CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT PARTY???

[Macdaddy549]

We did not go to nationals last year. But we did attend the year before in Houston. There we got to go to Six Flags at night and had a great time. What is there to do in Atlanta? Are there things set up for the students to do after the daily compitition or do we need to find things ourselves?

[Franchesca]

Well I don't think that they have something set up for every day. But I remember that at the Championships in Atlanta, they had the "team social" on Saturday, I believe. I can't tell you where it was because my team did not go :( . But I'm sure that wherever it was, its sure to have been a lot of FUN! :D

[StangMan]

From what I remember:

Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday teams had to find thier own activities to do. Wildstang went to The Varsity Drive-In and then bowling on Wednesday. Thursday we went to Atlanta Underground for dinner & Shopping. Friday, we caught a bus from the Underground to the Braves game against the Marlins. Saturday there was a huge rap party at Centennial(Sp.?) Park. The party included carnival stuff, tons of food, live entertainmnet, arcade games, and ended with fireworks. If you stay at the Omni hotel, the Underground & bus stop is about a 5 min walk away. Centennial park is right there, and so is the Georgia Dome. That's where we stayed, and it worked out pretty well. Other things to do while in Atlanta:
Six Flags over Georgia
Coca-Cola world museum
CNN Headquarters tour(in Omni Hotel)
etc.
Atlanta is Good

[The Cyborg]

The most memorable thing for me to do in Atlanta after the competition was to ride those jet-powered elevators in the Westin. Those things are a blast! Atlanta Rocks!

The party at the end was alright... There were long lines for a goofy inflatable punching ring (hilarious, none the less), and a special hypnotism show ( :D ). Never miss the chance to see the hypnotism show! That was amazing! (Not to mention double hilarious). Then at the end there was a recap of nationals on a bigscreen with fireworks shooting out in the background (AKA the fireworks show). Nonetheless, it was FUN!

Three words about the Georgia Dome: Too many escalators! :yikes:

Did anyone try that pop over at the Cocoa-Cola museum that tastes like nail polish remover?

[Billfred]

...you know what nail polish remover tastes like? ;)

Either way, I've been to the World of Coke a few times (when I was younger, FIRST was that thing that came before second, and Atlanta seemed so far away). Good times.

[Alex Golec]

My team didn't go to the social after the event, but each night we would walk around a different part the city by our hotel, visit restaurants, all the stuff that requires no beforehand planning.

While at the event, riding the escalators is a great way to take some time off. For example:
STRESS! STRESS! STRESS! [get on escalator] zzzz.... [stumble off escalator] STRESS! STRESS!
My memories of Atlanta.
_Alex

[Amanda Morrison]

Personally, I really liked the party in Atlanta. For those who weren't there, it was a giant bash at Centennial Park.

Things I liked, that you might too:
- good food
- fun rides
- lots of SPACE (to spread out, eat, etc.)
- sitting in the grass watching the fireworks! I absolutely loved them.
- everyone seemed entertained
- large variety of things to do, and nobody seemed bored

Things I did not like:
- the ride guy that wouldn't let us do one of the games because it was all wet from the sprinklers (boo!)

As you can tell, I thought it was a great time. Instead of dealing with Mandy Moore (any singer or band is hit or miss with such a huge crowd of people) or anything like that, FIRST went with some tried-and-true fun. I hope everyone had as great a time as I did.

[Pat McCarthy]

Speaking of a band at the wrap party, I was just thinking the other day, that a great band to play there would be They Might Be Giants. I thought they were just offbeat(not literally) enough for us ;)
If FIRST could book them, I'd be happy. Because what other band has an awsome rock song with scientific facts about the sun? :D And the song "Robot Parade"!!!

Otherwise I thought that last year's party was pretty good, even though I couldn't stay too long. Good food and games were all that i saw, but it sounds like the rest was great too.

[KathieK]

...and a special hypnotism show ( :D ). Never miss the chance to see the hypnotism show! That was amazing! (Not to mention double hilarious).

Both students and mentors on our team enjoyed the food and entertainment in Centennial Park last year. The hypnotist is Dr. Travis Fox, of Atlanta, and he also had entertained us at the UTC New England Regional in March. RAGE had so much fun with him that we have invited him to come to Connecticut (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30102&highlight=hypnomania) and put on his Hypnomania show for us again! He'll be here next weekend so if you're in the CT area, be sure to stop by...

If you end up staying in the Embassy Suites Hotel adjacent to Centennial Park, bring along some footballs, etc. - our students enjoyed being outdoors in the nice weather after a long day inside the venue. And there was a free wireless connection at the deli next door in case you want to check out the Internet while you're there.

[StangMan]

[QUOTE=Pat McCarthy]Speaking of a band at the wrap party, I was just thinking the other day, that a great band to play there would be They Might Be Giants. I thought they were just offbeat(not literally) enough for us ;)
If FIRST could book them, I'd be happy. Because what other band has an awsome rock song with scientific facts about the sun? :D And the song "Robot Parade"!!!QUOTE]


YES, I totally agree, They Might Be Giants would be a perfect band. They also perform other weird educational songs like "Instanbul, Not Constantinople" Another band that would be good would be R.E.M. All we really need though is a DJ because FIRST is all about Techno, am I right?

[Pat McCarthy]

All we really need though is a DJ because FIRST is all about Techno, am I right?

I second that too! :D Someone tell Lavery about this! The higher-ups in FIRST must know what we want! :p

[dlavery]

I second that too! :D Someone tell Lavery about this! The higher-ups in FIRST must know what we want! :p

Don't tell me - I have nothing to do with the music selections at the events! But if I did.... (just check this (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=260623&postcount=45) and this (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=263124&postcount=64) :rolleyes: )

Anyway, the person to talk to is Bob Hammond at FIRST in Manchester. He is the competition event director, and in change of all things "Championship."

-dave

[Cory]

All we really need though is a DJ because FIRST is all about Techno, am I right?

Yes, all you need is a DJ, but there is a specific clause in the contract that requires them to be a *bad* DJ to play at any FIRST event ;)

[Pat McCarthy]

Don't tell me - I have nothing to do with the music selections at the events! But if I did.... (just check this (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=260623&postcount=45) and this (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=263124&postcount=64) :rolleyes: )

Anyway, the person to talk to is Bob Hammond at FIRST in Manchester. He is the competition event director, and in change of all things "Championship."

-dave
*Gets on it* Is his email address on the FIRST website? If not, could you or someone post it or PM it to me?

By the way, very nice music playlists. :cool:

[Amanda Morrison]

Don't tell me - I have nothing to do with the music selections at the events! But if I did.... (just check this (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=260623&postcount=45) and this (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=263124&postcount=64) :rolleyes: )
-dave

Hey, I wouldn't so much mind some 'Harvey, harvey, harvey the wonder hampster...'

Just running around on her hampster wheel,
Amanda

[dlavery]

Hey, I wouldn't so much mind some 'Harvey, harvey, harvey the wonder hampster...'

Just running around on her hampster wheel,
Amanda

Funny you should mention that ... (/me checks what is playing on iTunes RIGHT NOW!)

-dave

[CourtneyB]

From what I remember:

Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday teams had to find thier own activities to do. Wildstang went to The Varsity Drive-In and then bowling on Wednesday. Thursday we went to Atlanta Underground for dinner & Shopping. Friday, we caught a bus from the Underground to the Braves game against the Marlins. Saturday there was a huge rap party at Centennial(Sp.?) Park. The party included carnival stuff, tons of food, live entertainmnet, arcade games, and ended with fireworks. If you stay at the Omni hotel, the Underground & bus stop is about a 5 min walk away. Centennial park is right there, and so is the Georgia Dome. That's where we stayed, and it worked out pretty well. Other things to do while in Atlanta:
Six Flags over Georgia
Coca-Cola world museum
CNN Headquarters tour(in Omni Hotel)
etc.
Atlanta is Good

The baseball game was awsome! good times good times.

[Alaina]

I was really disappointed that my team didn't get to go to the rap party last year in Atlanta. I would definitely be willing to pay the extra few dollars and attend the party.

We instead ended up going to Benny Hanna's, which was slightly entertaining, to say the least. But, in my opinion, our team was just really unenthusiastic and we didn't get to experience much of Atlanta. =(

Anyway, if you go to Atlanta, make the most of it! It's not every day you're surrounded by thousands upon thousands of FIRSTers...If your team can't afford to attend the rap party then make arrangements with teams you already know or teams that are staying in the same hotel. Yup.

-Alaina

[Eugenia Gabrielov]

I really enjoyed the party. I fell asleep in the crowd.

I think that no matter what FIRST decides on, it's the people that count. I spent the Rap party catching up with people I didn't get to see as much of during the competition because they were driving in different divisions or something and our schedules just didn't fly.

I think even if something goes wrong, a year later what you're gonna remember is how *cough* your friend's pants fell off in the middle of the ring *cough* and fun stuff like that :).

[dubious elise]

i think my favorite part of the wrap party in centennial park was the lights. gosh were those cool! i must have sat and ate dinner for almost an hour just waiting for them to heat up enough to float up into the air!

[Elgin Clock]

i think my favorite part of the wrap party in centennial park was the lights. gosh were those cool! i must have sat and ate dinner for almost an hour just waiting for them to heat up enough to float up into the air!
You mean these?
http://www.team237.com/gallery/Team-Social/PDR_0820

And a whopping 5 more pics of the team party from 2004 can be seen here:
http://www.team237.com/gallery/Team-Social

I thought I took more.. I guess not. :(

[Peter Matteson]

Don't tell me - I have nothing to do with the music selections at the events! But if I did.... (just check this (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=260623&postcount=45) and this (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=263124&postcount=64) :rolleyes: )

Anyway, the person to talk to is Bob Hammond at FIRST in Manchester. He is the competition event director, and in change of all things "Championship."

-dave

:ahh: I'm scared all of those those songs are on my Dell Jukebox right now :eek:

[StangMan]

Overall the Party was good. And YES, there are plenty of acivities(most at extra cost) for the students!

[the_mayor]

Our team had to find stuff for us to do. There's Stone Mountain which is mountain with a carving of Conferate Generals into the face of the mountain (a must see). We went to "The Underground" which was this huge mall that was underground (go figure). It was cool but it was filled with stores that sold mostly novelty items. But there was some cool stuff in the mall. There was a building with stores in it next to our hotel but I wouldn't exactly call it a mall and all the stores closed at five which seemed like a stange concept to me. Then again I don't live in the city. And last but not least there's the Coca Cola Mueseam and the CNN Center. :cool:

[KathieK]

After we watched Dr. Fox at the wrap party, I wandered around and stumbled upon Redhead Jokes, whom I had conversed with many times on CD, but had never met before! Cheryl and I enjoyed a long conversation amidst the great fireworks. Soon afterwards Robomom, Redhead Jokes and I created NEMO so we could extend those conversations to the FIRST community! It was a wrap party that I'll never forget!

BTW, I've heard that Dr. Fox may be coming to the Championships' team social again this year... He is a huge fan of FIRST now. And we're huge fans of his! :D

[The First Lady]

I am looking forward to actually watching the Hypnomania Show this year. Last year Dr. Fox put me in a hypnotic trance and the wrap party was a blur. I do remember food was good and plenty so the big eaters had more than enough. As tired as people were, the party energized the students. I can't wait to go again. See you there.

[StangMan]

Hi Post-Championship partiers!!!

A few years ago the Championship Event was held at Epcot Center and teh Wrap party had something to do with the theme parks. However, in Houston the Wrap Party was at the Six Flags park after dark. There is a Six Flags park in Atlanta as well. It is called Six Flags over Georgia. I think It would be really cool if we could have an after-dark wrap party just for FIRST at Six Flags over Georgia. It is a really nice park, too! Check out the park, there are some awesome rides, some rides that We have up at the Chicago Six Flags are in georgia too.

http://sixflags.com/parks/overgeorgia/index.asp

What Do you think, Party @ Six Flags???? It would be truly awesome, and Probably cheaper than the current Wrap Party @ the Park.

[KathieK]

When we were there last year the park wasn't open for the season yet. Their website isn't indicating the dates they open for 2005.

[Kevin Sevcik]

The other problem with having a party at Six Flags over Georgia would be transportation. Astroworld was a (relatively) short walk from Reliant Stadium. Centennial park was a similar distance from the Georgia Dome. Six Flags over Georgia would require a veritable fleet of busses to get everyone there and back. They tried the bussing kids to a park for the first (and only) Houston JSC Regional, and it didn't work terribly well then.

[Elgin Clock]

http://sixflags.com/parks/overgeorgia/index.asp

What Do you think, Party @ Six Flags???? It would be truly awesome, and Probably cheaper than the current Wrap Party @ the Park.I'll vote no if we're voting at all.

The reason: transportation.

A team party relatively close to the actual event is a heck of a lot more enjoyable than one you have to all find transportation to.

When all is said and done, there is so much to do at a FIRST event and so little time.

I would seriously like to see the Championship event stretched out over more days.

3 days is not enough time to try and catch up with all your Nationwide and International FIRST friends, and also compete.

If the FIRST competition is about "more than just a robot competition", then why is the event (almost) solely based on that?

2004 made a drastic jump to be "more than a robotics competition", by simply having conferences about general FIRST related topics.

Well, isn't socializing with people you have common interest in also a part of FIRST that is more than the robots??

If I could plan the Championship event (providing we stayed in Atlanta), I would stretch it to 4 days, and have either the same amount, or maybe a little less Robot competition per day.

The second part of the day, maybe starting at 3:00pm-7:00pm would be a big team social each day.

Then you could meet all the people you wanted to, and then have time with your team at the end of the day if you wanted, or just go out to dinner.

Of course this 4 day event would come down to the money to do such a thing. I'm sure that that one day team social event cost a few pretty pennies so this would mean either getting more donations, or raising more money by either increasing team social ticket prices or registration fees, which I know every one is against going by the posts here on CD about those topics.

Sorry I sidetracked so much. Blame it on the A.D.D.
Hmm.. Maybe I should split this topic and start a new thread.
Maybe.

[stealth13777]

You could always try six flags over georgia. The park is about 15 miles from the dome, and yeah, there is bad traffic, but i believe marta can get u to the place easy and fast.

[George A.]

The party was good, though I do have a few problems with the logistics of it. The food was good and plentiful which IMO was a definate plus. The only downside is that you had to choose between watching the Hypnotist, or enjoying the rides. By time the hypnotist was over the kids only had about 15-20 minutes left on the rides before they were closed down. If maybe they arranged the time a little differently it would be better?

As for the topic of music...what about Weird Al? He would be perfect for the zany off the wall children in all of us, and he's really family friendly. Just a though but I'm sure whatever they have planned for us in a little more than a wekk will be awesome!

Hit me up at the party if you wants to talk.