Dublin shooting range badly needed

Boa.Prinz · 03-02-2012 1:40am #1

The lads in Donegal have a fantastic facility here. http://www.donegalairsoft.com/index.html

We desperately need a good range in Dublin to zero sights, practice target shooting out of the weather, general craic.

Is here any chance this could ever happen in Dublin. Perhaps one of the many Dublin sites or shops could offer something like this to get the edge over the others.

Thx Boa

dinko4gr · 03-02-2012 1:01pm

Boa.Prinz wrote: »

The lads in Donegal have a fantastic facility here. http://www.donegalairsoft.com/index.html

We desperately need a good range in Dublin to zero sights, practice target shooting out of the weather, general craic.

Is here any chance this could ever happen in Dublin. Perhaps one of the many Dublin sites or shops could offer something like this to get the edge over the others.

Thx Boa

agreed 100%. Along with gear sales and perhaps an on the spot repair service would be pretty much awesome. it would give plinkers also a place to have fun without having to actually skirmish :> combined with archery target shooting like the lads in Donegal do, it sounds pretty much a win idea.

and it doesnt have to be free they could set a 5-10 euro entrance for the target range or charge say 5 euro for 5 targets and then you can buy extra. or even better monthly membership. hell if someone makes it happen count me in already for a full year membership

Jsmurff · 03-02-2012 1:53pm

ASFAIK MIA sells gear , repairs it and has an indoor shooting range which worked pretty well the last time I was there

Also last time I checked archery wasn't apparat of Airsoft so let's continue to keep it separate

J.D.R · 03-02-2012 2:42pm

I can't see how somewhere could possibly make a profit as a standalone range.

Being optimistic, assuming that a range opened up and there was a constant demand for it, the profit would be minimal.

If the range had 10 lanes of varying distance and had a stead flow of people looking to use it, and charged €10 per lane for 30 mins and operated 8 hours a day monday to sunday

(10lanes)x(€10)x(16 30 min slots in a day)x(7 days a week)

It comes up to €11200.

That's at an optimal, absolute best case scenaio or running at peak capacity for4 8 straight hours 7 days a week. In reality, it'll likly only run for 3/4 hours wednesday to friday, and 7/8 hours saturday and sunday which, being optimistic again, just works out to

2400(mid week) +3200(weekend) = €5600

And we all know, there is no chance that any range that opened up would always have people lining up at the lanes ready to take over from the next person.

When overheads, start up costs, other expenses are taken into account, there's no chance a viable range could operate on it's own.

(DISCLAIMER: Very simplistic calculations used, apologies to business heads who look at this long winded post with disdain)

Jsmurff · 03-02-2012 2:55pm

Well J.D.R that's why we're saying it should be built into a site or retailer in the Dublin area which it is in M.I.A and it's just fine for zeroing lasers red dots and pistol sights

But if you have a rifle scope that needs zeroing then call your buddy grab a few tins and head out the back garden with a piece of cardboard simples

gerrowadat · 03-02-2012 3:02pm

That's not practical for a lot of people who live in estates etc. I don't even live in Dublin and I don't have anywhere at my house that's not viewable from the public or other houses. I'm lucky in that I have places I can go nearby that relatives own, but not everyone has that opportunity.

I think there is a niche for this sort of thing, but as J.D.R. says, it wouldn't be profitable on its own. I think it'd be a great way for a shop with a bit of space to keep people around and keep them loyal, even doing something like giving people 'range time' with AEG purchases so they can come back and plink, zero, get advice, etc.

As with any new idea though it takes somoene sticking their neck out. My impression is that pretty much all retailers are keeping their heads down and trying to stay afloat these days.

J.D.R · 03-02-2012 3:12pm

Would a retailer need to get an extra level of premises insurance with such a range?

If it was attached to an existing retailer/site with even a few chairs and a kettle so that, as everyone does when visiting a shop, lads can sit around, have a cuppa and a chat and maybe stick a tenner on the counter to play a p***** contest to see who's the most accurate shot. It might be able to bring a little bonus income to the premises

Problem is, I don't know of any retailer with 100metresx25m of unused space in their stores

Jsmurff · 03-02-2012 3:30pm

Fair'nuff ger I suppose we don't all have the advantage of living out the countryside with a garden over 200ft in width but as for the prying eye's thing feck the neighbours your on your property and aslong as your not firing into the air your fine

Happened to me when I was living in town ( even though that property also had a large garden. It was surrounded by a 3.5ft wall and snobs either side of the house)
But the guards said there was nothing wrong with it as I wasn't waving it at them and I wasn't acting in a threatening manor and the neighbour physically had to go out of their own way to see what Iwas doing

dinko4gr · 03-02-2012 3:48pm

yeah on its own its prolly not viable unless you do it for RS target shooting too which a whole dif world of pain, and it doesnt have to be 100 meters or anything pretty much any warehouse space that can spare lets say tops 35 meter x 5-6-7 m for the line up would do and maybe im just pushing too much regarding the 35m hell even 25 would do

BioHazRd · 03-02-2012 5:05pm

Jsmurff wrote: »

Fair'nuff ger I suppose we don't all have the advantage of living out the countryside with a garden over 200ft in width but as for the prying eye's thing feck the neighbours your on your property and aslong as your not firing into the air your fine

Happened to me when I was living in town ( even though that property also had a large garden. It was surrounded by a 3.5ft wall and snobs either side of the house)
But the guards said there was nothing wrong with it as I wasn't waving it at them and I wasn't acting in a threatening manor and the neighbour physically had to go out of their own way to see what Iwas doing

Count yourself lucky that the gardai in this case did not understand the law. It is illegal to brandish an airsoft device in public, and that includes your own property if it is viewable by any member of the public, and that includes neighbours.

I really hope your attitude of "feck the neighbours" was expressed with your tongue firmly implanted in your cheek. I personally would hate to have a neighbour with that attitude.

Jsmurff · 03-02-2012 5:25pm

BioHazRd wrote: »

Jsmurff wrote: »

Fair'nuff ger I suppose we don't all have the advantage of living out the countryside with a garden over 200ft in width but as for the prying eye's thing feck the neighbours your on your property and aslong as your not firing into the air your fine

Happened to me when I was living in town ( even though that property also had a large garden. It was surrounded by a 3.5ft wall and snobs either side of the house)
But the guards said there was nothing wrong with it as I wasn't waving it at them and I wasn't acting in a threatening manor and the neighbour physically had to go out of their own way to see what Iwas doing

Count yourself lucky that the gardai in this case did not understand the law. It is illegal to brandish an airsoft device in public, and that includes your own property if it is viewable by any member of the public, and that includes neighbours.

I really hope your attitude of "feck the neighbours" was expressed with your tongue firmly implanted in your cheek. I personally would hate to have a neighbour with that attitude.

That neighbour had to poke their rather large nose through hedge row and seeing as I was in the back I could not be seen by any pedestrians unless they decided to trespass

Also nothing but overgrown lots behind my house so no-one was in my line of sight/ fire.

There was also a Garda sergeant living down the road who new perfectly well that myself and two other residents had rif's and I showed him what I did when plinking or zeroing in sights and he agreed that I wasn't out of order for the above reasons I wasn't shoving it in peoples faces and there was no-one at all in my line of sight that could get hurt and even of there was they would have deserved it for being foolish enough to walk through a chest high medley of nettles barbed wider and briars

And finally yes that was a cheeky bit more aimed towards those who stick their nose where it's unwanted

TheDoc · 03-02-2012 6:31pm

I made a post similar a few years back and I'll post it again.

I on occasion use my airsoft stuff down the side of my house, usually in the back garden firing towards the side gate. I do it checking out new mods, new toys or just to have some fun.

My neighbours know what I do, and what I play. But the most important factor is they know me, so there is no discomfort.

When a new family moved into the house behind me, with three young children, the father knocked on the door querying what I was doing, as his children were watching out the window one Saturday afternoon. Me and my father showed him what I played, the AEG's etc. and had a chat about it. He apologised for coming across" as a busy body" but I quickly assured him that he had nothing to apologise for, that it can be very confusing/scary to see, but that I'm an experienced player and I dont act the bollox with my kit.

I also had the guards called to the house one summers evening and they inspected my shed and were happy enough that I wasn't using my gear in a threatening manner, and they just wanred me not to bring outside or onto the street or gather groups of friends to be shooting my garden. That nearly four years ago now.

The point as such is the following.

I know I'm "breaking the law". But I just know I'm not a prat, and that I wont draw attention.
My neighbours all know me and my family, the parents all socialise and they know I dont have anything threatening and wont cause any issues.
My neighbour to the left is a firearms collector and houses some one of a kind items and also has licenses not normally assosiated with private citizens. The opposite side of me is a special branch Guard.

I'm not condoning brash use of AEG's in estates or in the household.
I'm not condoning a "**** da police attitude"

However while your posts have been a bit brash and well , ill informed, I do to a certain extent empathise with wanting to use my kit in my household/garden.

Its a bit of a weird one for me personally, while I usually take a stand against bolloxy laws, this one, while I'm technically breaking it, just wont cause me any guff : /

gerrowadat · 03-02-2012 6:36pm

It stops being about the law and starts being about common sense. I own a car, and I'm perfectly entitled to bring it down the roundabout at the end of the estate and do mad skoda cruise control epic drifts on it. However, I don't because it's a stupid idea and is guaranteed to annoy people.

TheDoc · 03-02-2012 8:39pm

gerrowadat wrote: »

It stops being about the law and starts being about common sense. I own a car, and I'm perfectly entitled to bring it down the roundabout at the end of the estate and do mad skoda cruise control epic drifts on it. However, I don't because it's a stupid idea and is guaranteed to annoy people.

On the same point if you had an nackermobile that was as load as a bomb, but drove responsibly and carefully, no one would have an issue, with you have a nacker mobile

Jsmurff · 03-02-2012 9:46pm

TheDoc wrote: »

gerrowadat wrote: »

It stops being about the law and starts being about common sense. I own a car, and I'm perfectly entitled to bring it down the roundabout at the end of the estate and do mad skoda cruise control epic drifts on it. However, I don't because it's a stupid idea and is guaranteed to annoy people.

On the same point if you had an nackermobile that was as load as a bomb, but drove responsibly and carefully, no one would have an issue, with you have a nacker mobile

That neighbour of mine didn't like those either and had the guards heads wrecked calling in possible unroadworthy and stolen vehecles :pac:

The guards that called into me happened to be visiting the sergeant (on leave) and they said that he had vouched for me they were just interested in what the fuss was all about and "Issued" me with a written warning, a pice of notepad with scrawls on it, to satisfy the mosey grumpy baxterd next door.

One gaurs exclaimed "well I won't be able to get a porche but at least I can afford a few of these during my midlife crisis"

hightower1 · 03-02-2012 11:16pm

gerrowadat wrote: »

I own a car, and I'm perfectly entitled to bring it down the roundabout at the end of the estate and do mad skoda cruise control epic drifts on it.

Actually your not, thats dangerous driving and an offence... exasperated some what by it being done in a housing estate. :pac::pac::pac:

<carry on> :cool:

moggser · 03-02-2012 11:55pm

hightower1 wrote: »

Actually your not, thats dangerous driving and an offence... exasperated some what by it being done in a housing estate. :pac::pac::pac:

<carry on> :cool:

he actually owns his car but still drives it like he stole it pulling wheelies and wallies in his megatron pyjama's driving round his estate screaming "whats love gotto to dooo....whats love gotto to dooo gotto too doooo wirrreeeeeh ....1.2.3.4.5 **** da police".

true story some one prove me wrong

dinko4gr · 04-02-2012 12:37am

Jsmurff wrote: »

That neighbour of mine didn't like those either and had the guards heads wrecked calling in possible unroadworthy and stolen vehecles :pac:

The guards that called into me happened to be visiting the sergeant (on leave) and they said that he had vouched for me they were just interested in what the fuss was all about and "Issued" me with a written warning, a pice of notepad with scrawls on it, to satisfy the mosey grumpy baxterd next door.

One gaurs exclaimed "well I won't be able to get a porche but at least I can afford a few of these during my midlife crisis"

i hope you remember your attitude when you are old and grumpy "baxterd" and your neighbors kid is shooting holograms with his photon sniper or whatever and you wont call the guards.

i get the whole wild rebellious teen spirit but make a mental note of this: regardless how old and grumpy and annoying someone can be it still costs nothing to be nice to them. who knows one day he might save your life or something like that.

Jsmurff · 04-02-2012 4:21am

dinko4gr wrote: »

Jsmurff wrote: »

That neighbour of mine didn't like those either and had the guards heads wrecked calling in possible unroadworthy and stolen vehecles :pac:

The guards that called into me happened to be visiting the sergeant (on leave) and they said that he had vouched for me they were just interested in what the fuss was all about and "Issued" me with a written warning, a pice of notepad with scrawls on it, to satisfy the mosey grumpy baxterd next door.

One gaurs exclaimed "well I won't be able to get a porche but at least I can afford a few of these during my midlife crisis"

i hope you remember your attitude when you are old and grumpy "baxterd" and your neighbors kid is shooting holograms with his photon sniper or whatever and you wont call the guards. i get the whole wild rebellious teen spirit but make a mental note of this: regardless how old and grumpy and annoying someone can be it still costs nothing to be nice to them. who knows one day he might save your life or something like that.

Wild rebellious what.....? That guy had the whole neighbourhood after to such an extent that the homeowners association didn't even bother to remind him of when the meetings were taking place

I merely took an interest in my hobby as one should. I then had my privacy invaded
Honestly I don't see how Iam being rebellious here?

SNAKEDOC · 04-02-2012 10:38am

i think what he is trying to say it is better to try and bring the neighbours on side by been nice to them and not antagonizing them by letting them see you with the aeg's outside. i understand its on your property but see the other side of it people whether by right or law can see into your property and if they see what looks like a gun they may call the cops so why not preempt all that by telling the neighbours what is goin on offer them a go with the shooty thing and hay presto another nay sayer to airsoft is turned and we all benefit. Make love not war.

Jsmurff · 04-02-2012 5:16pm

SNAKEDOC wrote: »

i think what he is trying to say it is better to try and bring the neighbours on side by been nice to them and not antagonizing them by letting them see you with the aeg's outside. i understand its on your property but see the other side of it people whether by right or law can see into your property and if they see what looks like a gun they may call the cops so why not preempt all that by telling the neighbours what is goin on offer them a go with the shooty thing and hay presto another nay sayer to airsoft is turned and we all benefit. Make love not war.

I see what your getting at but it wouldn't work just though he owned the place he also thought that the likes of the Gaurds fire brigade and the dog warden were his imployes and bossed them around and told them how to do their jobs after he called them up for no good reason

There was no getting through to him

Arkslippy · 07-02-2012 4:50pm

Anyhooo.

i went to the range in Donegal once and the guy who runs it gets good traffic through birthday parties and the like. it was a good value one visit interest thing but oddly enough not something I've repeated in my dozen odd visits to Donegal since.

it gets kind of pointless for a skirmisher to be shooting a target for any length of time.

given that at 50 feet the average aeg isint particularly accurate.

after 2 midcap mags on single fire, i just switched to full auto to cut the target in two.

whyiotta · 10-02-2012 10:52pm

Does anybody actually need a airsoft zero range???

Witcher · 10-02-2012 11:04pm

whyiotta wrote: »

Does anybody actually need a airsoft zero range???

Some people don't want to skirmish and have no place to fire their guns so it would make sense for them but those people are too few in number to sustain a stand alone range.

dinko4gr · 10-02-2012 11:15pm

whyiotta wrote: »

Does anybody actually need a airsoft zero range???

yes and we are called apartment tenants.

Also i imagine along with us come the plinkers / collectors etc.

Blay thats why we suggested it mostly as an add-on to a retailer. They would defo appreciate some extra bucks and im 100% it would boost their sales. It could be also with a standard membership. Random example if someone did it and managed to get like 50 people to get a membership for 10-15-20 euro a month thats not shabby. But they will get more just by people hanging around and drooling over stuff. i know i would :>

sliabh · 10-02-2012 11:27pm

Didn't Go Tactical have a range in their Bray place?

Markom5a · 10-02-2012 11:47pm

theres one in mia i saw it on tallafornia :P

Jsmurff · 10-02-2012 11:55pm

Markom5a wrote: »

theres one in mia i saw it on tallafornia :P

Mentioned it 3 times before ya but it's being ignored

Gatling · 11-02-2012 12:56am

There not ranges in bray or mia,
I want an indoor range multiple lanes all over 200 ft long and the ability to use large to match box size targets, throw in some couches and decent coffee and id gladly pay to use ,

Tallafornia seriously tallafornia

What's next people rallying Audi's

Jsmurff · 11-02-2012 1:12am

Gatling wrote: »

There not ranges in bray or mia,
I want an indoor range multiple lanes all over 200 ft long and the ability to use large to match box size targets, throw in some couches and decent coffee and id gladly pay to use ,

Tallafornia seriously tallafornia

What's next people rallying Audi's

Hey be glad you have MIA ya greedy sod there's **** all down south :mad:

sharpy2010 · 13-02-2012 10:16am

Realistically speaking as much as it's an add on to any business it's still expansion which at the moment sounds hood but it also incurs extra costs for said business but if you really want one why don't you approach a site it retailer and ask could you open up one under their name like a franchise?
But also speaking would you need 200ft + I think you would only need about 100ft by 35ft. Without being 100% sure where your renting but what I have heard on average in cork it's about €7 per square foot per month in the city centre so going by my minimum of 3500sqft at €7 is €24,500 a month and as JDR pointed out at a stretch with it being constantly busy it could possibly make approx €45,000 a month, then you add on heating costs and lighting costs for a big space and all the other little bits like start upcost like timber etc. It will be awhile before any site or retailer would bring that on themselves but feel free if you would like to start one I would join up just for the chance to go plinking as I can't always go skirmishing!
Sorry for the long text OP it is an excellent idea but like a lot of things not feasible.

_ricochet_ · 14-02-2012 2:59am

That rate wouldn't be exactly correct, units are zoned, the shop front/window space might be €7 but the rest wouldn't be. Typically zoned into A,B,C and D and the rate falling the further you move to the back of the unit.

Gaz2010 · 14-02-2012 7:09pm

A practical pistol setup would be good or a kill house type job against the clock.
Heard of a place in england were you start the coarse in a toilet cubical and have to leg it round clearing every room.

Skirmishing is good crack but we really need something a bit different, personally i'd love some way of getting proper use out of my pistols especially. Surely airsoft is big enough here now to support some sort of similar venue.

The practical side of airsoft shooting is pretty big in other countries i dont see why here has to be any different

sharpy2010 · 15-02-2012 5:34am

_ricochet_ wrote: »

That rate wouldn't be exactly correct, units are zoned, the shop front/window space might be €7 but the rest wouldn't be. Typically zoned into A,B,C and D and the rate falling the further you move to the back of the unit.

Yes but I am open for correction on this also and I'm not shooting down your response straight out but it is what was advertised, and with the current practice with most places these days they say "starting from €X a month" or "from only €X a month" so if what your saying is correct they could have advertised it at €1 per square foot instead.
This particular premises though was very well situated for this kind of business as it was 5mins walk from main shopping street in the city, across the river from the main bus station, 5-10 mins walk from main train station, 5-10 walk in another direction your at the cities main Airsoft shop and site and for those that drive 3 car parks within 5 mins walk aswell.
but even going back to it and if I am wrong and it cuts rent you still have all the heating, lighting, wages and start up costs but if you couple this job with a couple of techies manning the range then you can also open another door for those people who have trouble with their guns and want to check them out, get work done and try it out and even offer out chronic for guns etc. I do think it is a good idea for more a shop than a site though.

sharpy2010 · 15-02-2012 5:37am

Gaz2010 wrote: »

A practical pistol setup would be good or a kill house type job against the clock.
Heard of a place in england were you start the coarse in a toilet cubical and have to leg it round clearing every room.

Skirmishing is good crack but we really need something a bit different, personally i'd love some way of getting proper use out of my pistols especially. Surely airsoft is big enough here now to support some sort of similar venue.

The practical side of airsoft shooting is pretty big in other countries i dont see why here has to be any different

That could also be a very good idea as there us alot of talk of all these teams, friend and colleges wanting to compete against eachother where if you could run some type of a one sided scenario event against the clock and keep a monthly comp going that could also boost sales

Gaz2010 · 16-02-2012 10:08am

sharpy2010 wrote: »

That could also be a very good idea as there us alot of talk of all these teams, friend and colleges wanting to compete against eachother where if you could run some type of a one sided scenario event against the clock and keep a monthly comp going that could also boost sales

Set up cost would be minimal once you have a building with enough rooms. A few 12' square metal plates stuck to life size cardboard cut outs, with one or more in each room and job done.......insert lads with guns (pistols or otherwise) and you'll have a great laugh. Really don't understand how nobody's done it here YET.

Skatedude · 16-02-2012 10:14am

Anytime i need to test out my aeg, I'll fire it into a target in my back garden. But i shoot from inside the house through the open backdoor so i dont have the aeg outside where it can be seen.
Not always practical depending on the layout of your home.
But i do like the idea of been able to use proper targets. the man shaped ones are so much better then a bulleye one.

the main problem with a range would be the length. very few commercial units would have a space long enough without renting something huge.
One way, but not the best would be 2 containers joined together, but bring the ear plugs.

sliabh · 16-02-2012 11:48am

Gaz2010 wrote: »

Really don't understand how nobody's done it here YET.

The flippant answer is "so do it yourself then! :-) "

But as people have said before, this is actually quite expensive to set up and run. And while you just want something long and narrow for a shooting range, most industrial units (retail ones would be far to expensive) are not that shape, so you will be paying for a lot more than just your shooting lanes.

I have to say as well that people's suggestions you can charge €10 an hour are, em, surprising. People bitch about paying €25 for a days skirmishing, or €20 for 2 hours gaming in an indoor site. There is no way they will pay €20 just to be able to plink. If you got €5 you would be doing well, and I would be surprised if there is much demand even at that.

The only way this will happen is as an add on to an existing site or shop. It will never work as a stand alone.

Gaz2010 · 16-02-2012 12:16pm

sliabh wrote: »

The flippant answer is "so do it yourself then! :-) "

But as people have said before, this is actually quite expensive to set up and run. And while you just want something long and narrow for a shooting range, most industrial units (retail ones would be far to expensive) are not that shape, so you will be paying for a lot more than just your shooting lanes.

I have to say as well that people's suggestions you can charge €10 an hour are, em, surprising. People bitch about paying €25 for a days skirmishing, or €20 for 2 hours gaming in an indoor site. There is no way they will pay €20 just to be able to plink. If you got €5 you would be doing well, and I would be surprised if there is much demand even at that.

The only way this will happen is as an add on to an existing site or shop. It will never work as a stand alone.

I wasn't talking about a stand alone job......a normal 'range' would be pretty lame in all honesty and very, very boring. There are skirmish sites already open that would have the scope for a killhouse type timed coarse. No need to go on the 'glass is half empty so i smashed it and slit my wrists' buzz. I've never heard anybody bitch about the price of a skirmish here to be honest, how or where else would ya get a full day out for the price of 40 smokes and a cupa coffee!

Full_TiltKeith · 16-02-2012 12:21pm

Me and a couple of business friends were actually thinking about this.

I have personally seen the huge uptake in Airsoft over the past 2 years in Ireland.

What I'm having difficulty in finding out though is numbers.

How many are casual players and how many are hardcore?

This is what we are thinking:

We could have access to an 21000 square feet warehouse in Dublin.

We were thinking of converting it for this purpose.

Including:

Shooting Range
Indoor Senarios
Professional Training
Monthly Leagues
Ammo Shop

etc

To be honest we have a lot of research to do and the start up costs would be a bit big.

Gaz2010 · 16-02-2012 12:33pm

If its one big open space it will cost a nice few grand to put up some sort of structures.

Look at the big successful indoor sites elsewhere in the world, very few are warehouses. Would you YOURSELF go out of the way to play in a plywood jungle or rather a proper building??

Full_TiltKeith · 16-02-2012 12:43pm

Gaz2010 wrote: »

If its one big open space it will cost a nice few grand to put up some sort of structures.

Look at the big successful indoor sites elsewhere in the world, very few are warehouses. Would you YOURSELF go out of the way to play in a plywood jungle or rather a proper building??

That is true.

Looking at CQB, I see a lot of variety.

What we were thinking was dividing the warehouse into say 5 "zones".

We would also have a killing house etc.

What we would need to really think about is the zones.

For example a house assault, mock up of an airplane interior, bus assault, a booby trapped assault course etc.

TBH we're not even sure if there would be much demand for this sort of thing which is why we have been a bit apprehensive.

sliabh · 16-02-2012 12:46pm

Have you played in the 3 indoor sites in and around Dublin?

That would give you an idea of how much demand there is (if they are empty there is no need for another), and what is currently on offer.

Full_TiltKeith · 16-02-2012 12:49pm

That's what were planning on doing in the next few weeks.

I suppose what were trying to do is be an indoor venue plus;

Have a shooting range
Have an onsite airsoft shop
Have an onsite restaurant etc

make it more "corporate" friendly I suppose.

Gaz2010 · 16-02-2012 12:56pm

Good idea about different kinds of scenarios but how are you going to jam 40 lads into a bus!
Maybe it would work as a sideline to 'normal' game but otherwise it would get messy as you'd have people sitting it out, you could have multiple games running at the sametime and have a rotation type deal going.

Still, personally i'd rather an actual building. I played a tester game in a double 3 story georgian house which was converted into flats in the city centre at night a long time ago. Easily the best game i've ever been to, lots of little snakey spots and 3 floors to run around

Boa.Prinz · 16-02-2012 11:47pm

Full_TiltKeith wrote: »

Me and a couple of business friends were actually thinking about this.

I have personally seen the huge uptake in Airsoft over the past 2 years in Ireland.

What I'm having difficulty in finding out though is numbers.

How many are casual players and how many are hardcore?

This is what we are thinking:

We could have access to an 21000 square feet warehouse in Dublin.

We were thinking of converting it for this purpose.

Including:

Shooting Range
Indoor Senarios
Professional Training
Monthly Leagues
Ammo Shop

etc

To be honest we have a lot of research to do and the start up costs would be a bit big.

Hi Keith,

I too am a businessman and have a deep interest in all things Airsoft. I would be interested in meting with you to talk about options. PM e if you think it's worth pursuing. I was going to approach the Vacant guys with a view to what you mentioned but a dedicated venue could be more viable.

We shouldn't just focus on Irish participants. If this is a professional setup and the right events are run then folk might travel from the UK and mainland Europe for competitions. This venture could, if positioned right, set the standard for a new Airsoft outlet.

Thx Boa.

Boa.Prinz · 16-02-2012 11:56pm

It has been some time since this community got fired up on these boards. This topic seems to have energized people again.

So, maybe there is something in a range type venue....:rolleyes:

Puding · 17-02-2012 12:01am

Boa.Prinz wrote: »

It has been some time since this community got fired up on these boards. This topic seems to have energized people again.

So, maybe there is something in a range type venue....:rolleyes:

You have only about 20 posters and half of the discussion is completely off topic, you might want to look again at your conclusions.

Zomg Okay · 17-02-2012 12:22am

Puding wrote: »

You have only about 20 posters and half of the discussion is completely off topic, you might want to look again at your conclusions.

Exactly. You can't use something like Boards for your market research - thats where all the failed airsoft shops in this country came from!

gerrowadat · 17-02-2012 12:25am

Between this and the other thread, I'm actually very encouraged that the economy may be picking up, the Airsoft fly-by-nights are appearing out of the woodwork with money to burn again.

Jimkil · 19-02-2012 1:40pm

I did some planning on this type of venue not to long ago. The concept was to create more of a airsoft hangout than a full blown range.
There would be a small reception with coffee and stuff along with a couple of computers to surf. The plan would be sell a small amount of airsoft goods and targets. Offer wall space for lads to sell their stuff. There is also opportunity to rent some aeg's to walkins.
This would be located in the top floor of an industrial unit with parking. Its located Baldoyle. Its along narrow unit. Not the most ideal but not to bad either. I reckon it could take 2 lanes with motorized pulleys for targets. Another area would be a small CQB space. I had an idea to make the internal partition walls on wheels so the format could be changed to create a different space at ease.
I still think it a nice idea but there were two main reasons for not going ahead. Hard to see how it would make much money in that its opening hours are very limited ie: how many airsofters are going to use it on Tue mornings. The labor cost is too high also.
The some things that could make it work. If it had a resident teckie of if a retailer was to take some space for a small fee or commission.
This is very rough outline and an idea i have not put to bed yet. If anyone out there has a interest in pursuing it or joining forces let me know.

Dublin shooting range badly needed

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