is this hobby dying ?

[canadatabletopgames]

...but with the economic downturn, you have to understand that the pleasure dollar$ would have to go somewhere else, that miniature football isn't everything. Just considering the job losses in the US as well as in Canada.


But the manufacturer (like Miggle for example) would have to get back the NFL liscencing if they want to survive because i don't give a lot of times to them if they don't do anything.....and trust me i don't want that because Miggle offered some very good quality products and their customer service is also great!!!!


Benster from north of the border

[warriorman]

I don't think it is dying. I have met the likes of Chris LeMay , Chris Stacey , Rich Parks , Don Smith , Jimbo , Fred McClamb(Fred , I hope I spelled it right) , Ray Fanara , RRutledge , Coach J and many many more ! Guys , if I left you're name out I'm sorry , just an oversight ! You all were special.

I think for miggle to survive they need the NFL back.

I think we all need to work to carry it to the next level. When I first started over a year ago getting on this forum it was great. However, the last couple weeks hasn't been so pleasant ! I have found myself not getting on as much as I use to and guys think about this , what about the next guys coming into the hobby ? They see all the negative things on the forum and they'll run away too !

Just my .02 worth

[Coach Rip]

...and its something I have been saying, but many don't like to hear it,

..

I can envision TV coverage of regional and national tournaments. But it will take one standard set of rules and sanctioning by a governing body or association which is what I hoped the MFCA would do, but I do stand by the mission statement of the MFCA which does ackknowledge the diversity of the hobby. Everyone says look at Madden Football, they have TV coverage for their tournaments. Well why is that? Because they play by one set of rules set by a video game. you don't see people in one region playing by different rules than another region. They have TRUE UNITY in the way they play the game.

Heck there is even a new "reality show" coming on that centers around competitive eating.....our time is coming but I'm not sure "we" will be ready when it does.

[GrandMasterKC]

After all the bases, teams, tournaments, leagues, friends, foes, late games, long days, arguments, understandings, teaching kids, traveling, gas money, ordering bases oh I said that one ....my 4th year back in the hobby and I have found family...played some legends and found that xtra within to stay with the game no matter....hobby dying we owe our future to the upcoming Coaches and they will be indebted to the following generation..the youth need hope....we need base tweakers, painters, team builders, board makers, coaches, tournaments, and a "passion" as Norb would say for this hobby and it shall never die. "when the students is ready the teacher appears" are you the student or the teacher?.....carry this thing and teach the students we need your wisdom.... hobby dying? i'll give you hobby dying...man I love this thing of ours so much that I am working to pay off EF debt thats not funny

Sit tight there Jimmie D. The game was here before the internet and it will be around as the net evolves into 24/7/365 wired on-the-go. It is alive as long as a single person continues to set up their men for solitaire. So certainly it is alive as more than a handful of us gather at local and national events.

It has to stay alive. We must continue, you and I, to meet and break bread (and protocol).... breaking into the stash in front of "Daddy" and smashing up some scrempf. Then later, in your room, do it some more. Something so solid and fun can not die. It is surreal - Super human even. You know.... smashin up my twinkie bases except that pesky ONE that you can't seem to get a handle on. It's what keeps us coming back - those "You had to be there" moments. Ya know? FUN!


Chill Champ. We ain't goin' away that easy or quietly. We, collectively, are just Ridin' The Storm Out. Brighter skies ARE in the forecast.

-Mike Pratt

[TVsCHACHI]

Originally Posted by Coach Rip

...and its something I have been saying, but many don't like to hear it,

"I can envision TV coverage of regional and national tournaments. But it will take one standard set of rules and sanctioning by a governing body or association which is what I hoped the MFCA would do, but I do stand by the mission statement of the MFCA which does ackknowledge the diversity of the hobby. Everyone says look at Madden Football, they have TV coverage for their tournaments. Well why is that? Because they play by one set of rules set by a video game. you don't see people in one region playing by different rules than another region. They have TRUE UNITY in the way they play the game."

Heck there is even a new "reality show" coming on that centers around competitive eating.....our time is coming but I'm not sure "we" will be ready when it does.

It will continue to live in leagues and tournaments, and grow regionally but the point that Rip reiterated is dead on. There needs to be one standard rule set for a national competition. Put it to a vote.

[jimmie]

Yes I think the hobby is dying yes a lot has changed, new figures, bigger boards, new rules but how many new people are coming in?The membership here is still about 230 the leagues are mostly made up of people who have been playing for years.Thier are about four different board manufactors if not more competing for the 230 members here for sales,so divisions have arised.With that depends now, who you support then in a lot of ways its not really fun to come in to league if you not an advanced player with all the new stuff, that could set you back 800 dollars just to get started.How many folks want to do that???Heres what happens a lot a guy finds his old game gets interested in playing finds this site then finds out that the stuff he has is not good enough to play against anybody and he would have to send at least 600.00 to play humm!!Now a guy thats been in the hobby for years sure he would spend out but just comming in no!!Is the hobby dying??no but is it growing?? no not that much!!Thats what we should be working on.I think the new stuff is great for the hobby but it is costly I struggle with wanting to pay 4.50 or 400 for a board havent done it yet I can image a guy just getting back into after 20 years off.A convention with about 40 people isnt really growth not after 15 years of being on the market so maybe not dying but not really growing.

[MplsTom]

Growth won't happen from the bottom up here...it will happen from the top down. The best chance for short term growth is really from the manufacturer putting $ into it and getting some sort of TV deal. People will adapt to whatever the TV rules are just because that is where the attention and recognition is.

As for the comment about Landsmans retiring...don't look for that soon. They gave up the license because it wasn't cost effective. They are good people and in my eyes view this business as a niche for them (i.e. supplemental income). They can write off trips to Asia as a business expense...provide bases and figures to people who still buy them...without a significant amount of overhead.

It is 100% their perogative to run their business however they choose. They were instrumental in bringing the hobby back and for that we all owe a debt of gratitude. However, theirs is also not a growth model as that would definitely entail a decent amount of risk and legwork in trying to bring a "master plan" to light.

Why not use the internet more? I see alot of youtube videos but why stop there. why not use facebook, twitter, or myspace to help promote the league. Especially when trying to recruit the younger generation.

[Collegefootballfan]

Bignasty fm. Has someone opened a account on facebook? It would be a great way for people to see the hobby is still alive. People could become a fan of Electric football! I am not sure how you get looped in with the items you can be fans of. But, having Electric football there would be great!


Jeff