2008 Regional dates announced in VIMS (I think)

[Billfred]

David's post (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58614) led me to look on VIMS, and I've got a hunch that we now know most of the event dates.

If VIMS is to be believed, they are:

2/28-3/1: BAE, Midwest, New Jersey, Oregon, St. Louis
3/6-3/8: Arizona, Finger Lakes, Kansas City, VCU, San Diego
3/13-3/15: Boilermaker, Chesapeake, Detroit, Florida, Peachtree, Pittsburgh, Silicon Valley, Wisconsin
3/20-3/22: Buckeye, Lone Star, Los Angeles, UC Davis Sacramento, Waterloo, West Michigan
3/23-3/25: Israel
3/27-3/29: Bayou, Boston, Colorado, Greater Toronto, Great Lakes, Las Vegas, Palmetto, Philadelphia, Long Island
4/3-4/5: New York City

Missing to my knowledge are Hawaii, Seattle, and a follow-up (if any) to the Brazilian Pilot from last season.

I'm not booking tickets yet, but it is something to contemplate.

[Pat McCarthy]

I saw this yesterday as I was registering as well.
GLR is going to be a whole new ball (tube, box, tetra) game in 2008! Having been a week 2 regional for as long as I can remember, moving to week 5 is going to radically bump up the level of competition.

[Allison K]

Looks like none of the new regionals are on that list, since Oklahoma City and Minneapolis are missing as well. Also, I don't see the Connecticut regional on there.

Great Lakes Week 5!

[Alivia]

If that's a tentative schedule of the regionals, I'm pretty happy, because the Boilermaker and Midwest regionals are finally not on the same weekend! :)

Let's hope that this stays true!
:D

[Kristian Calhoun]

The Hawaii regional is set for March 27-29, 2008, week 5. :)

[Beth Sweet]

Ok, I'll say it, this schedule sucks for Michigan teams.

You're telling me that the 3 Michigan regionals are back to back to back? Yeah, let's see the schools let their kids out 2-3 weeks in a row. Thaaaaaat's gonna happen...

Well, guess they're giving the logistics coordinators a challenge...

[GaryVoshol]

Easter is Sunday March 23. That means many schools will be on break either week 4 (Mar 20-22) or week 5 (Mar 27-29).

I'm not sure how some of the West Michigan schools will take to having competition on Good Friday, though.

[KTorak]

Easter is Sunday March 23. That means many schools will be on break either week 4 (Mar 20-22) or week 5 (Mar 27-29).

I'm not sure how some of the West Michigan schools will take to having competition on Good Friday, though.

Most, if not ALL Michigan school's spring breaks will be the week of March 16 (before Spring Break). The state testing window (either the official or make up session, i'm not sure) for the Junior class falls the week after Spring break and that is the ONLY time the test can be performed, mainly since one of them is the ACT and it has to be done at the same time/day as everyone else. Therefore, most schools are opting to schedule Spring Break before Easter in order to accommodate the testing and not interrupt Spring Break with testing.

[Billfred]

Easter is Sunday March 23. That means many schools will be on break either week 4 (Mar 20-22) or week 5 (Mar 27-29).
Week 5, in the case of the Capitals--naturally, the week of Palmetto. I went through this once before, in 2005 with 1293, and it was not a particularly enjoyable experience with half the team out on their own vacations.

[StephLee]

Chesapeake and Pittsburgh on the same weekend? Looks like we might need a new second regional...

And do I see six weekends instead of five? That's interesting...

[johnr]

if dates are true, then the detroit reg may become the one to go to for some schools. tthey would be out on break. wmr might take a hit because of easter,and glr will become very tough except toronto is at same time. might loss some canadian teams. looks like seven weekends.

[Pavan Dave]

LSR is week 4 this year, as opposed to week 5 last year. It also falls under our team's spring break too, so I don't miss any school! On another note, I'm surprised they moved Bayou back so much, I just hope Oklahoma is week one or two now.

Also I see 6 weekends [the Israeli regional falls in week 4] and I wonder if any of the new regionals [not mentioned above] will take a week 6 slot?

Pavan.

[Brandon Holley]

I don't think this is right

It looks like the week 4 regionals are mushed in with the week 5s
but i honestly have no idea

[KTorak]

I don't think this is right

It looks like the week 4 regionals are mushed in with the week 5s
but i honestly have no idea

It looks fine to me. Israel just happens to be during the week.

[Andy Grady]

Also missing CT in there.

Take that list with a grain of salt until you see the finalized announcement.

[dez250]

As Andy said, everything is still in a finalization stage and may move around. I would not suggest booking plane tickets and hotels around this schedule. Wait for a final announcement coming from FIRST in the near future.

[Athleticgirl389]

If VIMS is to be believed, they are:

2/28-3/1: BAE, Midwest, New Jersey, Oregon, St. Louis

One other thing that came to my attention here is that 2008 is a Leap Year, thus being this week would be the Feb. 29th to March 1st... the 28th is a Thursday for 2008....

[Kristian Calhoun]

One other thing that came to my attention here is that 2008 is a Leap Year, thus being this week would be the Feb. 29th to March 1st... the 28th is a Thursday for 2008....Pst, Ashley, Regionals are three days long. :D

[Mark Pierce]

Ok, I'll say it, this schedule sucks for Michigan teams.
You got that right. We were looking forward to having those folks who always leave town at spring break able to see WMR. Our other preferred regionals (Boilermaker, but Wisconsin also) will also force the back to back situation. This really throws a wrench into our plans.

[Athleticgirl389]

Pst, Ashley, Regionals are three days long. :D

haha just kidding!!! it was 930 and my math was TOTALLY off there... i added in the 30th too for some strange reason lol... so we can strike my wrong opinion :p thanks kristian!

[Ryan Foley]

VIMS has the Connecticut regional during week 3 (3/13-3/15)

[Wetzel]

First time (in 8 years) for VCU to not be a week one regional. Should be nice to have someone else work out the kinks. :D

Wetzel

[Nica F.]

GTR is actually a decent amount away from LA Regional this year. If we make it over, at least there will be less of a chance for a missing robot and another need for a one day wonder. ;)

(edit)
oh wait nevermind, it's still the following week. Israel being alone confused me. lol

[GaryVoshol]

Additional events are now up:


2/28-3/1: BAE, Midwest, New Jersey, Oregon, St. Louis
3/6-3/8: Arizona, Finger Lakes, Kansas City, VCU, San Diego
3/13-3/15: Boilermaker, Chesapeake, Connecticut, Detroit, Florida, Peachtree, Pittsburgh, Silicon Valley, Wisconsin
3/20-3/22: Buckeye, Lone Star, Los Angeles, Seattle, Oklahoma City, UC Davis Sacramento, Waterloo, West Michigan
3/23-3/25: Israel
3/27-3/29: Bayou, Boston, Colorado, Greater Toronto, Great Lakes, Hawaii, Las Vegas, Minnesota, Palmetto, Philadelphia, Long Island
4/3-4/5: New York City

To see the list, you must log in with your VIMS id (or create an id). After you enter your personal information, you get to the volunteer preferences pages, where you put down the events where you can volunteer. There is a drop-down list with the events and dates.

No FLL or FTC events yet.

[KathieK]

]No FLL or FTC events yet.I don't believe FTC events will be listed in VIMS. Contact the Affiliate Partner (http://www.usfirst.org/contact.aspx?id=2878)for the area you are interested in for volunteer opportunities.

[GaryVoshol]

I don't believe FTC events will be listed in VIMS. Contact the Affiliate Partner (http://www.usfirst.org/contact.aspx?id=2878)for the area you are interested in for volunteer opportunities.

For FLL, it would be only the World Festival. I didn't know about FTC, now that it's "official" and everything.

[GaryVoshol]

I received an email reply from an event volunteer coordinator, and she said that not all dates were set in stone yet. They didn't have a contract signed with the venue.

[Madison]

I received an email reply from an event volunteer coordinator, and she said that not all dates were set in stone yet. They didn't have a contract signed with the venue.

I was also just informed of the same information, for what it's worth; particularly with respect to Seattle.

[T3_1565]

anyone else upset that the GLR and the GTA regionals are at the same time??
We wanted to go to both for because there are so many great teams in both.. hopefully this ends up changing lol :S:( :S

[njamietech]

LSR is week 4 this year, as opposed to week 5 last year. It also falls under our team's spring break too, so I don't miss any school

LSR Will be taking place in Katy ISD's Merrel Center. See the forum below if need more info (more will come later).

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58601

Please note that this move is only for this year

[Pjohn1959]

Not etched in stone yet. There is still a possibility that LSR will move to the sixth week, and be held at Reliant Convention Center. I have heard that there are some problems with the Merrill Center not being able to accommodate all the teams. There would have to be tents set up outside if this is the case. :(

[Richard Wallace]

Not etched in stone yet. There is still a possibility that LSR will move to the sixth week, and be held at Reliant Convention Center. I have heard that there are some problems with the Merrill Center not being able to accommodate all the teams. There would have to be tents set up outside if this is the case. :(I'd advise against tents if there is any way to avoid that. The 1996 Championship at Epcot used a tent for the pits, and it was way too hot in there for comfort. However, the neighborhood was very nice. :)

Back to the present: weeks 3 and 5 look like logistical challenges, with 10 events each. That's a lot of material and people to move around. Weeks 1 and 2 are relatively light with 5 events each. Hopefully something can be done to balance things better than they appear now.

Also, as Beth pointed out, anyone planning to make the tour of Michigan events will be very busy for three straight weeks in March. The same is true for anyone planning to make the tour of California events -- and they'd have to miss either Sacramento or Los Angeles. Then again, anyone that crazy probably will have also been fairly busy in January and February ...:rolleyes:

[dachickindapit]

My team leader emailed us today with Detroit taking place during Week 2, different from this information. The other two Michigan events were the same as in this thread. I'm not sure where his information came from, though.

[Elgin Clock]

Additional events are now up:
2/28-3/1: BAE, Midwest, New Jersey, Oregon, St. Louis
3/6-3/8: Arizona, Finger Lakes, Kansas City, VCU, San Diego
3/13-3/15: Boilermaker, Chesapeake, Connecticut, Detroit, Florida, Peachtree, Pittsburgh, Silicon Valley, Wisconsin
3/20-3/22: Buckeye, Lone Star, Los Angeles, Seattle, Oklahoma City, UC Davis Sacramento, Waterloo, West Michigan
3/23-3/25: Israel
3/27-3/29: Bayou, Boston, Colorado, Greater Toronto, Great Lakes, Hawaii, Las Vegas, Minnesota, Palmetto, Philadelphia, Long Island
4/3-4/5: New York City

Arghhhh!!!!!!!! Set 6* is impossible (more like improbable)! How am I supposed to go to Hawaii, Vegas, Boston, Philly, and GTR now all next year?

And why is NYC the only regional during Set 7*? One may assume that space is reserved for the new regionals (if there are any). Makes sense in a way. Save the last weekend for the new regionals so they won't have to deal with all the early week regional problems that come every year.


*(notice I didn't say week 6, or week 7. That's not how it's really set up anymore with Israel being in the middle of a week and atypical of a Thurs. - Sat. competition.)

[GaryVoshol]

My team leader emailed us today with Detroit taking place during Week 2, different from this information. The other two Michigan events were the same as in this thread. I'm not sure where his information came from, though.
Sorry Gina, no go. See the "Official" release post. Weeks 3 (Detroit), 4 (WMR) and 5 (GLR).

(Note for Elgin - "weeks" - Isreal is week 4.5)

[Beth Sweet]

Sorry Gina, no go. See the "Official" release post. Weeks 3 (Detroit), 4 (WMR) and 5 (GLR).

(Note for Elgin - "weeks" - Isreal is week 4.5)

Gary, I don't seem to see an official one. Can you link us?

[Allison K]

Gary, I don't seem to see an official one. Can you link us?

http://www.usfirst.org/community/frc/regionalevents.aspx?id=430 <-- Official List

Also in this thread here --> http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=58672

~Allison