I've been thinking about how difficult it would be to run an airsoft field; So I decided to do some math to figure out what it would cost to operate one. Below is the data I've come with to get an idea of the costs of an airsoft field.
These numbers assume the field is an indoor field in New Jersey that is open for six hours per day every weekend and one extra day twice per month. It also assumes that the field only has walkons (no private parties) and does not rent any equipment or sell any merchandise or consumables.
First, some prices of various resources
Power: 13.58c / kwh
Water: $10.60 + ($5.95 / 1000 gallons)
NJ General Tax Rate: 0.03758 * property value / year
NJ Minimum wage: $8.25 / hr
General Liability Insurance: ~2000 / year
Airsoft Field Insurance: ~$2800 / year
Comcast business internet(starter package): $69.95/month; $840/year (what a ripoff)
Next, some assumptions about resource usage:
6 Hrs * 10 days = 60 Hrs / month open
Property value: $200000
Power usage: 5062w / day
50 100w light bulbs: 5000w
1 computer: ~60w
battery charges: 2w
Water usage: 4 gal * 10 uses = 40gal / day
Labor: Cashier + 3 refs = 24 man-hours / day
(Since the airsoft field is open ten days per month, I can multiply everything by 10 to get the total usage per month.)
Finally, adding up the costs per month
Power: 303.72kwh/month * 13.58c/kwh / 100 = $41.25
Water: $10.60 + ($5.95 * 0.4kgal / month) = $12.98 (is there such a thing as kilo-gallons? Now there is!)
Labor: 240 man-hours * $8.25 = $1980
General tax ($200000 * 0.03758) / 12 = ~$626
General Liability Insurance: $2000 / 12 = $167
Airsoft Field Insurance: $2800 / 12 = ~$234
41.25 + 12.98 + 1980 + 626 + 167 + 234 + 69.95(internet) = $3131.18 / month
3131.18 / 10 = ~$313.2 / day
313.2 / 25(sample admission price) = ~13 players per day
Based on the above calculations, an airsoft field needs at least 13 players per day it's open to break even.
Have you seen at least 13 other players at your local field the last time you played? If not, your local field may be struggling to pay their bills; Help them out by playing airsoft!
Have I made an error in my calculations? Are there any other expenses I forgot to mention? Let me know in the comments, and I'll update the cost.
