment, that has a dependable stock, with the opportunity to test several types of equipment before purchasing. I spent probably $500 on cheap guns before realising that I should have just bit the bullet and bought a quality AEG and been done, and the reason for this was the local airsoft outlet cant keep quality stock. I see a market for a good cqb field, with a cool lounge to hang out at and play pool and watch tv and shoot people. I think it will fly. I dont have money coming out of my ears, but i believe that this idea will fly so strongly that i am willing to start an LLC, take out an SBA loan, Lease a warehouse, buy some insurane, hire a lawyer, and see what happens....

but i still have a hard market analysis to perform, and must crunch the numbers to see if it would float.

that is the reason for this post, and poll.

I figure you guys are the heart of the arizona airsoft community, and if i dont get some feedback here then the market may not be mature enough to balance the risk yet.

[Mooncruiser]

Faber, you shoulda seen the Swathouse in Las Vegas. It was simple, but in a big warehouse and the players made it a lot of fun. It finally went tits-up but while it was there, it rocked.

There have been indoor paintball venues in Tucson, and they went well, ..for awhile.

Main thing, IMHO, is to offer a fast maze-like shooting enviroment. Add loud music or sound effects, and make it so you can change the field often.

Best of luck, and look for me either in Tucson or the Valley, wherever you set up.

Chip

[Volks]

I think its a great idea, there is a need for a cqb arena in the phx area at least.  I know I would be there a few times a week and so would quite a few of my friends.
Grant

[seph6885]

im from phoenix, but im in tucson for school. all i can say is, if there was an indoor airsoft place here, it would make tucson so much better. not that i dont like tucson or anything. life would be more exciting is all. im all for it.

-shaun

[azsarge]

Build it like a FISHin' hole, and I'll be there.

Build it like an airsoft field, and you'll get a bunch of kids.

With regards to the SEARCH issue, studdermonkey is right.  The POLL may not be there, but the topic has been covered numerous times!  All you gotta do is read the posts.

[faber]

this is the kind of dialogue that i need though, along with the poll it gives me real world feedback. I think there needs to be a little more to it than just airsoft, and paintball cqb to keep it alive though. I think if the entertainment is diversified, and there are products and services offered that will provide additional revenue streams it will have a better chance of sticking. If i am going to endeavor to make this idea a reality i am going to make sure to learn from the mistakes of past failures, and incorporate the positive aspects of successful models. It looks like i have quite a bit of research to do though.

what kind of things would draw you guys to come and lay down your hard earned dollars?

I am already thinking of a modular battlefield that can be reconfigured in minutes. Also on the board are camera systems that will allow you to record your battles and buy a dvd to show your friends. a web cam or web cams that can broadcast events. Gameroom with pool, and arcade games. lounge with TV, and xboxes. food and drinks. Airsoft merchandise, upgrade and repair service. chrono service.

what else? strippers? lol

[Vince]

Yeah...don't make it in Tucson. :/

Not enough money there to keep it afloat.