🎨🔫 Paintball

1970s: Concept of paintball originated with the Nelson Paint Company; Charles Gaines, Hayes Noel, and Robert Gurnsey discussed creating a game inspired by stalking and capturing prey.
1981: The first-ever paintball game; Gaines, Noel, and Gurnsey inaugurated the sport in Henniker, New Hampshire.
1982: Launch of the National Survival Game (NSG) to promote paintball; first commercial paintball field opened in Rochester, New York.
1984: Formation of the International Paintball Players Association (IPPA) and the first professional paintball team, the “L.A. Ironmen,” marking paintball’s evolution from a recreational activity to a competitive sport.
1992: First-ever Paintball World Cup; advancement in paintball markers, safety gear, and accessories.
2000’s: Technological advancements and increased media attention spur global growth; ESPN broadcasts national and international tournaments.
2010s: Proliferation of paintball fields catering to different game types; emergence of paintball stars and sustained growth of the sport influenced by social media.