Chicago PSP Thursday Announcement – Must Read/Watch
June 23, 2010 in PSP
The PSP’s Chicago Open is off to a rough start this year. The Chicago area is currently experiencing a severe storm and water has flooded out several of the fields. Read on for an official update from the PSP’s Camille Lemanski as well as two photos from our friends on location.
Update: Tyler Harmon of Sacramento XSV shares some video footage of the storm in action. Check out the lack of visibility!
Updated: Video from Tyler Harmon of Pro Paintball team Sacramento XSV
Urgent Update Regarding Chicago PSP
Please read entire message
After several days of severe thunderstorms pounding the greater Chicago area, the venue for the 2010 PSP Chicago Open has been greatly compromised. Late this afternoon, the mother of all storms came through and has left the site in a dire state. We will now need to perform much needed construction tomorrow to get the fields up and operating. Our plan before this last storm hit was to start 2 hours late tomorrow (first game at 10:00 am instead of 8:00 am). At this time, 10:00 am is the earliest that the first game will be played, but it could very well be later than that.
We are aware that hundreds of flights into Chicago have been cancelled. We will notify teams of their game times throughout the day through text messaging. We will be updating the website as often as possible with game times for friends and family to follow.
This intense rain has obviously created severe flooding and has turned the grass into mud in many areas. We will need your absolute cooperation in assisting us by obeying parking policies (1 car per team allowed in the venue, additional cars park for free next door at Balmoral Park and utilize the free shuttle services we will be providing). Do not try to drive up on grass areas without instruction from staff as you will get stuck and cause further delays with the event.
Teams are not allowed to walk fields thursday, as that would impede our crew’s progress in getting the event up and running. Attempting to walk the fields will further delay the event and anyone on the fields without permission will face disqualification.
We appreciate your understanding that our crew has been working 15-hour days in severe thunderstorms to provide you with the PSP experience you have come to expect. We need your cooperation in making sure we can all have a great event this weekend and thank you for your patience!
–END Message–
Photos were sent from one of our friends late Wednesday afternoon, prior to the latest storm hitting the area. One of the corners of the field is sunk in mud and what appears to be ruts from a tractor.
chuck said on June 23, 2010
just buy a tarp and cover the fields
Justin said on June 23, 2010
From the looks of Tylers video the storm does not seem to be cooperating. Best of luck PSP!
chris said on June 24, 2010
Well I like the idea, given tons of resources. Laying tarp over the grass would allow the rain to run off to the side and keep the ground underneath dry.
100×100 foot tarps would cost $1000 a pop from what I’ve seen on the net. So figure an extra 10k in expense per event. Not impossible, but pretty rough. Figure if you toss a 10×15 tarp on the ground, in 5 places on each side of the field just to cover the frequently used spots that’s 150 bucks a field. More doable. So for 800 bucks or so the PSP could protect a significant portion of the fields, if it would work. Anyone try this before? I like the idea.
Josh said on June 24, 2010
That is what the D4 fields used to look like at Cup. Just bust out the huge boards on the fields that were all over the place at Wide World of Sports, and we are in business.
Robbo said on June 24, 2010
Ah… flashbacks of LA OPEN Pomona… start duct taping your shoes on boys, or their going to get stuck in the mud!
Brad Johnson said on June 24, 2010
LOL seriously. I hope things turn around
Mob said on June 24, 2010
hahaha…Robbo, time for me to Pee again…..Luved Pomona MudFeast….
gold_glove said on June 24, 2010
I know of at least one team that will be playing in aquasocks today. The fields look ROUGH…
AL said on June 24, 2010
LOL… yes the LA open all over again.
Justin said on June 24, 2010
sounds like they got the games running..
ashock said on June 24, 2010
chicago weather update was clear not a cloud insight was very hot hopefully some of the water evaporated it did by my house and im 30 minutes from badlandz
banana said on June 25, 2010
that sucks lol
MW said on June 27, 2010
no walkin’ fields flooded, venue completely reorganized can’t get equipment to flooded areas, thurs so muddy so sloppy ankle deep water, boots needed, what amess, few team vehicles allowed entry, all others shuttled from mile away parking on crappy old wagons way less than favorable, but beats long sweaty walk, friday muddy thank god no ankle deep water, players in morning falling just tryin to run in slop, afternoon better still way rough. kinda amazing psp even pulled it off, eff the weather. if rains again sunday will be crazy horrible, “badlandz” understatement!!