Wow, great points anjordan77 and paintballma
, agree with what you brought up!
We did not run into issues with flights or hotels, but we also stayed about 15 miles away from the site and we were flying from the west coast. We had to find a hotel last minute after our hotel was without power, but it worked out. We didn't have issue parking at the event, always seemed to be a spot, and our hotel had it's own lot, but that was due to it's location not being near downtown.
I've decided at the events I'll be locking my bag to the table and locking the main compartment between games. It sucks to have to do that, but I'm not about to lose my gear.
Here is my input on the Miami event.
I thought Miami was a mediocre event for the players, but it looks like everyone had to make sacrafices for the ESPN coverage, I just hope it turns out exciting and is a hit with the viewers and execs. It'd be great to get HB on TV, that event is always the best!!!
Pros
Pure Promotions pulled off the event despite the area being hit by a hurricane! The event was almost like an oasis in a desert, except this time it was paintball fields amongst a battered city.
Moving the teams to the fields was pretty good, constant update on who was up next and that they should head to the field.
ESPN - congrats on getting a deal for at least an event!
Outdoor Network - Looking forward to the coverage from all year
Field designs - Some of the fields worked well, others were stalemate fields, overall pretty good.
In the middle
Refs - Lots of experienced refs which was nice, however still some that don't have a clue. Watched a team get a 3 for 1 for asking for a paint check, that was interesting, lol. This will be an ongoing battle. Need the refs to be on shifts, can't expect them to work through lunch, and if you can't do shifts then have additional refs to rotate through the fields so the refs can take breaks.
Cons
Miami - it's not the nicest area and the 3 times I have been there (twice for tournaments, once for a cruise) I came to the same conclusion, Miami is not for me. Sounds like it was worse for the people that stayed near the site.
Layout - The event was spread out to much, I'd imagine it was difficult for friends to find the teams they were looking for.
Security - Maybe due to the layout the security was to lax. Players area was not secured in the slightest, anyone could get through the gates. Was only checked for a wristband on the first day.
Water - Can't have bad water at an event, that's just not good for the "athletes". I personally did not get sick, but I stopped drinking the water once I heard people were feeling ill.
Scheduling - Played 3 games the first day and 5 games the next. Waited 3 hours on Friday to find out our last game would be moved, even though there were lights on the NPPL field. Also had to wait for a long time while the pros finished their finals before we could finish the semi pro finals.
Format - Not prepared for the change in format, more research needed to be done whether teams would stalemate or not. Quarter finals should have definitely been for overal points, not wins and losses. Perhaps each team played every other team 2-3 times like in HB.
Cleanup - Fields other then NPPL were a mess. Watched a semi pro team in the finals talk their way out of a hit because of the mess on all the bunkers, should have at least been cleaned up for the semis and finals.
Hired Crew - Air guy in the pro tent was asleep nearly the entire time, didn't do much for filling safety, probably should of had one of the normal air people down there. Tent cleanup crew could not be trusted, NPPL even warned players to watch their gear, I nearly had a gun stolen by one of the cleanup people.
Suggestions
Teams only play within their division. Schedule could be setup so teams are in and out in 3 hours instead of being there all day long to play 3 games. Or have teams there all day, but have them play all of their prelim games.
Find a venue other then Miami, HB/Tampa/S.D./Denver all great locations.
Feeder events - Teams qualify to play in the big events, reduces the number of teams/fields/etc at the major events making things more manageable.
People that come from an area that have a lot of players in the NPPL should speak with airlines out of their area and get a group rate. I know when I fly out on a Wednesday red eye and back on a Monday morning flight that easily %25-%50 of the plane is nppl players, that ought to get people a break on their ticket.
This is coming from someone who placed at the event and has been very happy since the NPPL started.