In another episode of “Who knew this is in Plant City?” Black Tiger Airsoft operates on Colson Road not far from James L Redman Parkway.
Airsoft is a competitive sport that uses realistic looking soft air guns that shoot plastic BBs. More than 3 million people engage in airsoft in the United States, and the airsoft gun market is currently valued at $1.4 billion annually. Locations to play airsoft are few and far between. The two nearest outdoor airsoft fields that offer options similar to Black Tiger are one 72 miles distant, between Orlando and Titusville, and another 150 miles away in Jacksonville. An indoor arena has been built in Tampa for highly competitive players and teams. Enthusiasts regularly travel more than two hours to play at Black Tiger. The 18-acre location has jungle, a city with 26 windowed structures, part of a helicopter, and dozens of obstruction objects on the field.
Since the propellant gas used in airsoft guns is much less potent than normal CO2, and the projectiles are plastic with a diameter between 6mm and 8mm, getting hit is far less painful than getting hit by paint balls (the nearest similar competitive sport), and will not leave bruises. An airsoft gun is battery charged, and is accurate from 50 to 100 feet depending on the gun type. Ballistic goggles from the Authorized Protective Eyeware List are required to play. Unlike paint ball—in which a hit is determined by paint splashes—airsoft is a “sport of integrity,” in which, when hit, combatants voluntarily remove themselves from the field for a period of time before re-entering, or until the next match. Black Tiger Airsoft places referees on the field to ensure safety.
Airsoft technology is used by both military and law enforcement for war games and force-on-force training due to the realistic style of the guns, safe projectiles, and low-cost ammunition. The BBs used by Black Tiger are biodegradable and dissolve into the earth. Both Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Deputies and Polk County Sheriff’s Deputies have used the Black Tiger field and equipment for events.
Danny McKnight, the owner of Black Tiger, and an Air Force veteran, started in airsoft when he 11 years old. When he turned 15, he worked as a referee at Black Tiger when it was in another town. After his service in the Air Force, McKnight returned to the area and began playing airsoft at Black Tiger again as a weekend hobby. Four years ago he bought the business from the owner. Then, in December, moved it from Lithia to its present location. “People will drive two or three hours to get here to play because they like the atmosphere we have,” McKnight said. “They like our family atmosphere, and our staff treat people nicely. I think that is the one thing that sets us apart from other fields—the way we treat people—the ambiance.”
“It’s something I’m passionate about,” McKnight added. “I love being a business owner where I can set my own hours, and be my own boss. Whatever job I do, I try to have fun with it. And airsoft has been something that has always been a highlight of my life. I have poured half my life now into playing airsoft. I have played it all around the world. It is something I love and I turned it into a job, where hopefully, kids that are my age when I first started playing airsoft will come here and find that passion. I felt like it kept me straight. I knew what I wanted to do on the weekends. When I got off school, I would be waiting for the weekend to go play—as opposed to getting into trouble or doing anything crazy.”
In the same spirit as the realistic look of the equipment, it is common for airsoft players to dress in paramilitary gear, or cosplay to enhance the feel of play. Some come as teams, mike up, and operate as a unit. Depending on the time of year, on Saturdays, between 150 and 250 people will play at Black Tiger. They are divided into teams, and matches last 20 to 30 minutes with 10 minute breaks between. The fee covers play for a whole day. All needed equipment and airsoft guns can be rented on site. More information is available at https://blacktigerairsoft.com.