Industry Insider: Tactical Airsoft Arena

I was able to visit Tactical Airsoft Arena awhile back and the airsoft community they’ve built is just amazing. It may be a smaller field but you don’t get to see too many fields that have just a welcoming community that don’t only want to just airsoft but just want to chill and chat. From the management to the players, everyone has a story about how this place is great for the community. Seuk will tell us a lot more about TAA.

• Can you tell the readers a little bit about your company? (what services you provide)

Tactical Airsoft Arena (TAA) operates two indoor airsoft fields in the Washington DC metropolitan area. Our first location was opened back in 2008 in Rockville, MD and we added a second location in Manassas, VA in 2018. Combined we have over 10,000 square foot of playable space with slightly different play style and characteristics at each location, which lends to a unique experience for our players who frequent both. We also offer rentals, private parties, and have a fully stocked pro shop that offers replicas, gear, accessories and consumables. In addition to airsoft, we offer Nerf days and parties.

• With the emergence of Covid-19 how has it affected your business? (good or bad)

Like many other businesses, we’ve been hit pretty hard. We are currently down to about 25% of players and sales that we had pre-covid when we experienced a boom in business with record high number of players and sales. We hope for a rapid recovery, but it likely won’t happen unless there is a vaccine. 

• Do you feel that your company provides adequate customer service to those customers who frequent your business?

We think so. We take customer feedback very seriously and constantly have internal meetings about how we can improve customer experience. We can’t do everything that we want to, but try to do as much as we can. We have a large group of dedicated customers who call TAA their home away from home and we feel like they truly are a part of our family. 

• What are some of the things you are trying to do to make sure that your business provides a great and safe experience?

We place a huge emphasis on safety, which has always been our top priority. We are going above and beyond the government recommendations for safety practices to ensure that players and our customers remain safe. We are limiting the number of players, so they can socially distance whenever possible, mandating masks in the lobby and cleaning all surfaces routinely. We are also limiting the number of rentals and disinfecting all equipment after each use.

• What would you say is something that sets your business apart from similar ones in your area or industry?

We take pride in providing an atmosphere that’s not just a place to play airsoft, but to meet and hang out with friends. We are so happy to see all the people who have become best friends or basically family by getting to know each other and play airsoft with and against each other at TAA. We’ve gotten feedback from players, customers and parents letting us know that they, or their children sometimes have trouble making friends, but the moment they came to TAA, they felt welcomed with open arms and made lasting friendships, which is some of the best praise that we can receive. Our refs, managers and owners also all love airsoft and play as much as they can. Nobody at TAA is in the business to make as much money as possible. We are all in it because we love airsoft and the community.

• What makes your customer base unique?

We have the best customers in the world. I think what makes them unique is that they are so different, yet they all bond over their love of airsoft which leads them to get to know each other and experience new things. DC area is incredibly diverse and have some very different personalities and cultural, religious and political differences, but none of that matters when you’re at TAA. Everyone is part of the TAA family. We have customers that donate their equipment to less fortunate players. Players that buy extra drinks and tell us to give it to the next person that’s looking to buy a drink. People that pay for strangers admission and rentals. Experienced players that go out of their way to help newer players. Players that fix other’s AEGs for free. We’ve seen so many random acts of kindness that you just don’t see at other fields. We’re very lucky with the customer base, but also have pride in creating a atmosphere where we encourage and reward this type of behavior.

• Where can people find you?

IG: https://www.instagram.com/tacticalairsoftarena
FB: https://www.facebook.com/tacticalairsoftarena/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/Tacticalairsoftarena

20B Southlawn Ct.
Rockville, MD 20850
(301) 838-7474
Open Friday 6-11, Saturday-Sunday 11am-7pm

9508 Center St.
Manassas, VA 20110
(703) 330-0333
Open Wednesday and Friday 6-11 pm
Saturday 2-10 pm
Sunday 11 am-7 pm