There is no denying that the centerpiece of the NXL Tampa Bay Open held March 19-22 was the venue itself: Raymond James Stadium. An NFL Stadium. Period. RayJay offered the chance to stage more than a tournament; it platformed paintball on a national scale. With roughly 5,000 fans in attendance, a stadium JumboTron broadcasting every frame, and the league’ s top talent under NFL lights, the sport of paintball attained a new height.
This opportunity, quite frankly, cannot be understated. Albeit“ not green enough” for some, the surface was perfect- uniform, dense, level, shock-absorbing, completely stable, and a fantastic contrast for the cameras. The lights were brighter than anyone could have imagined. The acoustics magnified the announcers without echo and amplified the crowd noise to a fever pitch that could be heard from blocks away at times. The scale was massive. The setting itself was a perfect metaphor for how far we have come and it offered a visceral glimpse of what we are becoming.
The event was a showcase of what Major League Paintball can be on the field, and what it is already capable of as a production. Leveraging the quality spectacle that pro athletes provided on the turf for content, this venue provided Major League Paintball the chance to utilize cutting-edge technologies, broadcasting equipment, lighting, logistics, and production design to capture it.
For outsiders looking in- not just an audience that was unaware of the sport’ s existence, but the investors, media professionals, collaborators, sports managers, event planners, and potential sponsors who bring the necessary capital to take the sport to the next level- this event was a success on every visible level, and it is opening doors we have waited 35 years to breach.
RayJay provided a massive mirror for every participant in Major League Paintball to reflect on their potential. And the league successfully met the moment.
Photo By Nicholas Shaw
036 paintball. media magazine