Waterloo Regional & Canadian Regional

[Robohawk-master]

Since there will be a new regional in Waterloo, next year, will there be another super regional?

[jonathan lall]

Just today I spoke with Mark Breadner about this and he said that in order to keep up the insane expansion of FIRST in Canada, he would probably go ahead with a two-field regional much like last weekend's (which, by the way, is the best run and most exiting regional that I know of). Waterloo's on the other hand, will likely be very small.

[FizMan]

Don't quote me on this, but for some reason I seem to remember someone saying that it'd be held in the PAC (think one big big big gym).

I don't know details or anything though... or even if that's right. But since Waterloo isn't as populated or as popular as Toronto, it probably would be smaller... (but that just means getting more Qualifying matches in)

Besides, nothing wrong with a small regional... we went to the Pittsburgh regional first and it had what... 34 teams there? It was great to have that kind of practice there before the big games at the CDN regional.

[rbgorbet]

Just today I spoke with Mark Breadner about this and he said that in order to keep up the insane expansion of FIRST in Canada, he would probably go ahead with a two-field regional much like last weekend's (which, by the way, is the best run and most exiting regional that I know of). Waterloo's on the other hand, will likely be very small.

I can respond to this: Waterloo will indeed be hosting a regional in 2005. The dates have not yet been completely finalized, but it is likely to be the weekend before the Canadian Regional (which will be changing its name).

The event will be held in the PAC at the University of Waterloo, which can seat 2500-3000 people and fit 40 robots comfortably in a very accessible pit area (the "small gym" for UW people). Steve Krawic and FIRST have already checked out the site and like it.

Mark and I are working together on this, and we think that there is a strong enough team base to support a regional at Waterloo and still have a two-field regional at the Hershey Centre.

As for being small: we hope to have 30-40 teams there which is perhaps on the smaller side. But then anything is small compared to the event at the Hershey Centre! It will be hard to live up to for sure, but we hope to be at the very least a great warm-up party for the Hershey Centre event the following week. And it will mean more qualifying matches, of course.

Who will attend? Many FIRST alumni attend UW and have been at various regionals and the Championships chatting up our event. It is looking like several veteran teams are planning on coming, so it should be an excellent event with a good cross-section of veterans, 2-3 year teams, and rookies.

Come all, come often! :-)

Rob Gorbet
Assistant Prof.
FIRST Judge, CR & Championship
UW FIRST 2005 Planning Committee member

[Steve W]

Can I be the first volunteer to sign up? Can I, can I uh uh please !!!!!???????

I want to be part of the 2nd best regional that FIRST has (sorry Rob CR still #1).