Safari Quest Family Fun Center will begin weekly laser tag tournaments starting on Thursday, Sept. 1, from 7-9 p.m. at half the cost for Southeastern students.

The idea for the tournaments was formed after Safari Quest Operations Manager Michael Kahrs and his coworkers brainstormed on how to expand upon their “SLU Thursdays,” special, where students with a valid student I.D. receive half-off the cost of laser tag games.

“We were thinking ‘Okay let‘s step it up a notch this school year,'” said Kahrs, a sophomore majoring in sports management. “Let’s do it tournament style. We’re still going to have half-off for those who don’t want to participate in the tournament, and we’re hopefully maybe going to have some other specials too like raffles or door prizes. So far we have very great interest.”

Tournament games will run every 12 minutes, between the hours of 7-9 p.m., starting roughly at 7:12 p.m. with the last game starting at 8:48 p.m. Registration costs $9.75 per person with a valid student I.D. for three tournament laser tag games.

Interested players can pay their registration at the door and receive a colored wrist band. In order to participate, players must be registered by 8 p.m. to be able to play the three required games. Teams are not needed in order to participate in the tournament.

“Sometimes players can’t get enough people, or teams fall apart, so we decided to do it individually,” said Kahrs.

The highest score at the end of the night after all three games will receive prize money of $20.

“So technically you get the games for free, and also get some money back,” said Kahrs.

Six to eight players per game are the minimum requirement for the tournament, and the number of players cannot exceed 16-18 to keep things fair.

“We have found out the more people you have in the arena, the more times you get shot from different angles,” said Kahrs. “And the less people you have, it’s harder to get points, but it’s not as fun. A good game of laser tag is about 10-12 people.”

The 3,000 square foot multi-level arena is equipped with techno music, black lights, fog, bright florescent paint, a first floor maze and a second level that Kahrs says is “perfect for the ones who love to snipe.”

According to Kahrs, one of the long term goals he hopes to achieve with the tournaments is to have Greek and campus organizations involved in the fun center’s lock-in specials, which provide use of the facility during non-public hours.

“Just trying to let them know we’re here,” said Kahrs. “We’re not just for kids.”

Other specials include “Safari Monday,” where players can purchase eight games of their choice for $20; “2 for 1 Tuesday,” where players buy one game of laser tag and get one game free; Make the Grade Wednesday,” where an A on a report card or test and receives one free game of laser tag and “SLU Thursdays.”

For more information about the tournaments, contact Kahrs by phone at 985-340-5858 or by email at [email protected].