Jerry Braun

Jerry Braun is an American paintball tournament promoter, publisher and industry figure associated with the development of organised tournament paintball in the United States. He founded the Paintball World Cup, helped establish the National Professional Paintball League (NPPL), and was a partner in Paintball Sports Promotions (PSP).[1][2]

Braun also operated Survival New York, one of the earliest commercial paintball facilities in the United States, published Paintball Sports International magazine and produced paintball programming broadcast by ESPN.[2][3]

He received a Paintball Industry Award in 2002 and was inducted into the Paintball Hall of Fame in 2021.[3][4]

Early involvement in paintball

Survival New York

Braun became involved in paintball during the sport's formative years in the early 1980s.

In a 2009 interview with journalist Dietrich Knauth, Braun recalled participating in one of the earliest paintball games held in New Hampshire.[1]

In 1982, he established Survival New York, a commercial paintball facility in Plattekill, New York, near Newburgh.

The field was originally associated with National Survival Game and subsequently became known as Paintball Sports New York.

According to a historical account published by the World Classic Paintball League (WCPL), the business was established in 1982 and began hosting games in 1983.[5]

The venue became an important location for organised tournament competition, hosting the Air Pistol Open in 1987 and 1988 and the early Paintball World Cup events.[5]

Early tournament promotion

Braun organised competitions at Survival New York during the late 1980s.

These included the Air Pistol Open, an independent tournament series that provided competition outside the existing National Survival Game championship structure.[5]

He was also involved in the Action Sports Outfitters (ASO) Open, organised with Kevin Donaldson and Jim Anderson.

The ASO Open was among the tournaments associated with the development of the original National Professional Paintball League.[5]

Paintball World Cup

Braun established the Paintball World Cup as a major tournament at Survival New York.

The competition initially used woodland fields and attracted teams from the United States and overseas.

Published histories disagree on the exact inaugural year, with different accounts identifying 1990, 1992 and 1993. The event's early history is documented separately in the Paintball World Cup article.[6]

In 1994, Braun relocated the competition to Paintball World in Kissimmee, Florida, near Orlando.

The move placed the tournament close to major tourist infrastructure and allowed the competition to expand.

During the 1990s, the World Cup became the concluding event of the annual NPPL season, hosting professional and amateur competition in five-player and 10-player formats.[6]

Braun continued promoting the event as tournament paintball transitioned from woodland fields to constructed playing environments incorporating Hyperball and inflatable bunkers.

Contemporary WARPIG reports identify Braun as the event's producer in 1997 and document his management of the 2000 World Cup.[7][8]

Braun remained commercially involved in the tournament through its subsequent development under Paintball Sports Promotions.

In a 2009 interview, he stated that he had sold his financial interest in the World Cup in 2005.[1]

Paintball publishing and television

Braun was also involved in the development of specialist paintball media.

He published Paintball Sports International (PSI), an American magazine covering tournament competition, equipment, players and developments in the paintball industry.

Contemporary WARPIG coverage identified Braun as the magazine's editor in 1997 and publisher in 2002.[3][7]

Braun also produced televised paintball programming, including the World Championships of Paintball, which was broadcast by ESPN and ESPN2 during the 1990s.

The 1997 World Cup report published by WARPIG identified him as the producer of the ESPN tournament broadcasts.[7]

His involvement in television production represented an effort to bring professional paintball competition to audiences beyond specialist publications and tournament participants.

Professional tournament organisations

1. 1. National Professional Paintball League ===

Braun was among the early organisers associated with the establishment of the National Professional Paintball League.

The NPPL developed during the early 1990s as teams and promoters sought a national structure for tournament competition.

It introduced common competition standards and sanctioned tournaments operated by independent promoters.

Braun's World Cup became one of the league's principal events.

His role in establishing the NPPL was recognised by WARPIG when reporting on his receipt of the 2002 Paintball Industry Award.[3]

1. 1. Paintball Sports Promotions ===

In 2001, Braun became involved in Paintball Sports Promotions, a company established by promoters responsible for major NPPL tournaments.

Other individuals associated with the organisation included Renick Miller, Dave Youngblood, Richmond Italia and Ed Poorman.

PSP was formed to coordinate tournament operations, equipment and promotional activities across the national competition circuit.[9]

During 2002, disagreements developed between PSP and the NPPL over sanctioning arrangements, commercial responsibilities and league governance.

PSP subsequently established an independent national tournament series, while the NPPL developed its separate Super 7 competition.[9]

Braun continued working with PSP during the development of its tournament operations and the transition towards X-Ball.

Contemporary reporting identified him as a PSP owner and documented his involvement in scheduling and event management at the 2002 World Cup.[10]

Later involvement in classic paintball

Braun remained associated with recreational and traditional tournament paintball after his involvement with PSP.

In 2009, he was identified as a co-owner of Paintball Sports New York, where the venue continued to accommodate woodland games, scenario events and competitive teams.[1]

In 2016, Braun organised a Woodsball World Cup, an event subsequently credited by members of the Saberwolves team with encouraging their return to classic 10-player competition.[11]

He was also involved in the revival of traditional tournament formats during the early 2020s.

In 2023, the World Classic Paintball League identified Braun and Kevin Donaldson as hosts of its New York Classic event at Paintball Sports New York.[12]

Recognition

In May 2002, Braun received a Paintball Industry Award at the Paintball Long Island Big Game.

The award recognised his involvement in establishing the NPPL, producing the Paintball World Cup, publishing Paintball Sports International, developing ESPN broadcasts and working with Paintball Sports Promotions.[3]

Braun was inducted into the Paintball Hall of Fame in 2021.

His induction is recorded in the historical list of honourees published by the World Classic Paintball League.[4]

References

External links