Paintball Magazine February 2016 | Page 47

GRAND FINALE Once the final, major event for the paintball industry each season drawing thousands to Ocala, Florida and Wayne’s World of Paintball operated by the creator of scenario paintball, Wayne Dollack, the Grand Finale continues to be an enjoyable and well-attended scenario event each year allowing players all over the East Coast one last chance to enjoy a warm weekend of epic scenario paintball before winter’s hibernation sets in. The Grand Finale played a major role in drawing larger, more serious industry support to the scenario side of paintball, as the event grew large enough in the late nineties for many large companies to attend the game with equipment still in Florida after the World Cup tournament in late October. Most other large scenario events currently promoted follow the trail blazed by the Grand Finale, which historically boasted a massive prize package thanks to numerous vendors and sponsors, an intricate storyline featuring role-playing actor/ players, props worth points, major media coverage by several print magazines and websites, and an epic final battle. The thick, jungle-like Florida foliage always makes for entertaining game play and the vendor area is always well-attended. ULTIMATE PAINTBALL LEAGUE The Ultimate Paintball League is a throwback to 1990s paintball, with a host of events in the US and abroad, each played in the woods, old school style. www.PlayUWL.com. www.paintball.media 047