Editing NPPL Super 7 (section)

== History ==

=== Formation (2002–2003) ===

The NPPL Super 7 developed following disagreements between the National Professional Paintball League and [[Paintball Sports Promotions]] (PSP), the organisation responsible for producing the league's major tournaments during the early 2000s.

The two organisations separated following the 2002 season.

PSP continued operating tournaments using five-man and 10-man formats while introducing [[X-Ball]] competition.

The NPPL instead established a new seven-man tournament circuit through a partnership with WDP and Pure Promotions.[2]

The new series adopted elements of European seven-man competition, including aspects of the [[Millennium Series]] rules.

The NPPL also introduced equipment inspection procedures intended to address electronic marker settings and other technical regulations.[1]

=== Inaugural season (2003) ===

The first NPPL Super 7 tournament took place at Huntington Beach, California, from 7 to 9 February 2003.

The event was held on the beach near Huntington Beach Pier, using five inflatable-bunker playing fields and a central competition field equipped for spectators and television production.

[[San Diego Dynasty]] won the professional division, with Evil Factory winning the amateur division, Vicious winning novice and Team RM winning rookie.[1]

The inaugural season comprised five American tournaments:

* Huntington Beach Open, California
* Las Vegas Open, Nevada
* Chicago Open, Illinois
* New Jersey Open, New Jersey
* Commander's Cup, Miami, Florida

Dynasty won the inaugural professional season championship, finishing ahead of the [[Naughty Dogs]].[4]

=== Expansion (2004–2006) ===

The Super 7 expanded its tournament presentation during the following seasons.

Pure Promotions introduced improvements to field infrastructure, team staging areas and spectator facilities. The series also used major sporting venues, including Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego and Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts.[5]

The competition attracted professional teams from North America and Europe, including Dynasty, [[Sacramento XSV]], [[Los Angeles Infamous]], [[Avalanche]], [[London Nexus]] and Stockholm Joy Division.

The seven-man format operated alongside the competing X-Ball formats promoted by PSP and the original [[National Xball League]] (NXL).

Some teams participated in both American tournament circuits and the European Millennium Series.

Dynasty won the NPPL professional season championship in each of the first four seasons, from 2003 through 2006.[5]

=== Pacific Paintball ownership (2007–2008) ===

In January 2007, the NPPL and regional [[Xtreme Paintball Sports League]] (XPSL) were acquired by Pacific Paintball LLC.

Shawn Walker became president of the organisation, succeeding the earlier operational structure associated with Chuck Hendsch and Pure Promotions.[2]

The NPPL continued organising major national tournaments and expanded its live internet broadcasting.

At the 2007 Commander's Cup in San Diego, Dynasty won both the professional tournament and the annual series championship. The team had entered the final event behind [[Edmonton Impact]] in the season standings.[6]

Dynasty again secured the professional season championship in 2008, winning the final tournament at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.

This completed six consecutive NPPL Super 7 professional series championships from 2003 through 2008.[7]

=== Liquidation (2008) ===

On 2 December 2008, [[WARPIG]] reported that Pacific Paintball and its subsidiaries had announced plans to seek bankruptcy liquidation.

The affected businesses included NPPL LLC, XPSL LLC, PB2X LLC and associated paintball field operations.

Pacific Paintball cited difficulties maintaining a financially viable operation and unsuccessful attempts to obtain additional investment during the economic downturn.[2]

The liquidation ended the original Super 7 organisation.

=== USPL and revival (2009–2013) ===

Following the collapse of Pacific Paintball, a group of professional teams established the [[US Paintball League]] (USPL) in 2009.

The new organisation continued seven-man competition and retained Huntington Beach as a major tournament venue.

The USPL subsequently obtained rights to the NPPL name, allowing the circuit to return to NPPL branding for the 2010 season.[8]

The revived tournament series retained professional seven-man competition and also offered amateur and five-man divisions.

The NPPL continued organising national tournaments through 2013.

In April 2013, the league announced a professional division containing 15 teams, with seven-man competition remaining its principal professional format.[9]

In February 2014, the NPPL announced that it would suspend its national tournament series while undertaking organisational restructuring.

The Huntington Beach event continued independently that year as the Surf City Paintball Open, organised with the involvement of [[HK Army]].[10]

The established NPPL Super 7 national series did not return.