PBNation

PBNation (also styled PbNation or PB Nation) is an American online paintball discussion forum and community website established in 2001. Available at PBNation.com, the site became one of the largest internet communities dedicated to paintball, hosting discussions about equipment, professional tournament competition, recreational play, technical maintenance, fields, teams and the paintball industry.[1][2]

The website developed into a major source of user-generated paintball information during the 2000s. Its forums supported equipment reviews, technical discussions, tournament news, team recruitment, regional communities and a consumer-to-consumer equipment marketplace.

PBNation was particularly influential during the growth of electronic tournament markers and professional speedball. Players, manufacturers, professional teams and industry representatives used the platform to exchange information and communicate directly with the wider paintball community.

In May 2011, PBNation was acquired by CrowdGather, Inc. in a transaction with potential consideration of up to US$3.2 million. At the time, CrowdGather reported approximately 20 million monthly pageviews and 1.9 million monthly unique visitors.[3][4]

On 19 May 2014, CrowdGather sold PBNation to VerticalScope Inc. for US$1.38 million.[5]

PBNation is also an important historical resource because its archived discussions preserve contemporary accounts of paintball teams, equipment manufacturers, tournament results, field operations and industry developments.

PBNation
Name	PBNation
Alternative names	PbNation, PB Nation
Website	https://www.pbnation.com/
Type	Online discussion forum and paintball community
Industry	Paintball media; online communities
Country of origin	United States
Established	2001
Trademark first-use claim	5 January 2001
Language	English
Original platform	vBulletin
Original operating company	PbNation LLC
Historical executive	Ed Rieker, president
Headquarters in 2011	Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Owner, 2011–2014	CrowdGather, Inc.
Acquired by VerticalScope	19 May 2014
Reported monthly pageviews, 2011	Approximately 20 million
Reported monthly unique visitors, 2011	Approximately 1.9 million
Principal subjects	Paintball equipment, tournaments, teams, fields, trading, technical support and general discussion

History

Establishment

PBNation was established in 2001 as an online discussion community dedicated to paintball.

A United States trademark record for PBNATION identifies 5 January 2001 as the claimed first-use date and 1 February 2001 as the claimed first-use-in-commerce date.[1]

These dates provide evidence of the site's early history, although they do not independently establish the precise date on which its public forums first became accessible.

The website developed during a period when internet message boards were becoming increasingly important to specialist sporting communities.

Paintball players previously relied heavily on magazines, local stores, fields, mailing lists and smaller online forums for information.

PBNation provided a centralised discussion platform that could connect players across different regions and countries.

Founding team

Historical accounts identify Tony Rieker, Joe Kerber and Jon Knapp as individuals associated with the creation of PBNation.[2]

Ed Rieker subsequently served as president of PbNation.

His role is documented in the company's May 2011 acquisition announcement.[3]

The precise founding responsibilities and ownership shares of the original participants require further verification.

Early growth

During the early 2000s, PBNation expanded as tournament paintball became increasingly visible.

The period saw substantial development in electronic markers, high-speed loaders, compressed-air systems and professional competition.

PBNation provided dedicated spaces for discussing these developments.

Its community included recreational players, competitive players, technicians, equipment collectors and industry representatives.

vBulletin platform

PBNation was developed using the vBulletin internet forum platform.

vBulletin provided features including:

Threaded discussions
User accounts and profiles
Private messaging
Moderation tools
Searchable discussion archives
Image sharing
User reputation and feedback systems
Classified advertisements

The platform allowed PBNation to support a large number of separate discussion communities within a single website.

The 2011 acquisition announcement specifically identified the site's customisation of vBulletin as part of its business model.[3]

Community development

Equipment discussions

One of PBNation's principal functions was discussion of paintball equipment.

Dedicated forums covered major manufacturers and marker platforms.

Subjects included:

Electronic paintball markers
Mechanical markers
Pump-action markers
Compressed-air systems
Electronic loaders
Paintball masks
Barrels
Regulators
Tournament equipment
Vintage markers

Users shared technical information, photographs, product reviews and troubleshooting advice.

These discussions became particularly important as paintball markers incorporated increasingly sophisticated electronics and pneumatic systems.

Technical support

PBNation developed a substantial collection of technical discussions.

Users sought advice about marker maintenance, regulator adjustment, electronic circuit boards and equipment compatibility.

Experienced players and technicians often contributed answers.

Some manufacturers and representatives also participated in discussions.

The resulting threads preserved information about equipment that later became discontinued.

Professional paintball

PBNation hosted extensive discussion of professional tournament paintball.

Topics included:

Team rosters
Player transfers
Tournament results
Sponsorship announcements
Equipment contracts
League regulations
Professional team rankings
Tournament videos
Event photographs

The platform became a prominent destination for fans following professional teams and players.

Team recruitment

Teams used PBNation to recruit players and announce tryouts.

Players could also search for teams in their region.

These discussions supported the formation and development of local tournament organisations.

The forums were particularly useful for players who lacked established connections within competitive paintball.

Regional communities

PBNation included regional discussion forums.

These allowed players to discuss local fields, tournaments, teams and recreational events.

Regional forums helped connect players who might otherwise have had limited opportunities to meet.

The discussions also preserved information about smaller paintball fields and local tournament series.

Buy, Sell and Trade

Equipment marketplace

PBNation developed a large consumer-to-consumer paintball equipment marketplace.

The marketplace was commonly known as Buy, Sell and Trade or BST.

Users could advertise equipment for sale, purchase used products and arrange trades.

Items included markers, loaders, air systems, masks, clothing and accessories.

Used equipment market

The marketplace became an important part of the used paintball equipment economy.

Players could buy equipment that was unavailable through local retailers.

The system also supported trading between users in different geographic regions.

High-end tournament markers were particularly common subjects of discussion and trading.

User feedback

Marketplace activity encouraged the development of user feedback and reputation practices.

Participants could review a potential trading partner's history before completing a transaction.

However, transactions arranged between private individuals carried risks.

The existence of forum feedback did not guarantee the reliability of a seller or buyer.

Supporting memberships

PBNation offered optional paid memberships.

One category was known as Annual Supporting Member or ASM.

Supporting members historically received additional forum features, including expanded messaging and marketplace privileges.[2]

The exact benefits and pricing changed over time.

Small Talk

General discussion

PBNation developed a large off-topic community known as Small Talk.

The section allowed users to discuss subjects unrelated to paintball.

Topics included entertainment, technology, gaming, sports and general conversation.

Small Talk became an important component of the website's wider community culture.

Community identity

The existence of extensive off-topic discussion distinguished PBNation from websites devoted exclusively to technical information or tournament news.

Users could remain active in the community even when they were not playing paintball regularly.

The forum developed its own terminology, humour and social conventions.

Non-paintball content

CrowdGather's 2011 acquisition announcement estimated that approximately 30% of PBNation's content was unrelated to paintball.[3]

The company identified video games, outdoor activities and general-interest subjects among the topics discussed.

The figure was a company-reported estimate rather than an independently audited content analysis.

Paintball media and industry influence

User-generated content

PBNation differed from traditional paintball magazines because most of its content was contributed by users.

Members could publish information without waiting for a magazine's editorial or printing schedule.

This allowed rapid discussion of tournament results, new equipment and industry developments.

However, user-generated content also varied considerably in reliability.

Rumours, opinions and unverified claims could circulate alongside firsthand accounts and manufacturer announcements.

Equipment manufacturers

Paintball manufacturers used internet forums to communicate with customers.

PBNation provided opportunities to discuss new products, answer technical questions and receive feedback.

The platform's large audience made it commercially significant to equipment companies.

It also allowed customers to compare products and discuss manufacturer support.

Tournament organisations

PBNation hosted discussions of major tournament organisations, including:

Users shared event information, photographs, results and opinions.

Some threads provide contemporary evidence of tournaments for which official records are now difficult to locate.

Media recognition

PBNation received recognition from paintball publications and mainstream media.

Historical accounts report that SPLAT Magazine named it Paintball Website of the Year in its 2007 awards.

The website was also discussed in Forbes and the Chicago Tribune.[2]

The recognition reflected the growing importance of internet communities within paintball.

2011 CrowdGather acquisition

Acquisition announcement

On 25 May 2011, CrowdGather announced that it had acquired PBNation.

The transaction was documented in a filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.[3][4]

CrowdGather operated a network of online forums and specialist-interest communities.

The acquisition added PBNation to its existing portfolio.

Purchase consideration

The transaction had potential consideration of up to US$3.2 million.

The announced terms included:

US$1.4 million in cash
Approximately US$1 million in restricted CrowdGather shares
Up to US$800,000 in additional cash and stock consideration dependent on traffic milestones

The final consideration depended on the contractual terms and achievement of specified conditions.

The headline figure therefore represented a maximum potential amount rather than a confirmed all-cash purchase price.

Traffic statistics

CrowdGather reported that PBNation generated approximately:

Metric	Reported figure
Monthly pageviews	20 million
Monthly unique visitors	1.9 million
Maximum potential acquisition consideration	US$3.2 million

These figures were published by the acquiring company in May 2011.[3]

They should be treated as company-reported statistics rather than independently verified measurements.

Business significance

CrowdGather described PBNation as an important addition to its network.

The company expected the acquisition to increase traffic and advertising opportunities.

PBNation's large user base made it commercially valuable beyond the paintball industry.

Ed Rieker

Ed Rieker, identified as PBNation's president, commented on the acquisition.

He described CrowdGather's focus on internet forums as a reason for selecting the company as the site's new owner.[3]

The announcement also acknowledged the volunteers who contributed to PBNation's operation.

2014 VerticalScope acquisition

Sale agreement

On 27 April 2014, CrowdGather entered into an agreement to sell PBNation to VerticalScope Inc.

The transaction was documented in an SEC Form 8-K filed on 1 May 2014.[5]

The agreement included the website and associated domain names.

Purchase price

The agreed purchase price was US$1,380,000.

CrowdGather's subsequent annual report confirmed that the sale closed on 19 May 2014.[6]

The amount was substantially lower than the maximum potential consideration announced for the 2011 acquisition.

However, the two figures are not directly comparable because the 2011 transaction included conditional consideration and restricted shares.

Financial reporting

CrowdGather reported a loss associated with the sale.

Its annual filing described the accounting treatment of the transferred assets and associated expenses.[6]

The transaction formed part of CrowdGather's broader changes to its portfolio of online communities.

VerticalScope

VerticalScope was a Canadian digital media company specialising in online communities and discussion forums.

The acquisition brought PBNation into its network of enthusiast websites.

The 2014 transaction is documented through the original purchase agreement and CrowdGather's public filings.

Historical archive

Preservation of paintball discussions

PBNation's archives are an important source of information about paintball history.

The website contains discussions from players, team members, manufacturers, field operators and other participants.

These records can provide information that is absent from surviving magazines and official tournament websites.

Tournament history

Historical PBNation threads may contain:

Tournament results
Team rosters
Player transfers
League announcements
Event photographs
Sponsorship information
Discussions of tournament rules

The information is particularly useful when researching smaller regional events and defunct teams.

Equipment history

PBNation discussions also preserve information about discontinued paintball equipment.

Users documented technical problems, modifications, product launches and manufacturer responses.

Such discussions can help establish the historical use and reception of particular marker models.

Fields and businesses

Regional discussions may contain references to paintball fields and businesses that have since closed.

These include local tournament venues, stores, scenario-game organisers and independent equipment manufacturers.

PBNation can therefore complement archived business websites and contemporary tournament reports.

Source reliability

PBNation is a user-generated source.

Its historical material should be evaluated according to the identity of the contributor, the date of publication and the nature of the claim.

Firsthand accounts, contemporary photographs and official announcements may provide valuable evidence.

Anonymous rumours and retrospective recollections require additional verification.

Where possible, historical claims should be corroborated through tournament results, manufacturer records, photographs, archived websites or contemporary publications.

Legacy

Paintball community

PBNation became one of the most influential online communities in paintball during the 2000s.

It connected recreational players, competitive teams, manufacturers and enthusiasts.

The website contributed to the exchange of technical knowledge and the growth of the used equipment market.

Industry communication

PBNation helped change how paintball companies communicated with customers.

Manufacturers could interact directly with players and receive immediate feedback.

The website also allowed customers to share experiences independently of manufacturer advertising.

Historical importance

PBNation is significant to paintball history because it preserves discussions from a period of rapid technological and competitive change.

Its archives document the transition from mechanical markers to electronic tournament equipment, the development of modern professional leagues and the growth of online paintball communities.

Although the reliability of individual posts varies, the website remains a potentially valuable source for reconstructing otherwise poorly documented aspects of the sport.

Timeline

Year	Event
January 2001	Trademark record claims first use of PBNATION
February 2001	Trademark record claims first use in commerce
Early 2000s	PBNation develops as an online paintball community
Mid-2000s	Forums expand to cover equipment, tournaments, trading and regional communities
2007	PBNation receives recognition in paintball media awards
2008	Website receives coverage in mainstream media
20 May 2011	CrowdGather enters acquisition agreement with PbNation LLC
25 May 2011	CrowdGather publicly announces acquisition
2011	Company reports approximately 20 million monthly pageviews
27 April 2014	CrowdGather signs agreement to sell PBNation to VerticalScope
1 May 2014	CrowdGather files SEC disclosure of sale agreement
19 May 2014	Sale to VerticalScope closes for US$1.38 million
2010s–2020s	Historical forum discussions remain a resource for paintball research

References

"PBNATION Trademark Record", United States Patent and Trademark Office. Trademark documentation recording claimed first-use dates of 5 January 2001 and 1 February 2001.
"PbNation", Wikipedia. Historical summary of the website, its early operators, forum features and media recognition. Secondary details should be independently verified.
"CrowdGather Acquires Leading Paintball Enthusiast Forum, PBNation.com", CrowdGather, 25 May 2011. Primary company announcement documenting the acquisition, traffic figures, website operations and comments from Ed Rieker.
"CrowdGather Form 8-K", United States Securities and Exchange Commission, May 2011. Corporate filing documenting the acquisition agreement with PbNation LLC.
"CrowdGather Form 8-K", United States Securities and Exchange Commission, 1 May 2014. Corporate filing documenting the agreement to sell PBNation to VerticalScope for US$1.38 million.
"CrowdGather Annual Report", United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Annual filing confirming the 19 May 2014 completion of the VerticalScope sale and associated financial reporting.

External links