Player Features and Ideas Discussion

Okay, this might get a bit involved, but please bear with me.

I've seen a lot of people that want arenas, but the ideas usually fall afoul of needing instancing or lacking penalties. My idea may be too grand or too much work for CCP to consider, but I think it fits the spirit of the game a lot better, so I thought I'd toss it into the shark pool and see what people think.

How about an arena circuit, sort of like a cross between NASCAR and the current alliance tournament? Players enter their own ships, so there is NO insulation from losses, unless they can get a corporation or alliance to sponsor them. Events are scheduled, and fairly frequent; if you can pay the fee and your ship meets the requirements for the particular event, you're in, with the arena being a special grid set aside and guarded by CONCORD - only participants get to bring in armed ships, though spectators in shuttles and pods would be encouraged. Prizes could be isk, looting/salvage rights, and points towards a big season ending event similar to the last day of the alliance tourney, with much bigger prizes.

The frequent 'circuit' events would be themed, and feature a variety of combat styles - frigates only, various sizes and numbers of teams, and the 'grand melee', with all participants tossed into the grid, the winners being the last to go down.

To me, it fits the setting, having the feel of the capsuleer 'gods' playing at a sport of the rich. I realize it would be a major b**** to program so the events wouldn't need GM intervention, but given what I've seen of the Incursions, I think it could be managed. It would satisfy those begging for some form of semi-controlled small group PvP, while controlling the 'blob' mentality and avoiding immersion-breaking instances or 'no-loss' situations. It would also bring what amounts to a regular spectator sport to the game, something no other MMO I've ever heard of really has.

*Dons asbestos suit*

Thoughts?

The beauty of the sandbox, there is nothing stopping commited players to ruin the whole event, if its not specially enforced event (like the alliance tournament)

tl;dr:
No event for you.

Why don't we remove Concord? It would make things so much easier to ruin somebody's day then... Oh wait, it's not supposed to be easy.