Tag Archives: PAPA

PAPA World Pinball Championships: Aug. 8-11 2013

Yesterday, a few of the Yinzterns took a trek out to Carnegie, PA to check out the World Pinball Championships. With no idea what to expect, it is no exaggeration to say we were floored by the experience.

In Carnegie, a large white nondescript warehouse holds hundreds of pinball machines. Opened to the public only four days a year, people come from all over the world to participate in the 16th Professional & Amateur Pinball Association’s (PAPA) World Pinball Championship. From the outside, I didn’t expect much of the space, but the moment I opened the door, my jaw dropped.

As you step inside the warehouse, you are immediately overwhelmed by the electronic sound of 100s of machines playing pinball at once. It’s all at once alarming and comforting to hear the tap-tap-tap of the flippers returning the metal balls back into play. There are pinball machines as far as the eye can see, each flashing its own high score and challenging passersby to beat it.

Competitors hug and riff on each other, creating an immediate sense of a close-knit community. They line up to register, wishing each other luck while simultaneously swearing they’ll outdo their score from last year. Perhaps the most startling observation was the wide range of ages that participate in the competition. Kids, sometimes dragged unwillingly by parents, stand patiently waiting their turn. 20-somethings, clearly there by their own accord, watch the floor with anticipation, unsure of what game to tackle first.

As you make your way onto the floor, the atmosphere quiets. Competitors are sequestered into divisions: A,B,C, or Classic Pinball–and wait their turn to play. They watch as players before them concentrate solely on the game. Almost painfully committed to each game, it’s a wonder players can last 4 days. They stand in front of the machines, muscles tense and eyes trained on the microcosm under the glass–legs kick back almost involuntarily as a finger snaps the flipper up to return a ball into play.

The A Division area is quiet, except for the machines announcing bonuses and extra balls. Cameras positioned above the machines record a live feed of the games below so spectators can marvel at the skill. This year the PAPA added real-time online electronic scorekeeping, so players from across the world can see the scores immediately. Real-time TV monitors announce high-scores.

The outskirts of the warehouse are filled with pinballs machines–rows and rows of graphics and flashing lights. Anyone is welcome to play these machines with tokens purchased at the front. The proceeds of these games go straight to charity.

The Pinball World Championships are a truly unique event that we’re lucky enough to host in Pittsburgh. The still fervent pinball community lives on here. If you don’t get a chance to check out the championship this weekend, take a look at Special When Lit, a documentary about pinball. A great deal of the film was shot in Carnegie. You can check it out on Hulu.

PAPA WORLD PINBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

WHEN: August 8-11

WHERE: 100 Keystone Dr, Carnegie, PA (Note: According to the PAPA this is an arbitrary address, keep your eyes peeled for a white warehouse and a bunch of people).

View Larger Map

HOW MUCH: Free to watch, tokens can be purchased to machines, all proceeds go to charity.

MORE INFO: Check out PAPA’s Official Site or Facebook Page

World Champion Pinball Right Here in Pittsburgh

The Professional & Amateur Pinball Association, aka PAPA, happens to be headquartered right here in Pittsburgh.  PAPA has a huge, 30,000 square feet, facility just outside of Pittsburgh, with more than 400 pinball machines and it is only open to the public a few times a year.

This week is PAPA 14 World Pinball Championships – pinball players from around the world are heading to Pittsburgh to compete for over $40,000 in prizes.

We have blogged about PAPA events before – but this is definitely worth another mention as the PAPA  event is free to attend and something that is pretty unique here in Pittsburgh.

The tournament is free to watch and it looks like anyone can enter to compete.  Complete competition details are available here. Online registration has ended but you can still sign up at the tournament.

Check out this nifty video from artist and CMU professor Douglas Cooper and CMU’s PigPen Theater in which the city of Pittsburgh becomes a pinball game.  (h/t pair Networks blog for the video)

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/15749259[/vimeo]

PAPA 14 World Pinball Championships
August 11-14, 2011
PAPA HQ, Scott Township – directions are available here.
Facebook Event – http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=121552544586672

Radio Round Up – A Weekend of Pinball, Celebrity Sports and Mr. Rogers

While this is a major weekend for Pittsburgh with March Madness, it is also a weekend jam packed with some unique sporting events too. Here is a run down of our weekend top picks that we shared on WDVE this am.

Pinburgh 2011

  • An open pinball tournament hosted by PAPA (Professional and Amateur Pinball Association) which is headquartered here in Pittsburgh
  • The tournament runs all weekend March 18-20, 2011
  • Free for spectators
  • The tournament is held at the PAPA HQ in Carnegie – which is only open to the public for super special events like this

Steelers Celebrity Football Team vs. Hempfield All Stars

  • Saturday, March 19, 2011
  • They can play football, but can they play basketball – a group of Steelers who make up the Steelers Basketball squad will be challenging the Hempfield Allstars in a charity game
  • benefits Central Westmoreland Habitat for Humanity and Hempfield Women’s Volleyball Team
  • Tickets are $7
  • Check out the Post-Gazette’s article with more details on the Steelers Basketball team here.

Hockey for a Good Cause – Pgh Celebrity Hockey Team vs. PEMF

Slap Shot (film)

Image via Wikipedia

  • On Saturday, March 19, 2011 – the Pittsburgh Celebrity Hockey Team will play the PEMF (Pittsburgh Emergency Medicine Foundation) at the RMU Island Sports Center
  • Proceeds benefit PEMF
  • Tickets are $10 and are available online here
  • The Pittsburgh Celebrity Hockey Team includes all 3 Hanson Brothers from the movie Slap Shot (for those of you who are new to Pittsburgh or are not Paul Newman fans – Slap Shot was a movie made in 1977 that was shot in Johnstown, PA and used players from the real hockey team there – the Johnstown Jets.  From 1988-2010 – Johnstown, PA had another hockey team – the Johnstown Chiefs – named after the movie).

Pittsburgh Power vs. Iowa Barnstormers

  • Just in case there weren’t enough sports for you on Saturday – March 19 is the 2nd game for the Pittsburgh Power
  • Pittsburgh’s arena football team takes on the Iowa Barnstormers at the Consol Arena

Happy First Day of Spring = Free Rita’s Italian Ice

  • Sunday, March 20, 2011 is the first day of spring
  • Free regular Rita’s italian ice for everyone

March 20 – Happy Birthday Mr. Rogers

  • FREE admission for kids to the Pittsburgh Children’s museum – details here.
  • FREE admission for kids to the Pittsburgh zoo – details here.
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This Casino and Pinball Night is for the Dogs – Rare chance to check out Pinball Collection

UPDATE: The event has been rescheduled for Saturday, March 27, 2010

UPDATE: This event has been postponed due to the snow – will be rescheduled for a later date.

This Saturday, February 6, 2010 is an extra special fundraiser – Cupids and Canines benefits the Western PA Humane Society and Bow Wow Buddies, a foundation that was set up to contribute to canine cancer research.

It is also a rare opportunity to check out the PAPA World Headquarters I have posted about the PAPA tournaments before and this is one of my favorite Pittsburgh finds.  PAPA is the Professional and Amateur Pinball Association and is housed in a 30,000 square ft facility in Scott Township.  The PAPA facility is only open to the public for the annual tournament in the summer and for rare special events.  The PAPA facility was devastated by flooding in 2004 which destroyed most of the pinball machines.  The facility has been restored and is now home to some 400 pinball machines and some classic arcade games.

papa.cupidsCupids and Canines

Where: PAPA World Headquarters in Scott Township, PA (directions)
When: Saturday, March 27, 2010  February 6, 2010, from 7pm to 10pm (or later)
Why: A fun Valentine evening for you and your date!
Price: $30/person, $50/couples (also available at the door)
What: Casino games, raffles, prizes – including a trip to vegas and a pinball machine and lots more.
More Info: http://www.papa.org/cupids/2010/

Click here to see this event on Facebook

The World Pinball Championships are in Pittsburgh

Actually, I believe that the last 7 Pinball Championships have been held in Pittsburgh. PAPA stands for the Professional & Amateur Pinball Association. One of the reasons the PAPA tournament is here in Pittsburgh is because there is a dedicated Pinaball hall in Carnegie. The pinball facility suffered extensive damage after the flooding in 2004. But they were able to rebuild in time for the 2005 competition. The facility has over 400 pinball machines.

The Pinball facility is only open to the public for tournaments and is located at 501 Keystone Dr., Carnegie, PA 15106. The Tournament runs all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday – August 15-17,2008. Click here for a detailed schedule.

According to the PAPA website there will be food vendors and there is wifi – perfect for bloggers wishing to cover the event. The tournament is free for spectators.

  • Click here to watch the WQED OnQ segment about the tournament and facility.
  • Check out Coinball.com for a website dedicated to pinball machines in the Pittsburgh area.

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