CQB field size

[Spike]

Looking to open up a small store front/cqb arena for airsoft next year with my father. Problem is, I'm not sure how big of a space is needed for a decent CQB arena.

How big do you guys think we'd need for just the play area itself to fit, say, 20-30 players at once without constantly bumping into each other?

[Wrath144]

Check out CQB City videos on YouTube, they are about 60,000 sq ft.

[Thenooblord]

I've seen a CQB facility function in less space than some peoples homes, but for the most part, I'd say atleast 10 000 square feet

[MMatersk]

I believe adrenaline in London is around 15,000sqft it's small but gets the job done.i haven't been there in 2 years so maybe it has changed

[Off_kilter]

FOF here in Edmonton has 10k square feet. It accommodates 12-16 adequately if they are playing semi only. So I would say 25k for a good field

[Spike]

So from the gist of what everyone's saying...sounds like 1000 sq ft per player is appropriate.

[Off_kilter]

Originally Posted by Spike

So from the gist of what everyone's saying...sounds like 1000 sq ft per player is appropriate.

This would be good rule of thumb

[FirestormX]

TTAC in Toronto has a very small area (I can't estimate distances to save my life, so I don't know the sqftage), that fits 8-15 players pretty well. It's VERY close quarters, the games are fast and hot, and you rarely find clear firing lanes from one side to the other (the "walls" are just sets of three pieces of particle board ziptied together, so it gets setup differently every game night).

On the other hand, Toronto also has the Ultimate Airsoft field, which is significantly larger, and has a lot more open space. Rather than feeling like you're fighting inside a single building or two, there are buildings within the field itself, that you can move between/through/around. there's also a "hurt locker" area which is a very tight set of corridors, similar to TTAC, that you can move through if you don't want to traverse through the open.

So TTAC has some intimate and very fun games in a tiny space, while UA has much more open space. Unfortunately, even with all that extra space, I find that UA is setup in such a way that people still tend to bunch up at cover when there's, say, 10 players on each side.

So while the field size is a good starting point, the setup of field really dictates how many players you can fit on it.
I know that isn't really what you asked, but it's the internet, and I like to type things that don't matter.

[Brian McIlmoyle]

TTAC3 is in my opinion about the minimum space for "games" we have about 4000 square feet.. the only reason we can do it is bacuse we can change the setup every time .. otherwise playing the same game in a small room would get very old very fast.

our setup is TIGHT.. 1 foot engagements happen all the time.. and due to how tight it is we limit FPS to 350 and do not permit automatic fire.

We've been going strong since 2005 with this space.. but I keep it small, and limit players to 16 people.

We start with a wide open room and can set up pretty much any configuration we like using 4x8 panels held together in 3 panel units by zipties. we build rooms.. hallways, we have done mockups of aircraft, and subway trains, banks, dance clubs, courtyards, shanty towns.. whatever we want. People never know what they are going to face when they come at any given night.

Any space needs to be able to reconfigure the layout regularly or it gets old fast. Once you figure out the choke points and long lines regulars can dominate every game pretty much.. and it gets boring for the regulars and not much fun getting chopped up at the same spots every time for the new players.

CQB paintball has an excellent play space.. but once you have been there half a dozen times .. you've been there and done that.. this is the problem with fixed set ups.

If I had double the space .. and dedicated use then I would do a combination of fixed and reconfigurable elements. Second story sections add a lot to the perceived complexity and appeal of the space.. but it adds extra danger of injury as well.

[Gish]

Whatever size it is make sure you have the ability to reconfigure/move things around. Nothing makes a place stagnate more then solid walls and the exact same paths time and time again.

[FirestormX]

Another thing to take into account, when you're looking for space, is a good staging area.

[tygr701]

As much space as you can afford. Nothing more annoying than having a CQB arena that's overcrowded with too many people and too little space to maneuver. Your customers will thank you for it.

[Rainer]

Meville Hospital. 66 000sqft 4 floors including the damp, moldy, dimly lit basement, 5 stairwells, various cafeatria and hospital objects. And a tunnel too! Had the chance to play there 4 times. Best CQB place ever. Can't forget kicking mouseholes through the walls, pushing dresser drawers down the hallways for cover. Damn shame they tore it down for condo development.

http://s621.photobucket.com/albums/t...le%20Hospital/

[Adrenalineguy]

At $1.00 a squre foot/ month min for commercial space (industrial isn't commercial). The price often dictates the size. so a 20000 square foot space is ideal, but its a heck of a rent bill.

the business part is the limiting factor so sad but so true..

[Brian McIlmoyle]

Originally Posted by Adrenalineguy

At $1.00 a squre foot/ month min for commercial space (industrial isn't commercial). The price often dictates the size. so a 20000 square foot space is ideal, but its a heck of a rent bill.

the business part is the limiting factor so sad but so true..

indeed even if you get a "deal" and can wrangle 20 000 feet for $10000 a month you need 500 people paying $20 each just to cover rent.. I've run the numbers several times .. the business model is viable.. but no one is making much money.

Field BBs .. Snacks, gun repair service, and gun sales are all needed to make it pay even a reasonable income to 2 people and a part time income to two more.

As a "retirement enterprise" to suplement pension.. it would be perfect.