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Post by Gunny87 on Nov 1, 2013 16:47:00 GMT -5
Oh yeah... I forgot about your camper that you recently acquired Pagan. I guess that does sorta count as a short bus!
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Matic
New Member
Kind of a smartass
meh.
Posts: 229
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Post by Matic on Nov 1, 2013 17:14:09 GMT -5
I'd be totally up for a field, but I'd like to see one like Ballahack Airsoft in Virginia. They're the largest, and most popular, field on the East Coast, and I'd like to see something like that here in Michigan. Anyone else agree?
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T-Dog
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Formerly Tracedog
Posts: 28
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Post by T-Dog on Nov 1, 2013 23:02:22 GMT -5
I'd be totally up for a field, but I'd like to see one like Ballahack Airsoft in Virginia. They're the largest, and most popular, field on the East Coast, and I'd like to see something like that here in Michigan. Anyone else agree? I'll take a look at the field and see if the community here can get a piece of land big enough to become the center of airsoft in the Midwest.
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T-Dog
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Post by T-Dog on Nov 1, 2013 23:16:27 GMT -5
Found 40 acres in Jackson, MI for $149,000 , don't know much about reality is this a good price?
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Post by Squirrel on Nov 2, 2013 8:04:50 GMT -5
Found 40 acres in Jackson, MI for $149,000 , don't know much about reality is this a good price? The other problem you run in to is zoning. It becomes important from a business and insurance standpoint. If the land is not mixed use or industrial, you may run into a problem insuring a field in a residential section.
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Abbot
New Member
Duck season...
Posts: 746
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Post by Abbot on Nov 2, 2013 8:38:29 GMT -5
Starting a field is a bit of a problem... It would take all of us mid MI guys (me, Puma, Kir, CJA, etc.) banding together to start the buisness. Still worth thinking about! I mean, those of us on here are not the only airsofters in mid MI. I know about 10 guys I airsoft with and none of them are even interested in MIA but would certainly be interested in a field to play on. So it would bring in those kinds of airsofters too, if we get the word out well enough. Though it still wouldn't bring in quite enough $$$, as those type of airsofters only show up once in a while. TC airsoft... Is that the one you see from highway 69? The one with the net around it and in a pretty beat up condition?
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Post by voodoo on Nov 2, 2013 9:11:55 GMT -5
I've been tossing the idea of making a field around for awhile. What it always comes down to is funds! I've known plenty of private properties I could get use from. I also had waivers in the works. The problem I ran into is that (maybe just me) I would like structures. Not just running around in the woods but actually have some structures to use. And that's were my good idea fairy takes a dump haha.
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Post by Gunny87 on Nov 2, 2013 9:49:43 GMT -5
I've been tossing the idea of making a field around for awhile. What it always comes down to is funds! I've known plenty of private properties I could get use from. I also had waivers in the works. The problem I ran into is that (maybe just me) I would like structures. Not just running around in the woods but actually have some structures to use. And that's were my good idea fairy takes a dump haha. You're not the only one. The majority of players want to play on a field that has structures and cover. Playing in the woods is all fun, but it gets old and can often times inhibit game play.
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Abbot
New Member
Duck season...
Posts: 746
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Post by Abbot on Nov 2, 2013 10:20:36 GMT -5
I believe a mix would be better. Woods to buildings, then buildings to woods. According to the polls, most people would prefer a woodland field, but I do think people would much prefer a mix.
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Post by X on Nov 2, 2013 10:25:03 GMT -5
I've seen enough pipe dream threads to know what's going to happen here, but I'll throw in my $.02 anyway.
I'm not sure if this is what you meant, but I can't imagine a dozen people all being part owners of a field. It sounds like a horrible idea. Inevitably someone will stop paying their share. Also what do you do when you want to do something major to the field? Pass it through the committee? Maybe it's just me but it sounds like a nightmare. Tank and I both own half of the airsoft truck and even that can be annoying. We have to keep a huge spreadsheet to keep track of all the related expenses on who owes what.
If you look around at the "successful" fields you will notice a couple things they have in common.
1) They're open for paintball and airsoft. This is because paintball brings in more money per player.
2) They have a field store. Since you have a ton of potential customers at your field you might as well try to capitalize on that.
3) They don't whore out they're field. I tried to warn ATS about this, but he didn't listen. Hosting games more than once per month isn't good for business. That only works for indoor fields because they are small and having only 10 guys is still fun. For a big outdoor field you need a lot of people to have fun. You can only get those big numbers by hosting less games. I also believe that you would have a higher per month total of players hosting 1 game per month
Someone may say "But X! What about SFOD?" That's a totally different scenario. That was about guy who used some property his parents owned and weren't using. In that case there were no bills that weren't already being paid so any money made was just a bonus for them.
Which leads me to the last way you can do this. If you accept that you are going to lose money and you want to do this purely for the love of the hobby, then you can do whatever you want. I have my own pipe dream that someday I'll buy some property and get everyone together to make an awesome field. The difference is I know I won't break even. I would like to do it just so we have something like Hell's Survivors, but with staff that don't treat us like second rate customers. So maybe in another 10 years when no one on this thread is still playing there will be such a field. Maybe...
Sent from my XT1080 using proboards
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Abbot
New Member
Duck season...
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Post by Abbot on Nov 2, 2013 10:36:35 GMT -5
True... very true X. It'd have to be a privately owned field.
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Post by Kir (3.14) on Nov 2, 2013 12:53:53 GMT -5
I feel like my two posts got completely overran here with people still running on about needing a field. 3.14 will be opening a Mid Michigan field in 2014, with 2,000 available acres for play. Already completely owned and paid for. No need to try to band 30 people together to buy land, or start a kickstarter.
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Abbot
New Member
Duck season...
Posts: 746
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Post by Abbot on Nov 2, 2013 16:20:43 GMT -5
It's still about the same distance for most of us mid MI guys to drive to KA. I know for me, it's exactly 46 min. to your field, and 47 to Kzoo. I don't know about everyone, though. But still, it's awesome that it's that big and we'll be able to have someplace other than Kzoo and the Detroit area. And Bangor.
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Post by Kir (3.14) on Nov 2, 2013 17:10:16 GMT -5
I'd be highly suprised if it's quicker for you to go to Kalamazoo TBH, as it takes me 30 to get to Kzoo and 15 to get to our field, and I'm in Bellevue.
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T-Dog
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Post by T-Dog on Nov 2, 2013 17:52:44 GMT -5
I feel like my two posts got completely overran here with people still running on about needing a field. 3.14 will be opening a Mid Michigan field in 2014, with 2,000 available acres for play. Already completely owned and paid for. No need to try to band 30 people together to buy land, or start a kickstarter. Got it, gonna close the poll, no need to make a field when there is already one, it would just compete with your bisuness.
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