INDOOR Airsoft Arena in Red Bank: Opinions

[french1973]

TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK. I NEED YOUR OPINIONS.

I am a Paintball vet but am just getting into Airsoft. I have discovered that there are not any indoor Airsoft arenas in this area (to my knowledge anyway).This gave me an idea yesterday. There are several former grocery store buildings in the Red Bank area of Chattanooga that would be perfect for this and would allow enough space for two separate indoor playing areas, staging and dressing/gear-up areas, an indoor range and chrono area and pretty much enough room to handle any Airsoft need. Two are really large spaces with plenty of parking and in a fairly non-congested area. This space would allow for night games in a well lit area.

If I get enough positive feedback and can get the financing right and all the red tape cleared, I would like to make this happen. To make this work, I will need to get some people with experience in battle scenarios, safety, bookkeeping and sales. I will be in charge of advertising/managing. I plan on talking with local law enforcement to see if anyone can come onboard to help with tactics and experience in exchange for free play. I plan on getting all these people later. Right now, I just need your thoughts and opinions.

WE CAN MAKE THIS WORK IF WE TRY.

[MrBlack]

As a former paintballer who is new to airsoft, here's my input:

Indoor airsoft can be fun and profitable if done correctly. There are 2 indoor fields in Atlanta (that I'm aware of), and 1 does it right, and one doesn't. With one of them it's basically a paintball speedball game using airsoft equipment. The field is really nice, but with mostly kids around age 12, and a set up and go at it type gameplay, it just wasn't a whole heck of a lot of fun.

I have not played the other place, but have a buddy who did a few weeks ago, and he said they were much more tuned into the scenario aspect of airsoft (I was a scenario paintballer myself, and while I enjoyed speedball ok, scenarios are where it's at!). They would do things like have to retrieve an object and secure it for a specific amount of time, etc. Still a lot of younger folks, but they were pretty excited about the scenario aspect.

I live in Red Bank, and I've had many of the same thoughts of what one could do with an old grocery store (the BiLo on 153 would attract more customers, but I'm betting it has a FAR higher rental cost than the old BiLo on Dayton Blvd). I'll be happy to lend my input. I did the paintball thing for 20 years and am just now into airsoft. It would be nice to be able to go play for an hour or 2 after a rough day at work, even if it was raining.

[Spook]

Come little ones, come to the realism. Come to where you aren't covered in slime at the end of the day. Come to the less expensive game. Bring your friends.

A CQB place would always be welcome, but like the man said...gotta do it right.

[ghost.]

Well okay ive been playing now for four years and yet have I played in a cqb arena , I personally think this would be a great idea for people that enjoy playing our sport, I my self am a youth/junior player I'm fourteen years old and personally think that field and arenas are pretty stupid if they have a age limit , I think we should all play together at the same games instead of junior and adult games some of us junior players are good and just as good as some adults, take it from me, this would be a great idea , if you need any help building or anything, just ask ,
Ghost out,

[french1973]

Thanks guys for the input. Mr. Black, I also live in Red Bank and was actually thinking about the old Bi-Lo or Food Lion right next to it on Dayton Blvd.I thought about the old Hixson Bi-Lo too but the rent would probably be too high. I agree. I don't want to just throw something together and play. I really want to have different scenarios to choose from, however, I really don't have much experience in scenarios and tactics so I would need some help in that area. Actually, I prefer outdoor scenarios to CQB, but there is already several outdoor fields in the area, there needs to be an after hours night time arena.

KEEP YOUR OPINIONS COMING, THANKS.

[Silvertone Hero]

I personaly think that this would be an excellent idea. I live in dayton and i cant drive to highpoint everytime i want to play because its to far. I could manage Red Bank though very easily. I know a couple of people who have experience in the military and coould probably help with the scenario part. As far as the financial part goes you could set a donation type thing up like if someone donates 50 dollars they could get a card with 5% discount off field fee and other stuff 100$ donation a card with 10% discount or something along that line. There is enough people in this area that play you could easily make a few thousand off donations. As far as sales go depending on what you need sold my step dad could probably help he's a salesman at Dominion Box Co. and he's had alot of experience in this feild of work you'd just have to talk to him personally. I hope that this can actually happen it'd be great

[darkwolf]

hi im on the same team as goast and ive played for a while. as for my imput on senerioes i think that it should have terrorists taking hosteges in a super market or so and ect. or so

[School Boy]

I myself am up for that.
as long as its well kept and enforces rules, behavior, etc.

[Ahroun]

Apart from Financing (as it's not within our means at all), Z.H.I. is willing to help if necessary. We're, for the most part, Paintball veterans who got into Airsoft recently, and have been wanting an indoor arena more than you could believe.

[french1973]

I am still looking for a large indoor space that I can afford and am trying to get my business plan nailed down for when I get insurance and a business license. If anyone knows of a LARGE warehouse space (at least 20,000 sq. ft.) with office space and restrooms for around $1-2 sq. ft., please let me know. Either lease or buy. I do plan on having KWA M4 for rentals (for reliability) and hopefully enough ceiling space for some 2-story structure barricades. Also, anyone who has plenty of tech experience in airsoft guns, let me know. Not just someone who has just taken apart their own, but actually work on airsoft guns for a while. I have some experience but not enough. This business will take a little while to get off the ground no be patient. Any help is appreciated. This will happen, just keep the faith.

[Dreygon]

[Spook]

I'd like to see someone use an abandoned town with intact buildings for airsoft. Maybe some old railroad ghost town, or even a portion of an existing town which is no longer populated. Fighting inside a building, even a large building, is CQB, but how many battles are fought inside a single structure?

If a structure were large enough to build a small town inside it, that would be interesting. Unfortunately, that would also most likely be prohibitive cost-wise.

[-EAF-]

hm........if you got a C.Q.B field up I would come down from Knoxville and play there since I am starting to play C.Q.B now!

[Silvertone Hero]

hey if you are still wanting to start this up there's a place up here in dayton it's the old ace hardware building and is right off the highway besides the building there are smaller but still pretty good size building that i guess were used for lumber storage and theres about 5 of them if youre interested i'll swing by the building and get the numbers for you to call for more info

[french1973]

Thanks Silvertone. That would be great but I want to stay in Chattanooga. I don't want to travel to go to work, ha ha. Besides, I want to support the Chattanooga, or Red Bank economy. I am really looking for warehouse space as that would be cheaper. It will be a while before I get this going. Possible even next year before I get enough funding (unless I win the LOTTO). I am still working up my business plan and start-up costs. I just wanted to get feedback on what local airsofters thought. It does seem that there is an overwhelming desire for an "Anytime in Any Weather" type of airsoft field. That is my plan, to open an indoor arena that can be used day or night, and in hot, cold, or rainy weather. Keep the feedback coming.

*** side note *** Waiting for UPS to deliver my KWA M1911 Mk4 OD. Should be here 7/19/2010. Will be an improvement over my generic G17 GBB. Can't wait.