Its 2009 season opener will be April 3 to 5, on the beach.
The league will offer seven-man play from Division 3 up to the professional level, and also will offer a five-man division, a release stated.
The new player-owned league is attempting to make the tournament more affordable for the droves of non-professional players who enjoy the sport, which can be quite expensive due to the need to purchase guns, paintballs and protective gear.
“Much emphasis has been placed on catering the events toward the lower divisional teams and making the series as affordable as possible,” said Rich Telford of the Sacramento Excessive team.
“Highlights include lowering entry fees, adjusting the schedule to reduce time away from school for younger players, streamlining the registration process to make it easier and more enjoyable for teams to check-in and walk the fields, introducing an exciting, faster-paced schedule of games and setting up a Steering Committee with representatives from all divisions so everyone’s voice can be heard.”
Although the city said the tournament was a money generator for both the government and the hospitality industry, critics say the paintballers, who have come from all over the world, litter the town with splattered paint and unexploded paintballs — which could be ingested by birds and other creatures.
For more information, call (714) 858-1923 or visit uspaintballleague.com.
CANDICE BAKER can be reached at (714) 966-4631 or at candice.baker@latimes.com.
