Area 53 - Indoor Paintball — Attraction in New York

Worst Birthday Experience Ever! Avoid This Place Due to Poor Management and Lack of Professionalism.

We booked an “Open Play” session at 5 PM, expecting up to three games. After checking in and completing orientation, we started our first round, but the staff suddenly announced an evacuation and took our equipment, leaving everyone confused.

The disruption stemmed from a woman who felt her family was being targeted, leading to an altercation that escalated into a fight. While the behavior of the individuals wasn’t management’s fault, their handling of the situation was terrible. We waited over an hour and a half with no communication from a manager. Employees were overwhelmed and disorganized, and it was a kind employee—not management—who finally assured us we’d get to play again.

When the next group arrived, we had to redo orientation. However, the same woman returned, forced her way onto the battlefield, and refused to leave until she got a refund, leading to another evacuation. This dragged on for over two hours, and the police were allegedly called.

We were eventually offered free arcade time until 8 PM, but this meant staying over six hours for a session that was supposed to last three. To make matters worse, food lines were long, and vending machines were broken.

Security was also inadequate. Only one guard stood by the door. If the altercation had escalated further, who would have stopped it? This situation should have been handled away from customers, and stronger security measures are necessary before someone gets seriously hurt.

When we informed the kind employee that we couldn’t stay longer, we were offered a refund. We left with a terrible experience and a wasted evening.

Management needs to be held accountable. The employees did their best, but no supervisor or manager stepped in to lead or communicate. To the kind employee who helped us, thank you. To the management—do better or find people who can.

The photos are of the woman who cases the altercation within the...

I came here for a friend's birthday party, and she had booked the private paintball session—but it was nothing like what was advertised.

First, the location is sketchy. It’s about a 10-minute walk from the L train, over an unlit metal pedestrian bridge, past abandoned freight trains. But that’s not even why I’m giving this place one star.

The private party session was supposed to be three hours, starting at 8:00 PM. However, we weren’t even let into the party room until 9:00 PM. Our group was patient and understanding, but the disorganization was beyond frustrating.

The package we booked promised three games of play. Since they started us late, they also seemed to have overbooked the time slot, so instead of rotating with three groups, we were stuck with four. After our second game, they suddenly brought out the birthday cake—an ice cream cake, no less—and told us we had three minutes before our last round started. Obviously, that’s not enough time to serve and eat an ice cream cake before it melts.

The staff had previously assured us they would extend our time because of the delay, but when we asked, they kept passing the blame, eventually admitting they gave us “false information.” Then, instead of making it right, they started the last game before half of our group even made it onto the field—while also trying to upsell extra paintball ammunition in the process.

On top of the complete lack of organization and rude, dismissive staff, the prices here are ridiculous. A hot dog (smaller than a Costco one) costs $10, a whole pizza is $30, and the camo suit rental is $17 (but gloves to protect your hands? Those cost another $20).

Bottom line: We paid for a three-hour private party and barely got 30 minutes of actual playtime. The way they handled the situation was unprofessional and exploitative. Save your money and go...

I was super excited to go with my teen boys to this place. I went in a group of 6. First obersevation: This place is not sanitized whatsoever!! (so go at your own risk. )directions for the game are Clear but not followed.. Anything else as far as rentals or where to go or put things is not explained.. The staff is not welcoming or friendly at all. They seem more annoyed at having to maybe repeat themselves with questions asked by customers. You must fill a waiver before approaching front desk. And your greated by Rats, instead! yes we saw Rats inside!! (given the area its in, there's many factories nearby) A good thing to know is, Ammo is not unlimited!! they give u one small bag that lasts the only the first game.. You can purchase more ammo while on breaks. Guns did jam up which was a bit annoying since you do want to get the max amount of play for your "3" hours. Guns were not cleaned in between plays, and we're shared among All players in the building.. We played against a group of 15 while our group ended up with only 9 ppl. Needless to say our group obviously lost all 3 games 🙄 which is ok because we did go to have fun and play. but at 15-9 we were Out gunned. They tell you to be a good sportsman's but our second Refereee said "we sucked" on the Microphone at the end of our last game ! 😲 Overall we had fun! and the field looks pretty cool. They could've allowed us to take pictures inside but we were always rushed out of the field.. In the end we had a blast and made the best of it . I feel the staff could've been more welcoming. although it IS fun it's a bit overpriced and rushed. Great for a...