Where Do You Want To Go? [Archive]

Randi267

06-05-2003, 12:55

As much as I know that it would be good to move nationals around to different parts of the country, Epcot will always bring back so many memories that, and I know that coming back would be really exciting. Since I'm leaving for college next year, I know that if nationals were still in Florida, I would get to see all of my fellow Florida teams like Roccobot, Heatwave, and SPAM. If FIRST can not have nationals at Epcot because of safety issues, please, don't have it in Houston again. Epcot was the extreme south east, so why not the extreme north west? Oregon anyone? Either way, the competition will be a success no matter where it's located. :)

Gene F

06-05-2003, 13:13

I've been giving this a lot of thought. I really liked WDW. The question is why? Well I think I know.

Presentation is everything.

I think of past championships I've been to (all at WDW) and I look at how they were staged. For example. this year if you watched the big screen while Woody was announcing the awards what you saw behind him was the concrete floor. Look at the year before and there are nice blue backgrounds and plants. Pull up the video from last year and then this year, the presentation just wasn't there (sorry this is sounding like a gripe). Bottom line is that where Nationals is held is not as important as how it's done. Disney knows how to put on a show. I'm sure there are other that can as well.

Bottom line is I love FIRST and what it stand for. Hold nationals in a corn field on old crates and I'll support it!

If the FIRST staff is reading, Thank you for all the hard work you do!

D.J. Fluck

06-05-2003, 14:13

Ive been to Epcot for 3 championship events and basically I was sick of it.

Houston works for me....

Maybe a traveling championship location like the Super Bowl? Changing every year would be way too difficult, but maybe have a few years at one venue, then they move to another one around the country.

Melissa Nute

06-05-2003, 14:42

I like WDW. I wish it could be back there...if not I would love to have it in Boston.

IMDWalrus

06-05-2003, 14:44

Anywhere that requires a plane flight from Michigan is fine with me...I just like leaving the state.:) This was my first year, so I have no idea what the Epcot competitions were like. Wherever it ends up, I'd just like for it to have some interesting cultural experiences. New York or California would be cool, but I'll cast my vote for Seattle.

Ben Mitchell

06-05-2003, 14:53

Originally posted by Koko Ed
Houston is fine in my opinion.

I concur.

Andrew

06-05-2003, 15:05

Any place with a major league ball park whose team is at home during the championships would be fine by me!

so my preference would be:
Atlanta
St. Louis
Boston

Mike Schroeder

06-05-2003, 15:41

MY BACK YARD!!!!!!

Joe Matt

06-05-2003, 15:50

Originally posted by "Big Mike"
MY BACK YARD!!!!!!

Well, there won't be a far walk from the pits to the fields.... :)

Wetzel

06-05-2003, 18:29

There are a lot of congress critters in DC.

Wetzel
~~~~~~~~~~~
The fact that I live here has nothing to do with it.
:rolleyes:

Ryan Dognaux

06-05-2003, 18:45

Houston works, so does Epcot...

Of course, you all know the future for FIRST Nationals is in Indianapolis ;)

Madison

06-05-2003, 19:16

There are very few places in the country that thrive on presentation. There are even fewer companies that rely on people having a good time for their success.

Disney and Universal are each capable of putting on a good show -- and that's exactly what FIRST needs to grow and attract national media attention.

Kids barreling into an old, dusty, empty stadium and trying to fill the shoes of giants does not make for a professional presentation. Competing in a venue built specifically for their needs, by a professional company who excels at entertaining and amazing millions of visitors every year, however, makes it look like those same kids are worth something. It means that they, we, and FIRST are all important enough to warrant that much attention.

We all know FIRST works hard, no matter where the venue is. What makes the Championship special, I feel, is that so many others are working hard at showing us a good time. Disney made the event special. Houston, so far, has not. I was consistently removed from the excitement of the competition to be reminded I was in the real world, trying to fit in in a real city, full of people who didn't think I was going anything special. Walt Disney World was different.

With that said, I believe that both Walt Disney World and Disneyland provide perfect environments. In some ways, I think Disneyland would be even better than Walt Disney World.

The Anaheim Convention Center is enormous and features an arena. Placing the main stage in that arena would return the Einstein field to prominence rather than making it blend in with the divisions. The convention halls offer more than enough space for enormous pits.

The Convention Center is also immediately across the street from both Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure. Downtown Disney offers dining and shopping. There are many, many hotels within walking distance, as well as the three Disney operated hotels on site.

Disneyland would be a much more intimate venue than Walt Disney World, but it has the potential to house as many teams - if not more. I think it'd be really exciting to see FIRST teams everywhere you go rather than having everyone scatter into the wind as they did in Houston and, to a lesser extent, Walt Disney World.

BVKnight04

06-05-2003, 21:47

I would like to have it back in Epcot, I didn't like the set up in Houston. :( Walt Disneyland would also be a good place to have the nationals, if they can't be in Orlando.:D Live Life to the Fullest!!!

Marygrace

06-05-2003, 23:45

VOTE FOR VEGAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is coo'! :cool:

Tim_Wochomurka

07-05-2003, 11:56

Originally posted by Marygrace
VOTE FOR VEGAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is coo'! :cool:

Ok, I caught a lot of flak for posting about Vegas last time... It's nice to know someone's kinda on the same page.

Jeff Waegelin

07-05-2003, 12:03

Personally, I would prefer Disney (either Florida or California) for the same reasons M posted above. It's all in the presentation, the atmosphere, and the excitement. Epcot had it, and Houston didn't. While Houston was a great competition, it just didn't have the same feel to it that the FIRST village at Epcot did. That was the most disappointing thing, I think.

T967

08-05-2003, 12:11

The lack of flair was probably due to MONEY, remember ther letter about how they were going to eliminate some things to provide the same service? Anywho I would like to see a centralized location based on team concentration. this would be more torwards the east coast. I like the Idea of St. Louis but like somone said earlier it need to be run by a place that specializes in entertainment. Maybe a bigger Six Flags? (houston's was little.)

Anne Shade

08-05-2003, 13:17

Atlanta anyone?

MisterX

08-05-2003, 14:55

Hey, anywhere that requires a hotel is fine by me just get me out of NEw England.

Amanda Morrison

08-05-2003, 14:57

I may live five minutes from Chicago, but I picked WDW.

One of the biggest problems with some of the cities and places listed there are, "What is there in _________ for the teams to do in offtime?" and "What is there in __________ for the teams to do in offtime that they can afford on top of all the money they've already spent?"

That's my personal reason why WDW was the perfect venue - there's never nothing to do. (I don't want to see any grammar police come after me for that one.)

Tim_Wochomurka

08-05-2003, 15:01

Originally posted by MisterX
Hey, anywhere that requires a hotel is fine by me just get me out of NEw England.

I hear ya!

Gabe Salas Jr.

08-05-2003, 15:37

As much as I would like to travel to other regionals and see the landscape of cities I have never been too, good old Disney World is for me. The environment, atmosphere, and landscape is awesome at Disney. I am pretty sure there are other places that may provide a similar environment and landscaping, but I believe Disney goes the extra mile to give an incredible atmosphere and mood to the competition which I believe would be very difficult to recreate. Disney has been doing this type of stuff for decades. I guess I would leave it to the pros.

Alaina

08-05-2003, 19:06

Originally posted by AsimC
Silicon Valley!... That'd be sweet.

I liked Houston. But I'd want it to be at Florida because I haven't been there. But anywhere in California would gain my mom's approval immediately and I wouldn't have to beg, or hear her complain about she's "making a mistake" by letting me on a plane...

bigk2k4

08-05-2003, 20:13

Raleigh, North Carolina!!!! :D :D :D :D

Marygrace

08-05-2003, 20:38

Originally posted by Marygrace
VOTE FOR VEGAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is coo'! :cool:

Come on! You know you want to go to Wet'n'wild and Buffalo Bills and Circus Circus, and the Coca- Cola factory, and the M&M factory, and the MGM theme Park, and the Luxor, and the New York New York and the Stratosphere. (Big Shot!!! AAHHH!!!) And any other place i forgot to mention! Oh, and then we can visit Paris and the Belagio....YEAH!!!! Oh and the ace racing world thing. GoCarters fantasy world!!!!

Joe Matt

08-05-2003, 21:35

Originally posted by Marygrace
Come on! You know you want to go to Wet'n'wild and Buffalo Bills and Circus Circus, and the Coca- Cola factory, and the M&M factory, and the MGM theme Park, and the Luxor, and the New York New York and the Stratosphere. (Big Shot!!! AAHHH!!!) And any other place i forgot to mention! Oh, and then we can visit Paris and the Belagio....YEAH!!!! Oh and the ace racing world thing. GoCarters fantasy world!!!!

You forgot one....

http://blueman.com/image/theatres/luxor_mirrormids.jpg

Vu2000

08-05-2003, 22:21

Are you sure FIRST would approve of having a regional in Las Vegas? All teams are most likely going to stay in a hotel on the strip which all have casinos just because they're cheaper. Umm out of more than 200 teams, you are bound to have some team have a controversy about gambling. So i think they would be very hesitant, but I would enjoy Las Vegas because of the attractions

miketwalker

08-05-2003, 23:08

Heh, my reason was already posted for wherever. It needs to be in New York City, Boston, Chicago, or Las Vegas... so the Blue Man Group can come out and perform. :)

Etbitmydog

09-05-2003, 00:27

Looks like epcot is winning. I live in Orlando. I'd love to see the competitions again. I don't think you can get as picturesque and memorable setting as Disney.

apk

09-05-2003, 16:05

I don't care where it is, I just want to go to nats.

DougHogg

09-05-2003, 16:59

I like the idea of moving the Nationals to a new city every year.

(a) Teams get to see and experience different parts of the country. That is educational and fun in itself.

(b) FIRST is introduced in those areas on the scale of the nationals. That would help with getting more exposure for FIRST in those areas and therefore more support for FIRST teams there.

True, it is hard to move to a new venue and make everything work as well as it did with Walt Disney World where they had years of experience. However, eventually the necessary formula for success would be gotten down. Also various cities might even get into bidding wars like they do with the Olympics, and they would need to guarantee certain amenities as part of the whole process. In other words, we would have some bargaining power. I am sure lots of cities would like to see 20,000 visitors arrive.

One of these years, I think the teams out west would love to see the Nationals come to Disneyland in the Los Angeles area. We would certainly try hard to show everyone a good time, and Walt Disney World could pass on some of its successful processes to Disneyland.

SuperDave

10-05-2003, 17:21

I live in las vegas, and no i do not live in a hotel. Las vegas is a great family community, and definetly school appropriate. We Have a few arena's where the event could be held at. there are tons of things to do here, and if we got the hotels involved in the competition, that would be even better. Gambling is its own issue. teams will have to decide weather or not to let their adult members go out on their own. the legal drinking and gambling age in Nevada is 21, and the security and police are very strict about keeping it at that. The closest a minor can get to a slot machine is something like 4 to 5 feet before they are asked to move (believe me, because i have been asked to move, when family was in town and they put a few nickels in the machines). Flights are cheap to las vegas, and the airport a just a few miles from the strip. please see my post from awhile ago about a las vegas regional. http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=20240

If FIRST doesnt make Las Vegas the site of a competition, my team (T-987) may possibly host an off season event here. the earliest we would host an event would be sometime this fall. Please IM me on AIM at JoeAssMan22 or email me at superdave611@aol.com if you are interested. Thanks a lot.

-dave

2003 AZ Regional Semifinalist
2003 AZ Regional Xerox Creativity Award Winner
2002 Einstein Div. Championship Highest Rookie Seed, 5th place

Marygrace

10-05-2003, 21:13

Originally posted by SuperDave
The closest a minor can get to a slot machine is something like 4 to 5 feet before they are asked to move (believe me, because i have been asked to move, when family was in town and they put a few nickels in the machines).

LOL, i know what you mean, I lived there for nine years, and have gotten scolded a many a times. My opinion about vegas being the "Sin City" is that it is just stereotyping...I think that is how you say it. Every city has it bad points, i am sure Houston and the Epcot have their own problems. There is no reason to single out Vegas for it's reputation. There is alot of good to cancel out the bad.

jnatt

10-05-2003, 22:12

I know from some discussions with the FIRST Staff, that their is a large amount of future discussion and planning going into the Championship Event. This was a taste of what is to come.

I know that they hope to travel the country with championship and not keep it more in a single location.

Maybe they will rotate and only once every four years will we be in WDW and Epcot.

It is all about cost remember that

Tim_Wochomurka

11-05-2003, 01:35

I saw a report on CNN that said Hartford had one, if not the highest, drug problems in the Nation... just something to think about (especially cause there's a regional here and we're speaking about crime rates and whatnot)

Brian Yip

11-05-2003, 16:36

Florida is my choice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't forget the sunshine, the roller coasters, the test-track, the terror tower, right-side view of Mr. Disney and Mickey and the extruded-faces geosphere (Epcot)!!!!!!!!!

Brian

DougHogg

12-05-2003, 03:09

Originally posted by Brian Yip
Florida is my choice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't forget the sunshine, the roller coasters, the test-track, the terror tower, right-side view of Mr. Disney and Mickey and the extruded-faces geosphere (Epcot)!!!!!!!!!

Brian

Then you might feel a certain deja vous if we have it at Disneyland one of these years.

True, we do not have Epcot, but sunshine and rides we sure have. And then there is the Pacific Ocean, with miles of beaches. Anyone for beach volleyball or surfing?

SuperDave

12-05-2003, 20:32

about houston vs WDW/Orlando:

i already voted for my hometown, las vegas, but i liked houston this year.

Florida was hot, muggy, expensive, and all we could do was go to disneyworld. i enjoyed going to houston. we were at the double tree hotel near the galleria mall, which was a great area to be in. Food was very diverse and reasonable, as most all retail items were. And on sunday i went to a Houston Astros baseball game at their new downtown stadium after a short public bus ride. The only major bad thing was that at nationals, those horrible ramps that we had to go up and down with the 10 minute walk between the Astrodome and Reliant Stadium. Last year our team didnt know to make some sort of robot carrier so we had to carry our robot from the pits to the fields at last years nationals (a rookie team with no idea where to go or what to do). Also, houston did seem like a gigantic regional to me, because our team's first year in the competition (and first time at nationals) was in Orlando. I guess i wouldnt mind going to NYC or Disneyland (Anaheim, CA), but if you have ever been to Disneyland Calif, you know that they dont have much space to hold a competition.

justwhat i think

dave

Erin Rapacki

13-05-2003, 16:38

I don't care where it is... just let it be someplace warm

Places like Boston, Chicago, NYC, Cleveland... yea, all awsome places to have Regionals and Post season gigs, but Nats diserves someplace special.

Although I agree, the Blue Man Group is awsome... but there are so many Blue Men that we should just pay them to travel to wherever Nats is!

Yup... in Boston there was a snow storm the weekend before Nats and it isn't too pretty up here until May. I crave a place with SUN!

Because teams must qualify for Nats it should continue being in a setting that is rewarding, nothing can beat the atmosphere Disney provided. And as I figured out in Houston, no ordinary amusement can supplement for that. Disney... it's just the happiest place on earth!

Although, I voted for Disney Land because I want an excuse to go to CALI, I think it would be cool if we alternated between FLA and CALI every two years. (Not every other year, cuz then the odds would always be in Fla and the evens would always be in Cali... that would defeat the purpose)

Vegas would work too... but there is seriously not enough for ppl under 21 to do there and the guys on the casino floors would constantly have to yell at them (while walking through their hotels that is). I could just imagine a few disobedient high school students trying to gamble and ruining it for everyone.

So yea... I vote for warmth, sun, and atmosphere. Lets continue giving Nats the reputation it diserves!

ByE

erin

p.s. nothing can beat the annual hostile take over of disney world!

purplehaze357

13-05-2003, 17:51

Epcot....bring it back where it belongs

I had fun in Houston but it wasnt nearly as much fun as Florida, Epcot has the accomidations that such an event needs and keeps everyody in one spot in stead of being scattered around the city.

MisterX

14-05-2003, 19:14

Epcot is part of HISTORY!!!! Why having it someplace else would be like having the Kentucky Derby in Afghanistan it is just plain UNAMERICAN!!!!!

We want EPCOT!!!! (or atleast somewhere else in Florida so I can still sneak off to the flats afterwards)

jon

14-05-2003, 19:21

Seeing as how WDW/Epcot seems to be the place the people want to go, it seems the most logical for Disney to be the place for nationals next year. I mean, they already have really good ties.

FIRST people who are in charge of choosing wherever nats will be, give the people what they want. I know you're reading this.

Nick Seidl

28-05-2003, 21:20

Boston is the sweetest town in America, or at least among those I've visited, so that's how I voted. However, given the option, I'd say have them in Detroit. This works out well for teams considering the high concentration of teams from the mid-west, and it really isn't that far from the Toronto area teams, and the New England teams, where there also seems to be a good concentration. Detroit has the facilities now at Ford Field to host the event, and there will be plenty of decent places to stay once the Super Bowl goes through town in a few years.

My other suggestion would be to find some place in Manchester, NH, the FIRST Capital. I've never been to a kick-off before, so I don't know what the capacity of the center is, but I think it would be neat to have Nats in the place it all began. Manchester is to FIRST as Athens is to the Olympics after all.

GregTheGreat

29-05-2003, 12:26

Originally posted by jon
Seeing as how WDW/Epcot seems to be the place the people want to go, it seems the most logical for Disney to be the place for nationals next year. I mean, they already have really good ties.

FIRST people who are in charge of choosing wherever nats will be, give the people what they want. I know you're reading this.

I agree, the pole speaks for itself. Bring It Back to where the people want to go.

Erin Rapacki

29-05-2003, 12:41

Why Nationals were in Houston in 2003...

Let's look at a calendar, in 2003 Easter was in the middle of the month of April. Disney didn't want us to hold Nationals there the two adjecent weekends to Easter because they normally fill up the park with people on school vacations, so they wouldn't have needed our business at that time anyway. Meaning, they would have been loosing money if they did invite us to hold the event at that time.

Last summer I recall a thread about having Nationals in May, and many were complaining that they would miss AP exams, finals, ect... So we concluded that two weeks after Easter would have been too late to hold Nationals.

Two weeks before easter would have been too early... so what did FIRST do?

Held Nationals the weekend before Easter at a different location... it was the only choice.

I believe that for next year, if the holidays and regional dates are in our favor... then Nationals will be back in Disney.

ByE

erin

Tyler 178

11-06-2003, 22:21

Vote Disneyland, California

I think that being how WDW is in Florida and in the south east corner of the US, we should try to get it on the west coast. There are teams on the west coast too.

Disneyland would be a great place. and it seems as when people say how great epcott was, disneyland is disney as well. There are rides and the California adventure as well.

And California has good weather as well.

Speaking as a west coast team, it would be nice to have a national that we could actually drive down to.

Even though I live in Seattle, I voted for Disneyland, because there would be more fun stuff to do, and it's warmer in California than it is in Washington.

It's seems weird that people voted for Seattle though.

That's my input.