Black Tiger Airsoft

Black Tiger Airsoft moved to its current Colson Road location in Plant City in December 2024, giving serious airsoft competitors realistic terrain without the 72-150 mile drives to the next nearest fields. Owner Danny McKnight, an Air Force veteran who started playing at age 11, took over the business four years ago and rebuilt it around one core idea: treating people right.

"People will drive two or three hours to get here to play because they like the atmosphere we have," McKnight said. "The way we treat people—the ambiance—that's what sets us apart."

The 18-acre layout includes: - Jungle terrain with natural cover - Urban mock-up with 26 windowed structures - Partial helicopter fuselage - Dozens of obstacles and defensive positions

Airsoft is a competitive sport using realistic-looking guns that fire 6-8mm plastic BBs powered by propellant gas. Getting hit is far less painful than paintball and won't leave bruises. The sport runs on integrity—when hit, players voluntarily exit until re-entry time or the next match. Referees are on-field to ensure safety.

• •Ballistic goggles (from APE List) required
• •Battery-charged guns accurate 50-100 feet depending on type
• •Biodegradable BBs dissolve naturally
• •Saturday matches: 20-30 minutes with 10-minute breaks

Airsoft has 3+ million U.S. participants and a $1.4 billion annual market. Military and law enforcement use airsoft for force-on-force training. Hillsborough County Sheriff's Deputies and Polk County Sheriff's Deputies have trained at Black Tiger.

Depending on season, 150-250 players show up Saturdays divided into teams. Teams often dress in paramilitary gear, use communication systems ("mikes"), and operate as tactical units. The day-pass fee covers all matches.

McKnight played airsoft across the world before returning to Plant City after his Air Force service. He worked as a Black Tiger referee at age 15, came back as a weekend player, and eventually bought the business. He sees it as a calling: "I felt like it kept me straight. I knew what I wanted to do on the weekends." Now he runs it with that same philosophy for new players discovering the sport.