Is it time for airsoft to make a comeback?
 

Been pondering this recently. Many great memories here and on the field.

Please explain. Are you talking about this site or the sport in general?

Yes.

I would love to see more fields pop-up in Ontario as we've had several die out within the last couple of years. Re-vamping this website would also be nice and return it to the central hub it once was.

I mean I agree about the site; I've been on that hobby horse for years about how we as a community need to get off social media sites like FB that shit all over anything gun related; we need to establish a community basically for airsofters by airsofters. Otherwise as an online presence we live and die at the whim of Zuck, Elon, and whoever else.

Don't know about the sport in general; it's only been growing like a madman at least out here in the west. I remember a time where my club in Victoria had like six fields to choose from each weekend. Didn't realize Ontario was suffering though.

The whole speedsoft era and mag dumping teens have killed the sport, the milsim style of airsoft is what creates interest.

The sport I think as a whole is growing leaps and bounds. When I started in 05 the average weekend game day had like 40 people. Now the fields by edmonton and calgary putting on just a generic skrim day are getting hundreds. The problem at least in Alberta has been the death of all the clubs. None of the clubs that grew the sport and put on games teaching the next generation are around anymore, doubt the average player even knows the name of one. Its just paintball fields running games in the style of paintball, short, fast, no tactics. I play little just because I want long games with emphasis on tactics and communication. Wish that would come back.

Very much agree on the website, forums need to make a comeback. Discord sucks, and facebook is trash for event organizing.

I've got 50 acres just outside of Ottawa. I'd be willing to open it up as a private field if it means helping the sport make a comeback.

I miss airsoft a great deal. Some of the folks I met playing this game helped turn me from a shithead teenager into a slightly less shithead adult.

Hey, does ASC have a Discord?

I think there's an unofficial one. Discord has the same kinds of restrictions as most other social media sites, though.

Hey all,
Thought I'd chime in with my 2cents... Been into airsoft for a loooong time and ran with the Force Recon guys for a time. I took a break from the sport about 8 years ago, and looking in from the outside during that time, the sport has been through a lot, least of all COVID and C21.

But I've recently had a renewed interest to get back in and am pleasantly surprised to see that there is still a pulse, and arguably a strong one. FR games are going strong and there are still shops around, even here in Ottawa, albeit a small one. So there are definitely people into airsoft out there still.

Personally I think the issue is communication, in that there is no longer an effective, easy to use central hub for airsoft in Canada. ASC was that for years, but due to a combination of an aging demographic, and recent events such as COVID and C21 and the vilification of anything remotely gun related, its has suffered and ceased to be as relevant as it once was and should still be.
Everyone knows that ASC is looooong overdue for a serious overhaul - The site is clunky AF and looks dated. In saying that I do realize the time, effort and cost involved. But it is sorely needed. Marketing the re-brand/re-launch properly is also key. Get that back and I think we would se a resurgence. We are out there, we just need a way to communicate and organize openly like we did before.

Personally, taking some initiative and relaunching this site would be a big move forward. When there is no hype, nothing happens... word of mouth is great but only gets you so far.

At any rate, maybe there are some other considerations and issues... legally perhaps, that I am not aware of, but thats what I am seeing from where I am standing.

Cheers,

I'm in roughly the same boat. Would like to get out again but trying to organize is hard. There are no really good fields West of Toronto anymore (especially since Finch's closed) everything is East of Toronto and as such quite a drive for someone who live between London / Windsor.