PRS Talk PRS Match participation taking a hit in 2025?

[Senor_Barney]

As of this weekend (July 4), there have been 27 matches in the 2025 PRS Pro Series Schedule vs. 24 matches at the same time in the 2024. This includes the 4 matches new to 2025 (Berger Snowbird, Gravestone, Clinton House, and Northern Lights), but also the 1 match that was dropped from the 2025 schedule (Frontline).

• The Good: The overall number of participants for Pro Series matches is up 10% season-to-date in 2025. That's good for the PRS.
• The Bad: 20 of the 24 matches that carried over from 2024 attracted fewer shooters. In fact, the average number of participants declined 14%. That's a tough pill for the average MD, who brought in ~$7K less from registration fees (all else equal). The trend since 2023 is even more stark.
• The Biggest Gainers Y/Y: Rifleman's Revival, Nut Crusher, Vengence, and A-Team. These matches saw an increase in participation of ~13% on average.
• The Biggest Decliners Y/Y: Parma Rumble (-43%), Koenig Ruger (-36%), and Cashout Chaos (-34%)

Notably, 3 of the Top-5 most popular matches in 2024 saw a decline in 2025 (Hornady, Koenig Ruger, and Snake River) so this trend of lower participation was not limited to the "small" matches. Also, Cashout Chaos (61) and Parma Rumble (61) had a concerningly low turnout this year. That's unfortunate to see.


First off, I have been an active participant in PRS Pro, Regional, and Rimfire matches since 2022. I would like to see participation grow and I would like to see the community grow and thrive so as to create opportunities for myself, my children, and the companies endemic to the sport.

Second, I don't think I am putting out anything that Mr. Wheeler or his MDs are not already seeing in the data and I put this out there so the community can chime in on possible drivers of this trend. I have my theories, but have not taken the time to analyze the impact of Rimfire and / or Regional series, Y/Y changes in match fees, or the schedule has had on match participation. Let's hear what the Hide thinks (that means you @Sheldon N ).

Lastly, I have two kids, work in Tech, a CRAZY baby mama, and $4.50 per gallon gas that all factor into whether I participate in a match. So as much as I too would like to convert $ into loud 'bangs' I know that I have had to balance my time more this year and that has led to fewer matches.

 

[Lightning8]

I shoot PRS in Southeast and Atlantic regions - 2 day, Regional, PRS22. I live in middle GA. There is a limit to how far I choose to drive to a match and I choose NOT to fly to matches. I am not alone in "limit how far drive" and "not flying". I have some friends who travel to far off 2 day events once or twice per year - they are the exception not the rule.

Which matches are "qualifiers" impact attendance. Weather too - right now the southern events are smoking hot. Some PRS facilities go out of there way to provide cover, cold water, etc. to help with the heat - other PRS facilities essentially do nothing to help with the heat and should see attendance decline. Same with rain - some PRS facilities have some basic cover to get out of the rain but others do not. Been a very rainy season in the south. (I am fully miserable qualified - flame all you want).

Another trend is PRS vs PRS22. A few years ago, common to shoot PRS on Saturday and stay over Sunday for PRS22. Now I see a trend of PRS shooters not also shooting PRS22 and a trend of competitors focusing on PRS22 (NRL22) only and not attending PRS.

 

[Rob01]

Always ups and downs. I wouldn’t read anything into differences in a year. People have things come up and some just don’t want to spend the money to travel/match fees. Both which continue to go up.

.22 matches been around for 8 years or so and are getting more and more popular as there are a lot of them and it’s cheaper to shoot for most with no loading ammo. lol Seriously though it’s fun and people may be making that choice at times over centerfire.

I will say that the PRS made a stupid move dropping Frontline because they didn’t have the same “values” as the PRS. Was a great venue for the AC but at least they are still running matches. They have one tomorrow.

 

[Sheldon N]

Second, I don't think I am putting out anything that Mr. Wheeler or his MDs are not already seeing in the data and I put this out there so the community can chime in on possible drivers of this trend. I have my theories, but have not taken the time to analyze the impact of Rimfire and / or Regional series, Y/Y changes in match fees, or the schedule has had on match participation. Let's hear what the Hide thinks (that means you @Sheldon N ).

Interesting info, thanks for sharing. I'd not looked at any real match data for 2025 yet since I usually do that at the end of the year.

My initial thought is that perhaps what your data is showing is not a decline, but rather a dilution? There are a lot more Pro matches being added, and my guess is that new match additions are diluting the pool of shooter time/dollars so not as many people attend each individual match.

From past data 2020-2024, the total number of shooters going to 3 matches or more continues to be on a uptrend. The last three years the total number of shooters who shot even just 1 Pro series match (PRS members or not) has also increased.

Another data point I'd not looked at before, but you got me curious.... from my existing data I was able to quickly calculate how many total PRS Pro Series match slots were sold for each year. That's also on a 4 year uptrend.

A dilution effect might by the alternative competition options - more regional matches, more PRS/NRL22 matches, NRLH, etc. I seem to recall hearing that PRS membership continues to rise and the number of 1 day and 22 matches has drastically increased. If there's any downturn or slowdown in Pro matches this year it may just be a shift to other competition and not people giving up on the sport.

Personal experience, I am starting to look more at match entry fees as I think about the cost of matches. Lots of match entries are getting closer to $300 or more and I now have 6 pro series matches that I can drive to in my area. I wonder if that cost doesn't hamper growth and/or serve as a bit of a barrier for someone attending their first Pro match. The MD's set the price though, and supply and demand will work itself out in the long run.

Big picture, my guess is there's still growth in shooter numbers and match participation but that new matches additions are currently outpacing the available shooters.

 

[Lightning8]

As stated above - there is a set pool of 2 day competitors that is divided by multiple 2 day events. Every season some start competing in 2 days and some stop competing in 2 days - probably a wash.

I agree would be interesting to chart out the 1 day events - I know that in SE there are at least two PRS sites actively recruiting new competitors with Friday clinics, etc.

 

[OREGUN]

I’ve shot 4-5 pro series matches a year since 2021. This year I’m on track to shoot 7. I’ll fly to six of them (airline, not private plane). I fly to most of the ones I shoot….im not driving 8 hours each way for anything.

I’m alone amongst my shooting friends in being willing to travel to more than a match or two and I'm the only one who flies to matches. I’ve seen friends go to a pro match or a couple matches and then retreat back to the simplicity of local outlaw matches or perhaps the regional scene. Why?

Right off the top:

-It’s expensive. There’s no two ways around it.
-It’s time consuming…how many working people with a family can take Friday-Monday off 6 times a summer? And that’s just the matches.
-There are lots of local matches for a simpler option. This speaks directly to @Sheldon N ’s dilution hypothesis. I have chosen local over national and vice versa several times. There are “too many” matches to choose from. Double this if you are in to hunter matches or rimfire.
-For people who don’t have a financial incentive to the there, Pro matches can feel like an industry bro-hang that is relatively uninviting to outsiders. This is exacerbated by self-squadding and letting sponsored shooters and match-sponsors squad themselves into super squads which are both/either competitively advantaged and/or further isolate new shooters.

Those are the big reasons that I’ve had friends use to excuse themselves from going back to a match.

Then there’s a host of little things that make matches less fun. Some venues are terrific and others suck in terms of lodging, match support, facilities (is there any covered shelter, running water, do I need a 4x4 to access the property, etc). Likewise the weather. Likewise the RO attitudes and behavior (here’s looking at you Roger-Koenig). How is the prize table handled (here’s looking at you Okie Showdown, prize table swarm). If you are on the fence about the cost-benefit and when you do show up to the match it under-performs your expectations, it’s a total mud-pit, the porta-potties are overflowing, your rental car gets stuck in the “parking”, the RO’s are grumpy, distracted, and treat you like a piece of shit, and then the prize table turns out to be a loot grab where some guys carry out armloads of stuff while others get nothing without regard to score, it sort of disincentivizes match attendance.

There’s are also some real maturing that needs to happen in the pro-series, in my opinion. The example that comes to mind is the rule situation regarding what can and cannot be said as a shooter moves through/the COF…against the backdrop of using other competitors as the spotters/impact callers. So, the officiating of a “pro” event is far less well-executed than it should be, in my opinion. HOWEVER, that’s not a reason that a one time shooter doesn’t come back, I don’t think.