Impact of the September 11 attacks on paintball

The September 11 attacks of 2001 affected the paintball industry through changes in consumer spending, recreational participation, international travel, television programming and public attitudes towards simulated combat activities.

Contemporary reporting documented reduced business at American paintball venues immediately after the attacks, while Brass Eagle, one of the industry's largest equipment manufacturers, explicitly identified the events as contributing to a decline in sales.[1][2]

The attacks also affected international tournaments, with some American teams withdrawing from overseas competition because of travel concerns. Other paintball organisations responded by organising charitable activities and fundraising for disaster relief.[3][4]

Although the immediate effects were documented, they coincided with an American economic slowdown already under way in 2001. The available evidence does not establish the attacks as the sole cause of the industry's commercial difficulties.

Recreational paintball

The attacks of 11 September 2001 were followed by a temporary reduction in recreational paintball activity in parts of the United States.

On 30 September 2001, the Times Leader newspaper in Pennsylvania reported that paintball participation and equipment sales had declined immediately after the attacks.

Joe Zamgulis, owner of the Command Post paintball business in Wilkes-Barre, reported a substantial reduction in customers during the following weeks. By the end of September, however, the business was recovering.

The report also documented changing public attitudes towards recreational shooting games. Some customers questioned whether playing paintball was appropriate so soon after the attacks.

The Command Post rejected suggestions that it organise terrorist-themed games involving Osama bin Laden. Its staff instead emphasised paintball's recreational and sporting characteristics, particularly teamwork, communication and camaraderie.[1]

This evidence establishes a short-term disruption at an individual American paintball business, although comparable nationwide participation figures for the weeks immediately following the attacks have not been established.

Equipment manufacturers and retail sales

Brass Eagle

One of the clearest documented commercial effects involved Brass Eagle, the American paintball equipment manufacturer and distributor.

Before September 2001, Brass Eagle had been experiencing substantial growth. In May 2001, the company projected annual sales of approximately US$103 million to US$110 million.[5]

However, the company subsequently reported a significant deterioration in its retail market.

On 29 October 2001, Brass Eagle announced that sales for the third quarter, ending 30 September, had fallen from approximately US$23.1 million in 2000 to US$15.6 million in 2001, a reduction of approximately 32.5%.

The company's president and chief executive, Lynn Scott, attributed the decline partly to reduced consumer spending and the events of 11 September.

Scott explained that retailers were responding to weaker demand by reducing inventory levels ahead of the Christmas shopping period.

Brass Eagle also revised its projected annual sales downwards to approximately US$85 million to US$95 million.[2]

The company's subsequent financial disclosures identified the attacks as having aggravated an existing decline in retail purchasing.

Recovery during 2002

By the third quarter of 2002, Brass Eagle's quarterly sales had recovered to approximately US$21.9 million, representing an increase of 40.4% compared with the corresponding period in 2001.

The company also returned to profitability for the quarter, reporting net income of approximately US$1.5 million compared with a loss of US$418,000 one year earlier.[6]

These figures illustrate both the severity of the company's 2001 downturn and its subsequent recovery.

However, the sales decline cannot be attributed entirely to September 11. The company identified broader economic conditions and changes in retailers' purchasing behaviour as additional factors.

International tournament paintball

2001 Aruba Open

International competition was affected by heightened concerns about air travel following the attacks.

The Aruba Open, held from 21 to 23 September 2001, took place less than two weeks after September 11.

According to contemporary reporting by WARPIG, several American teams decided not to attend because of concerns about international travel.

Tournament organisers Jossy Mansur and Pete Bofill nevertheless proceeded with the event, which attracted 20 teams from Aruba, other Caribbean territories, South America and the United States.[3]

The tournament also reflected changes in attitudes towards the language and imagery associated with paintball.

One participating team, previously known as Terrorists, competed under the name Fast & Easy out of respect for the victims of the attacks.[3]

2001 Paintball World Cup

The Paintball World Cup continued as scheduled in Orlando, Florida, from 22 to 28 October 2001.

The event formed part of the National Professional Paintball League (NPPL) tournament season and attracted professional and amateur teams, including international participants.

WARPIG's contemporary coverage documented additional airport security delays affecting the arrival of the British UK Cougars refereeing team.[4]

The tournament nevertheless proceeded successfully, with WARPIG describing it as the largest event held by the league up to that point.

This demonstrates that although September 11 disrupted some international travel and tournament participation, it did not bring organised American paintball competition to a general halt.

Charity and community responses

The 2001 Paintball World Cup provided a prominent example of the paintball community's response to the attacks.

American flags were displayed throughout the tournament venue, while manufacturers and vendors organised fundraising activities for disaster relief.

Contemporary reporting documented several initiatives:

Specially produced patriotic T-shirts and stickers sold to raise money for relief organisations.
United We Stand barrel blocker bags organised by Mark Knopp and Rick Mackey, which reportedly sold out within their first hour of availability.
Fundraising merchandise produced by WDP, including shirts featuring American and British flag designs.
American flag-themed merchandise offered by Cobra Paintball.

Local publicity also encouraged spectators to make donations to disaster relief rather than paying a conventional admission charge.[4]

These activities represented a coordinated charitable response from sections of the American paintball community, involving manufacturers, tournament organisers, players and spectators.

Paintball in television and popular culture

The aftermath of September 11 also affected the presentation of paintball-based entertainment.

X-Fire television programme

In September 2001, British broadcaster Channel 4 launched X-Fire, a television game show featuring participants undertaking simulated military missions using paintball equipment.

The programme, produced by Mentorn, began broadcasting on 25 September 2001.

Following five episodes, Channel 4 suspended the programme during October because its military-themed content was considered inappropriate during the developing conflict in Afghanistan.[7][8]

Contemporary reporting identified scenarios involving terrorism, hostage rescue and unconventional weapons among the programme's planned storylines.

The decision also delayed a related mobile telephone game.[8]

The remaining broadcast episodes eventually aired during the summer of 2002, although one episode remained unaired.[9]

The suspension of X-Fire provides a documented example of how the political and cultural atmosphere following September 11 affected paintball's presentation within mainstream entertainment.

Insurance and operating costs

The attacks also coincided with significant disruption to international insurance markets, including increased pressure on liability insurers.[10]

A retrospective account by Australian paintball operator Leigh Dixon documented the effects of rising insurance costs on the Frankston paintball field and its associated club in Victoria.

Dixon reported that the club's annual public liability insurance premium increased from approximately A$760 to A$3,600 in early 2002.

The increase made continued operation of the existing field financially impractical. The club subsequently arranged to continue its activities at another commercial paintball venue.[11]

Dixon placed these difficulties in the period following the September 11 attacks.

However, the available account does not establish how much of the premium increase was directly attributable to the attacks rather than other problems affecting the Australian insurance market.

Historical significance

The September 11 attacks caused identifiable short-term disruption to the paintball industry, particularly in the United States.

Documented effects included reduced recreational business, declining manufacturer sales, withdrawals from international competition, increased sensitivity towards simulated combat activities and changes to paintball-related television programming.

The period also produced examples of charitable fundraising and community solidarity, particularly at the 2001 Paintball World Cup.

Commercial recovery was evident in some areas by 2002, including Brass Eagle's improved quarterly sales.

The available evidence is strongest for individual companies, events and operators rather than the global paintball industry as a whole.

Consequently, although September 11 demonstrably affected several parts of paintball, its overall financial impact and long-term effect on participation cannot be reliably quantified.

The events remain a documented example of how developments outside sport can influence the operation, commercial performance and public presentation of paintball.

References

Paint-ball Warriors Sticking To Their Guns. Times Leader, Michael McNarney, 30 September 2001.
Brass Eagle 3Q Shows Decreased Sales. Talk Business & Politics, 29 October 2001.
2001 Aruba Open. WARPIG, September 2001. Contemporary tournament report documenting international withdrawals and the change of a participating team's name.
NPPL World Cup 2001. WARPIG, Bill Mills, October 2001. Contemporary coverage of the tournament, international participation and fundraising activities.
Brass Eagle Plans to Expand. Talk Business & Politics, May 2001. Contemporary financial projections issued before the September 11 attacks.
Brass Eagle Inc.. Talk Business & Politics, 25 November 2002. Comparison of 2001 and 2002 financial performance, including references to the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
Weaver's Week: 29 October 2001. UKGameshows, Iain Weaver, 29 October 2001. Contemporary report on the suspension of X-Fire.
Programme blow for TV Corp. Evening Standard, James McLean. Archived newspaper reporting on the suspension of X-Fire and the postponement of its associated mobile game.
X-Fire. UKGameshows. Programme history and broadcast dates.
Insurance Implications of September 11 and Possible Responses. Jeffrey E. Thomas, The Urban Lawyer, Volume 34, Number 3, 2002. Analysis of the effects of September 11 on the insurance industry.
Frankston Paintball Field (1992). Paint Magazine. Historical account by Leigh Dixon, originally written for the Peninsula Paintball Club website, documenting insurance costs and field operations.