Paintball Magazine Paintball Magazine March 2020 Issue | Page 66

A Word Of Thanks!
By Rick Chard - Paintball Extravaganza
In 2005 Paintball Extravaganza began as
a dream. In 2020, Paintball Extravaganza
International celebrated it’s 15th year of
presenting the industry’s only wholesale
tradeshow and the largest dealer summit
offering hours of business and technical
training. Ok, don’t do the math! Back it up
and 2009 and 2010 hosted 2 events. No
event was held in 2011 so 2020 is actually
the 15th operating year, 16 years since it’s
inception and 17th event. So for this old fart.
It’s looked at as our 15th anniversary. We
have had many ups and downs over the years
but in the end, the event is providing an event
that is important to the continued success of
the industry.
The 2020 event saw a first when we saw
nearly $12,000 of product stolen from the
exhibit hall on Monday night. Within 24
hours the Memphis Police had made their
first arrest and are currently looking for 2
accomplices. To date about 1/3 of the stolen
goods have been recovered. That along with
slow service in the hotel bard and restaurant
brings you up to date with the down side of
the 2020 event.
Now for the good! Many of the attendees has
a great time in Memphis eating Gus’s Fried
Chicken, great BBQ, visiting Beale Street and
going to Graceland. Some even went across
the borders to adjacent states and took in a
little action at the nearby casinos. Now to
Paintball Extravaganza International
Birthday University, TrainerTainment and
SHOPIFY brought hours of training from
outside the industry to many of the attendees
including an eight hour Birthday University
session attended by 20 participants. Shawn
Walker flew in for the day and presented 4
training session that experienced standing
room only attendance.
The event saw 10 more exhibitors than 2019
of which have never been to the event.
Almost 20% increase of attendees with 42 that
experienced their first trip to the event. We
saw just under 200 people in attendance, with
enough from Canada that they held their own
morning meeting to discuss their own special
agenda. Each morning started with a Round
Table Session led by Gina and Junior Brown
discussing many concerns and topics of the
industry with between 35-50 in attendance
each morning.
Industry Luncheon had
over 100 in attendance with a presentation
by Beth Standlee of TrainerTainment and a
special appearance by ELVIS!
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