Registration 2011

[Mark McLeod]

Might as well start talking about this...

562 teams have registered as of 1:18

BAE is filled to initial capacity.

Michigan filters teams through the wait list, but FIRST lists Traverse and Ann Arbor as at initial capacity.


Fewer open slots are available at Championship because of the blossoming number of Regionals and they are going pretty quickly too.

[Alan Anderson]

It looks like the lowest-numbered 2011 rookie team is 3450. As of 1:35pm, the highest team number registered is 3466.

[Mark McLeod]

SBPLI reached initial capacity @ 4:10pm

Half the teams registered today did it within the first half hour. After the initial rush gave us 500 teams in the first hour it tapered off to a steady slope of adding roughly 50 teams/hour.

[maltz1881]

Our team is signing up another team next Wed. not sure where they will place # wise but every year I always find it interesting were the numbers are at.

[Tom Line]

FIM (First in Michigan) is running our registration a bit differently. While teams are signed up, they are ALL going on the waitlist. FIM is going through and assigning each team's district based on their "closest" one. So if you picked your closest regional, it's very very likely you will get it.

This is a cost savings measure to make sure that teams that are traveling do not lock out a local team from their local competition. It's a smart move too in this economy and I was happy to hear they were doing it this way.

I don't have all the exact details of how it's working, but the idea that all the closest teams get to go to their closest district is important for teams that do Traverse City and the West Michigan events.

[Foster]

Might as well start talking about this...
Let me be one of the first to say that I love the stats that Mark publishes. It's like listening to a baseball game and the announcer has all the figures and tosses out the little nuggets.

I liked last years "trivia" that came out like the number of continuous regionals that teams attended. Maybe we'll hear what rookie teams are traveling the farthest :rolleyes:

Thanks Mark!

[Mark McLeod]

I'll try to keep up the chatter, but I'm making a mid-Atlantic tour of the Regional venues this weekend (I'll be driving past and waving-7 venues in 7 hours), so I'll be offline most of the time.

As for rookie travel, right now Mexico has 4 rookie teams, so they probably have the furthest to travel. Other countries might have farther to go, but they have no rookies yet.

After the first day of registration our most popular new Regional is Smoky Mountain trailed closely by Alamo. Way back in the field is Lake Superior-not as popular a destination as the veteran double-header in Minneapolis.

Hard to tell much about the double Regional sites (Dallas, Toronto, Seattle, Minneapolis).
Minneapolis is way ahead, but I imagine Seattle is right up there. It's just that the Seattle numbers aren't made public. Toronto trails the pack as half of Canadian teams registered State-side first- there were only 12 loyalists so far.

830 teams showing as registered is about 2% fewer than last season at this time.

[JohnBoucher]

From the @FRCTeams Twitter feed

This morning we have 822 teams registered which exceeds the 2003 season Stack Attack which had 787 teams

[Vikesrock]

Way back in the field is Lake Superior-not as popular a destination as the veteran double-header in Minneapolis.

I'm not surprised by this at all. Many of the Minnesota teams are much closer to the metro than to Duluth and many of the teams further out where the teams that took a bit longer to register last year. I would expect the Lake Superior event to fill rather slowly until second event registration rolls around.

[lexxasaurus]

REX 1727 has regestered for the DC regional. There are 22 teams registered with a maximum of 49 teams. It's filling up fast. ^^
Can't wait to be back in season again- been too long since Championship.

I'm loving reading the numbers so far. :D

[Mark McLeod]

From the @FRCTeams Twitter feed

This morning we have 822 teams registered which exceeds the 2003 season Stack Attack which had 787 teams

The count is now ahead of the 2004 numbers (927) too, and getting close to the 2005 teams (988).


Today's registration is slightly ahead of this same period last year, and can reasonably be expected to begin to pull away.

In addition to BAE & SBPLI (as well as a couple of Districts), three other Regionals are nearing initial capacity: Boilermaker (3 places left), Boston (4 slots remain), and Midwest (5 openings).

It doesn't look like there will be any Championship openings by the time the rest of the teams become eligible on October 28.

[Mark McLeod]

Broke 1,000 teams at noon today. Only 3 hours ahead of last year.

Still room most places, nobody else has quite filled yet.
Pittsburgh(1), and Silicon Valley(4) are also close now.

P.S.
Around 2:00pm Pittsburgh became the third Regional to reach waitlist status.

The most eager rookies, those registering as soon as possible, come from California (14).
Mexico (5) has the most (only) non-US rookies so far.

8 countries are represented so far: US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Israel, Great Britain, Chile, Australia

[Chris is me]

It doesn't look like there will be any Championship openings by the time the rest of the teams become eligible on October 28.

I guess that's one positive about being knocked out in the semis last year :o

I thought normally there were enough of those to go around. Probably like last year, 50+ slots will free open as other teams drop their spots.

[Mark McLeod]

Each year there are fewer and fewer Championship open registration slots, because FRC gains more and more Regional events that need additional reserved qualifying spots.
Not to mention the double events, although I imagine the new double-events held in the same facility could easily become single events again if they don't get the expected signups.

Last year had 175 openings, this year 149.
Expect it to decrease steadily over the coming years...

[Mark McLeod]

Registration is unusually slow this year.
At this point growth is 2% (for 2011) vs 11%(for 2010)

This point being: 10:30am, 5th day of registration, 1047 teams.

In both cases Michigan and Washington state were hidden, so that shouldn't be affecting the comparison of results much.

People just may not be in a rush to register.

P.S.
Added a graph to illustrate what's worrisome about the flat growth rate. Prior years growth was much more distinct as you can see. Also, last year itself had one of the lowest growth rates in the past 20 years, so it makes the contrast even more stark.

[dodar]

Hey Mark can you find out the ratio of veteran teams to young/rookie teams per regional?

[Mark McLeod]

I have that info. as of yesterday.
At this point for most Regional's it's zero.
6.6% of the registered teams are rookies (69 of them).

The leaders are:
9 @ San Diego (vs. 23 vets)
5 @ Oklahoma (vs. 41 vets)

3 @
Pittsburgh, Sacramento, Long Island, Palmetto, Silicon Valley, Boston, North Carolina.

2 @
Midwest, Connecticut, Buckeye, Dallas

1 @
BAE, Alamo, Florida, WPI, Kansas City, Wisconsin, NYC, Arizona, Boilermaker, Bayou, Los Angeles, DC, Oregon, 10K Lakes, Utah

0 @ 20 other Regionals

[Jared Russell]

Historically, do rookies tend to register later than veterans, or is the current dearth of rookies a new phenomenon?

[Mark McLeod]

The majority of rookies usually register later than the veterans.
By now probably more than 60% of the teams have registered (including an estimate of the hidden Michigan/Washington teams), but probably only 40% of the rookies we'll end up with have signed up.

We're pretty much right where we were last season at this time. A tiny bit ahead.
Last year 6.5% of the registered teams were rookies by the fifth day of registration.

[Jon236]

there are 50 more Israeli teams that haven't registered yet

[Mark McLeod]

The majority of Israeli teams seem to traditionally wait and register the last week.

They know where their first Regional is no matter what.

[dodar]

What regional areas of the US regionals usually fill up fastest? Southeast, Northeast, Southwest, Northwest, Great Plains, Great Lakes area?

[Mark McLeod]

Here's last year's graph (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=8205) of when everything initially filled up.
It doesn't show the fluctuations as waitlists were later cleared.

Although, scheduling changes year-to-year can cause different regionals to fill up faster/slower. This is mostly driven by the venue size and the density of local teams, so it's fairly constant.

[JohnBoucher]

More from the @FRCTeams Twitter feed.

This morning we have 1105 FRC teams registered. We're a little more than halfway to our goal of 2200 teams in the 2011 season.

[Mark McLeod]

Thanks for following the tweets John.
2200 would be almost triple last season's team growth.
Maybe some big block of teams is expected later...

Boilermaker is now booked as well.

[Alan Anderson]

Maybe some big block of teams is expected later...

The Israeli teams traditionally register late.

Are the "every team goes on the wait list to start with" events keeping the numbers down, or do the wait-listed teams count as registered?

[Mark McLeod]

Purely waitlisted teams don't show up, but the same teams were invisible last season...

FIRST's estimate of 2200 total teams is on the order of 580 new teams over and above vets (assuming the standard 10% dropout rate). That's about double the number of rookies last year, which would be great!

Texas is supposed to explode because of state support and they've provided roughly 230 event slots for everyone (104 teams last year).
Washington has possibly doubled their event capacity. But they don't show up on the registered list, so Washington's growth is unknown (59 teams last year). One traitor is registered for Oregon :)
Israel is a known quantity and the event capacity hasn't risen from last season, so I don't see them providing a flood of rookies.
Michigan can be estimated by the number of District events, so they'd need to add District events to increase over last year. They have room now for ~20 rookies.

[Chris is me]

I'm a little concerned that the goal is for 25% of all teams in FIRST to be rookies. Is that a normal percentage of first year rookies to veterans?

Insert the usual "we should do more to help veterans stick around" piece of thought here.

[Mark McLeod]

It's happened before, after all the first year 100% of the teams were rookies :)
The last time it was as high as 25% was in 2003, but you can see in the table below that 25% isn't extreme.
However, they are usually spread out, and Texas has already experienced what it's like to have a flood of rookies overwhelming the vets. I guess Texas is experienced with the inexperienced...

Year --- # Teams -- Vets --- New ---- % new teams
1992 ---------- 28 ---------- 0 ----------- 28 ---------- 100.0%
1993 ---------- 25 ---------- 14 ---------- 11 ---------- 44.0%
1994 ---------- 44 ---------- 22 ---------- 22 ---------- 50.0%
1995 ---------- 59 ---------- 30 ---------- 29 ---------- 49.2%
1996 ---------- 94 ---------- 48 ---------- 46 ---------- 48.9%
1997 ---------- 155 --------- 83 ---------- 72 ---------- 46.5%
1998 ---------- 199 --------- 137 --------- 62 ---------- 31.2%
1999 ---------- 269 --------- 166 --------- 103 --------- 38.3%
2000 ---------- 372 --------- 241 --------- 131 --------- 35.2%
2001 ---------- 515 --------- 333 --------- 182 --------- 35.3%
2002 ---------- 641 --------- 456 --------- 185 --------- 28.9%
2003 ---------- 787 --------- 590 --------- 197 --------- 25.0%
2004 ---------- 927 --------- 711 --------- 216 --------- 23.3%
2005 ---------- 988 --------- 805 --------- 184 --------- 18.6%
2006 ---------- 1133 -------- 901 --------- 233 --------- 20.6%
2007 ---------- 1301 -------- 1037 -------- 264 --------- 20.3%
2008 ---------- 1501 -------- 1187 -------- 317 --------- 21.1%
2009 ---------- 1677 -------- 1359 -------- 320 --------- 19.1%
2010 ---------- 1808 -------- 1531 -------- 277 --------- 15.3%

[Mark McLeod]

A slew of Michigan teams just got sorted off the waitlist and they have 10 rookies showing.

4 Canadian rookies have also finally showed up.
Mexico has 8 rookies now.

It's up to 90 rookie teams now.

We passed the number of 2006 teams around 3:30 this afternoon.

Championship is Full now. No open slots remain.:(
This'll be the first year in our team history that we haven't attended.

[Tarzan19]

I was wondering how Kansas City was looking on registration, if you dont mind.

[Mark McLeod]

Kansas City is more than half full.
36 teams have signed up so far. Two of them are rookies.

Teams are signing up at about the same as last year and they were pretty full then with only two slots left over.

[Chris is me]

This'll be the first year in our team history that we haven't attended.

Except when you win Long Island :)

[Mark McLeod]

If the seniors want it badly enough maybe I'll still get to go.:)
We might see you at WPI too if things work out.

[eyu100]

How many teams go to the Championship from the waitlist each year? My team just registered today, so I'm wondering if we will get to go.

[Mark McLeod]

I'd be pretty sure you're 1st or 2nd on the list if you registered today and will probably get in. Last year they let in quite a few teams from the waitlist, because teams that signed up already didn't raise the cash, or dropped out for other reasons.
FIRST may not tell you yes or no until competition starts though.

[Bob Steele]

Purely waitlisted teams don't show up, but the same teams were invisible last season...

FIRST's estimate of 2200 total teams is on the order of 580 new teams over and above vets (assuming the standard 10% dropout rate). That's about double the number of rookies last year, which would be great!

Texas is supposed to explode because of state support and they've provided roughly 230 event slots for everyone (104 teams last year).
Washington has possibly doubled their event capacity. But they don't show up on the registered list, so Washington's growth is unknown (59 teams last year). One traitor is registered for Oregon :)
Israel is a known quantity and the event capacity hasn't risen from last season, so I don't see them providing a flood of rookies.
Michigan can be estimated by the number of District events, so they'd need to add District events to increase over last year. They have room now for ~20 rookies.

Washington has 25 Rookie FRC teams pushing our total now to well over 80 teams...(hence the need for the double regional..) We also got great State of Washington support in FRC, FTC and FLL. FLL is over 200 teams....well up from last year...
We are looking forward to a great double regional..

[JaneYoung]

MI has a unique opportunity for vet. teams. If we sign up and mentor a rookie team we get $1000.00 2 rookies we get $3,000.00 etc. Our team 1322 signed up 2 rookies yesterday. Linden and Hartland H.S. now have teams. We are working on 2 other schools to join us. This is a huge incentive to help out rookies.

It's sounding less and less like FRC and more like customized Michigan FRC - whatever that is evolving into. Are there going to be any guidelines and expectations in place for this? As you can see, it's the first I've heard of it and naturally, I began to wonder how any 1 team could mentor 2 rookies teams and have all 3 teams healthy & hardy by the end of the competition season.

But then, I'm not one to see common sense practicality implemented in the FIRST ways of doing things much.

Jane

[Chris is me]

So you're financially rewarded for starting a new team, but not saving a team on the brink... that's nice.

[maltz1881]

I was concerned about the teams who are in trouble as well. However the teams that I personally know that closed down, closed due to lack of student participation, not money. That doesn't mean that there aren't teams that closed due to lack of money, just that I don't know any personally.

In MI we were given this challenge months ago. Our team was successful in getting teams into schools surrounding us. As far as mentoring goes, yes we have to mentor and show up for some meetings and such. The teams we were able to get started however already have at least 1-4 engineers. Both schools are within 20 mins from us.

We are lucky in MI to have the system in place that we have. I know several other states are adopting portions of our system such as the bagging system.

My team had a budget of $1,500 last year so this will double it. I am grateful for this great opportunity not just for our team but the new teams as well.

[Andrew Schreiber]

So you're financially rewarded for starting a new team, but not saving a team on the brink... that's nice.

Welcome to FIRST...

[Bob Steele]

It's sounding less and less like FRC and more like customized Michigan FRC - whatever that is evolving into. Are there going to be any guidelines and expectations in place for this? As you can see, it's the first I've heard of it and naturally, I began to wonder how any 1 team could mentor 2 rookies teams and have all 3 teams healthy & hardy by the end of the competition season.

But then, I'm not one to see common sense practicality implemented in the FIRST ways of doing things much.

Jane

Jane,
I hear you and many of us that have been around FIRST for awhile hear you...
I won't comment on the idea that Michigan has its own little thing going.... I have posted about that before and I have been trying very hard to be positive and not negative on CD.

We have 25 new rookie teams here in Washington... last year we had a similar amount... and the year before we had 15-20.... The veteran teams here have been trying very hard to help the rookie teams out... Our team has done a special Rookie Workshop for the last three years....(with the help of other teams ....) Washington is also doing 4 separate workshops for all teams...

The teams and FirstWA leadership is trying very hard...

On the other hand... we got a huge pot of money from the State this year... but it is intended to start teams.... not to support the program in general... so few veteran teams received much money this year... in fact a number of them didn't get anything...those that did got less than $1000.

I see a huge push for numbers... and if this is the intent of FIRST they are succeeding...
I am much more conservative by nature... I see that veteran teams working with rookie teams are the best way to grow FIRST and make it self-sustaining. Without support these veteran teams simply don't have the resources to do that..

On our team this year we will spend $2000 - $3000 in helping other teams... in one way or another...
We do have a strong parent group and we work very hard on fundraising for the whole year.
This is part of our committment to FIRST and to growing FIRST.

We learned how to fundraise our very first year when we did not receive a NASA grant...
(You may remember that.... you helped us...:0).)

The fact remains that we were the 16th team in the State of Washington..
We are going into our 5th year...
This means that the state has added over 60 teams in the past 3 years...

This is tough to sustain... and when dollars are spent by the State... they MUST include real $$ support for the teams that they have created...

I actually like the model that Michigan is providing in this regard... Give money to teams to help Rookie teams... at least in this regard they are supporting these other created teams.

I do think that we need to see more support from FIRST in the arena of Fundraising.
i remember that last year it was a big deal at Kickoff... to date... Where are these programs?
I haven't seen anything of substance yet... I had thought we would have some kind of
"Green" fundraising activities fleshed out by FIRST and presented by now...

FIRST needs to find ways to help veteran teams raise money... Rookie teams seem to find a way of coming up with the necessary funds and so many of the grant programs are earmarked for these new teams...

I hope to see some real ideas from FIRST on how to SUSTAIN teams and not just how to
CREATE teams...

It is fine to create teams but what is the audience for what FIRST does?
It IS a numbers game.... the NUMBER of students involved.... but not just for a year or two..
A mature FIRST student (3 or more years in the program) has a much greater experience and will want to go into STEM related fields...

If FIRST is talking about fielding 2200 teams this year it doesn't take genius to look at the team numbers and know that we have 1500- 2000 teams that are not active any more... One could look at that and say that this is not a very successful program... or one that schools are not willing to support.
Now I know there are as many reasons for a team to stop participating as there are teams... but I think that this is an issue that we tend to bury ..
Oh... its ok to lose 10% of the teams each year... is it really OK for those teams.. for those kids too?

We need to train teams from the very beginning to become self-sustaining...
so we can offer a full experience to FIRST students...

[JaneYoung]

Jane,
I hear you and many of us that have been around FIRST for awhile hear you...


I'm probably sounding negative, Bob. I realize this. One reason is because I live in Texas and I know a few veteran teams who are going to be working very very hard to help the many rookie teams and 1st year/2nd year teams that will be struggling this season. There is not enough built-in support for this. There is also not any financial incentive or support (like what has been mentioned) for the veteran teams, the teams struggling to survive, or the young teams that still need a lot of help. There are also many teams in Texas that don't have the benefit, rookie or veteran, of having several engineers on their team.

So I'm looking at the future of the region where I mentor - not just my team - but other teams - as best I can - and it's one tough job. And that's for a NEM, not a technical mentor. If teams are paid to mentor - in my opinion, they should be covering all of the areas it takes to run a team. That helps build/grow stability and stability is what helps determines sustainability.

Show me on paper where FIRST is being proactive in areas of sustainability, balancing that with the keen interest in starting new teams. Show me on paper where FIRST has worked with their wonderful sponsors and supporters and shown them how critical sustainability is to FRC teams. Then I'll stop questioning how we're going to be successful in Texas and find that all the teams worldwide will want to come help support us and compete in our competitions because we have developed into such a strong and powerful region due to short term and long term planning and goal-setting in areas of sustainability and development by FIRST in working with our region.

Jane

P.S. Bob, I loved your last statement in your post. It is awesome.

[Ian Curtis]

I was concerned about the teams who are in trouble as well. However the teams that I personally know that closed down, closed due to lack of student participation, not money. That doesn't mean that there aren't teams that closed due to lack of money, just that I don't know any personally.

I agree. 1276 did not disappear from a lack of funding. No infusion of cash would've kept the team running. We just ran out of people. I'm sure there are some teams that drop out due to a lack of funding, but I'm willing to bet the majority run out of people to run the team. I'd be curious to see when a team is most likely to disappear, I'd be willing to bet that it is after the 1st, 4th, and 5th seasons.

[kstl99]

10% of teams drop out? That's kind of depressing. I can see money as an issue but I wonder how many drop out due to lack of interest. Maybe we are just lucky but in my first year I only saw one or two kids that were not fully involved and enjoying the experience each time they were there. I hear we have a number of new recruits which will replace the 5 seniors we lost.

I just hate the thought of students getting a taste of FIRST then losing the opportunity.

[maltz1881]

I removed my post because it looked like it was starting to cause some negativity and that wasn't my intent at all. Yes I know that in part it is still there due to quotes. MI is unique and I wish other states were able to join us. My team went from being able to play 7 rounds to 25. I see nothing but positive in that for the kids. I wish other kids could have that. I think that MI is trying to make FIRST better.

As for signing up rookies, isn't that what FIRST wants? A team in every school.

[JohnBoucher]

I also share everyone's concern for sustainability, but that discussion is not what this thread is about. I will be more than happy to discuss it in a different thread. Can we stay on topic?

[Andrew Schuetze]

Just popping back in on this thread and I hadn't been on it since before it took a turn down the sustainability road.

I came to post that in Texas, as of 9:45 AM CST on 10/8/10, we have 51 teams registered for events in the State and if a plan had not been put in place to add the Dallas event two years ago and now the San Antonio (Alamo) event this year, teams would not have a place to play. Of those 51 teams, five are from our neighbors from south of the border as GM in Mexico and other partners are building on the success of FLL in Mexico which has over 200 teams. Now Mexico has at least 5 new FRC teams. It also appears that besides a team or two from the OK state, we even have a visitor from Washington State. I wonder how apples go with Salsa:D I know we have salsa recipes with mango, anybody have an Apple Salsa recipe:p

Still working on the 150 plus rookie FTC teams in Texas and that boot to hit the floor:yikes:

[Mark McLeod]

I'd be curious to see when a team is most likely to disappear, I'd be willing to bet that it is after the 1st, 4th, and 5th seasons.

I did this analysis last year but I don't think I ever published it. It's a little early to do now, it's only been a week after all, but sometime in December I'll run the numbers.

Things really took a turn after I went to bed...
Unfortunately, I've been fighting fires at work this week and I have an intermediate LabVIEW workshop tomorrow I should probably prepare for. Otherwise, I'd enjoy joining Jane's sustainability discussion thread.

SBPLI-LI FIRST has always been a separate organization from FIRST that uses the FIRST programs in its' mission. We do our own Regional fundraising, team development, sustainability, but other than having a bit more freedom we're probably very similar to most FIRST Regional organizations.
Many years back, for a short period SBPLI offered a financial incentive to vets for bringing in and sponsoring one rookie team. That was at a time we were trying to rebuild a critical mass after a die-off of teams due to the loss of a major island-wide team sponsor. I wouldn't say it was a game changer at the time.
After that SBPLI took a step back and recruits a managable influx, averaging 3 rookies each year for the past 9 years or so.

Our vet retention rate is pretty high since the die-off. Our average dropout rate has been at most one team a year, and they usually come right back after a year off.
Our team losses have been due to the loss of district interest/political support, retirement of sole team leaders, and a few really due to school budget cuts rather than sponsor losses. Schools pay at least one team advisor for legal purposes and when that's cut (or that advisor retires) the team is defacto defunct. The solution to an advisor leaving is a succession plan.

[Mark McLeod]

Back to our regularly scheduled updates.

1200 teams this morning.
96 rookies (8%)

[ATannahill]

Thank you Mark. Your threads are the best part of preseason.

[Mark McLeod]

Not much happened over the weekend. Pretty much after the first week registration goes flat on the weekends, especially the long holidays like Thanksgiving. People must be raking leaves or somethin'.

Registration is 5% above this same time last year.
That's half the growth rate, by this date, for the previous couple of seasons, but it is growth.

[JohnBoucher]

Not much happened over the weekend. Pretty much after the first week registration goes flat on the weekends, especially the long holidays like Thanksgiving. People must be raking leaves or somethin'.


TIMS was down over the weekend. Perhaps we'll see a spike today.

[Mark McLeod]

We did get 30 add-ins today, so maybe that was due to the TIMS outage.

So far I see 8 past vets that had dropped out, returning:
496 Port Jefferson, NY in my own Long Island backyard
549 Leominster, MA
1006 Port Perry Ontario
1076 Ann Arbor, MI
1237 New York, NY
1604 Harmony, FL
2332 Fairview, OK
3474 Hampton Bays, NY - also on Long IslandThere are also these rookie teams with "vet" status:
Team 244, Grandville, MI looks like another sibling of teams 216 & 288
Teams 2055 & 2059, Cary, NC look like spinoffs of team 2108Unknowns with rookie "vet" status are:
Team 156, Fairview, PA
Team 2087, Canby, OR
Team 2451, Memphis, TNI'm sure there are probably other returning vets hidden amongst the rookie team numbers.

[Mark McLeod]

It looks like 1318 from Washington got pulled out of the Alamo Regional to be put back in one of the Seattle Regionals instead as a first pick.

3 more teams and we'll match the 2007 number of teams.
P.S. We're now past the 2007 numbers.
Silicon Valley Regional is now at initial capacity along with BAE, LI, Pittsburgh, & Boilermaker.

1298 teams showing as registered
8 teams are back from the dead...
126 new team numbers have been assigned.
5% growth over last year, still very low compared to past years. It's the lowest since 1993.

The top places with the most registered teams so far:

CA ---- 130
MI ---- 110
NY ----- 86
TX ----- 57
MN ---- 56
OK ---- 52
VA ---- 50

The bottom places missing the most teams (disregarding Washington since all but one are not visible to us):

TX ---- 54
MN --- 51
MI ---- 44 (may not be visible to us)
Israel -- 43 (perpetually late registers)
CA ---- 39
NY ---- 37
Canada -- 26

[dodar]

Now Mark, is that teams from those states that have registered or teams registered for regionals within those states?

[Mark McLeod]

Now Mark, is that teams from those states that have registered or teams registered for regionals within those states?
Teams from that state or country who have registered, regardless of where they will be playing.

[Mr. B]

Mark, are teams able to be registered to 2 regionals at this time? WPI is to capacity and Boston has 1 opening left, but, 3280 shows up on both regional team list??

[Mark McLeod]

2nd Regional event registration doesn't open until Oct. 28, but I know of a couple of instances where teams were able to registered for more than one event.
One team leader I know is registered for one event and told me they are also already on a wait list for a second. They can't be seen on the wait list so it's harder to confirm, but 3280's case is pretty obvious to all.

I don't have that option in TIMS for my own team, and it seems unlikely that there's an error in the system that some were perhaps unwittingly able to take advantage of. Probably there are extenuating circumstances and FIRST HQ registered them by hand for the second Regional.

Don't know what's up with that...

[Mark McLeod]

Washington State is finally heard from.
They popped 47 teams off their wait list.

[Mark McLeod]

1400 teams on the registered list
135 rookie teams
8 resurrected vets

70% of the teams from last year have re-registered already.
Nine sub-100 teams are still missing, but some, like team 1, are probably on waitlists still.

9 countries are represented: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Germany, Israel, Mexico, United Kingdom, United States (48 states + PR & DC).


P.S.
A team I knew that was registered for two Regionals got removed from one Regional list and is now only on the waitlist for their home Regional. So that got straightened out.

Five other teams have been removed from the registered list and I assume left on waitlists for other events.

[DonRotolo]

9 countries are represented: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Germany, Israel, Mexico, United Kingdom, United States (48 states + PR & DC).
Beware of Team 2576 (Chile): With that fantastic rescue they pulled off, it's clear they know what they're doing...

[Mark McLeod]

Got another mini-release of 15 or so Michigan teams at mid-day. They still seem to be adding as I post, but they're up to 135 teams now leaving them District slots to accommodate 25 more teams.
It's nice to see team 51 of course :)

I'm not seeing the flood of team growth we were promised yet. Right now it's still looking like a pretty dismal growth year.

160+ new teams
Boston Regional is finally at initial capacity. 2 1/2 weeks later than last year.

Last year 19 Regionals were at initial capacity by this time.
This year 8 Regionals are at initial capacity by this time.
To be a fair comparison, the capacity at 15 events is the same or close & 3 events had large increases.

[Andrew Schuetze]

The FIRSTinTexas.org (http://www.firstintexas.org/) grants have been slow to develop as the funding was finally put in place on Monday of this week. Texas is majorly involved with the BEST robotics program and schools are just now wrapping up that season with competitions this weekend and next. Hopefully with both of those confounding issues soon behind us, we will see a flurry of new team growth in both FTC and FRC here in Texas as well as the remaining 40 odd veterans finally update their TIMS accounts and register for events and local kick-offs.:ahh:

NASA and Boeing grants are going to be late this year as well so over-all this year funding for new and veteran teams will be much later than normal. One could only assume that this is going to impact the team registration process. I don't want to be working in FIRST finance this year as they are going to be working over-time come December as payment deadlines come due. There is going to be hundreds of letters and emails from teams with a story about a sponsors check being in the mail.

[Mark McLeod]

We just hit 1501 FRC teams, the number that played in 2008.
And the vets that have already returned match the # of vets that returned in 2009.

2.4% over last year at this time.
By way of comparison at this same point in registration the past couple of years:2010 - 8.4% over the previous year (final growth was an unusually low 7.8%)
2009 - 17.8% over the previous year (final growth was 11.7%)
FRC growth has generally been slowing each year over the past decade, but last year and this it's been more extreme and recession-like.
These low growth numbers reflect on lower than normal registrations by both rookies and veteran teams.
The ratio of rookies to veterans is still pretty close to normal.

I forgot Texas registration is usually slowed by the BEST season competitions, and that'll result in a later surge in rookies.
The vets will sign-in at the same rate they always do.

P.S.
Still 2 teams that were able to register for two events before everyone else.

[Mark McLeod]

Arkansas now has a second team. It's located in Little Rock.
P.S.
Assuming an average 25 students per team, there are now 38,000 students registered for this season.

Here's where the rookies are from so far:

MI ---------- 23
CA ---------- 18
FL ---------- 10
TX ---------- 10
Mexico ------ 8
OK ---------- 7
NC ---------- 6
ON Canada - 6
QC Canada - 6
WA ---------- 6
OH ---------- 5
PA ---------- 5
CT ---------- 4
GA ---------- 4
IN ---------- 4
MA ---------- 4
SC ---------- 4
LA ---------- 3
MN ---------- 3
NH ---------- 3
NY ---------- 3
AL ---------- 2
AZ ---------- 2
ID ---------- 2
IL ---------- 2
ME ---------- 2
MO ---------- 2
NJ ---------- 2
TN ---------- 2
VA ---------- 2
WI ---------- 2
WV ---------- 2
AR ---------- 1
DC ---------- 1
KS ---------- 1
MT ---------- 1
OR ---------- 1

[Mark McLeod]

Arkansas is going gangbusters, it's tripled quadrupled its' number of teams. Another one joined from Springdale, and another from Hot Springs.
The new teams are far from the nearest veteran, so they'll need some teleop help.

Turkey is back with a couple of teams.

Some more old veterans have been resurrected.
Team 144 even got their original number back although they haven't played since 2003.


P.S.

post (http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/content.aspx?id=18429)
Texas Regional events will be closed at second registration (i.e., all teams that register will be put on a wait list.) We will move teams from the wait lists into the events once we determine there are spots available. Priority will go to Texas teams with no other events. If we find there is significant interest, Dallas may go to a second event regional.


Got a bit of a registration surge today and # of teams crossed the 1600 line about 4pm.
That's a week ahead of last year's pace.

[JohnBoucher]

I hop that TIMS is ready for tomorrows assault.

(Foley, bring the hamster back)

[Brandon_L]

Just wondering, where are you getting all this info?

[Mark McLeod]

The registration data just comes from the FIRST website at: http://www.usfirst.org/whatsgoingon.aspx
I have various filters I run it through to look at what's changing.

We also have kept records from earlier FIRST team databases that have now vanished. The raw form of this data is at: http://www.team358.org/files/team_lookup/
That database hasn't been updated in a year, because our webmaster has been in the middle of a database upgrade and got distracted by having to look for a real job after graduating college...

There are some errors in it from the original sources that we've been able to isolate and remove in the derived records published here: http://www.team358.org/files/frc_records/index.php

To compare against past year's I just keep records when I do this every year. You can do this yourself just by looking back through older Registration threads.

[Mark McLeod]

In 10 minutes we can all register for a 2nd Regional event.

1612 teams are showing as registered.
A few teams on 8 event waitlists are not showing, but they are there.
2 teams got to register for two Regionals ahead of time- both 3000+ teams.
Michigan hasn't sorted everyone into their two District events yet.
Texas events will waitlist everyone for 2nd events.
Everyone registering for Championship will be waitlisted.

A little less than 12% of the teams are rookies or new "veteran" teams (189).
10 resurrected vets have been identified.
We're missing 21% (~400) of the vets from last year-about normal for this time.

Israel vets (43) will show up later, and Texas registration has been slowed by the fall BEST competition.

[JohnBoucher]

In and out of TIMS. Very smooth. The hamster must be happy.:D

[Mark McLeod]

You know what's really weird is that one team dropped off the Championship team list at noon.

The most popular Regionals (that we can see) at noon were:
(18) Chesapeake
(16) Connecticut
(10) Wisconsin
(10) Tennessee
(9) NYC - then the waitlist beganAn hour later they were joined by:
(10) Buckeye
(12) NJAnd by the next morning the biggest gains, as the most popular 2nd event, were posted by:
CT (+28 teams) - hit capacity & went to waitlisting
MD (+27 teams)
NJ (+22 teams)
4 more Regionals reached their initial capacity:
San Diego
NYC
Sacramento
Oklahoma2 more Regionals filled initial capacity by 4:30pm
Los Angeles
Virginia1 more Regional filled by the next morning
ConnecticutA few Regionals sent everyone to the waitlist immediately by cutting their remaining open slots to zero: Texas of course, DC, and FL. Seattle Cascade cut theirs to zero too, I assume to let Olympic catch-up.

[Pjohn1959]

Just like last time. I can get in TIMS easily, but there is no box to register. I had to wait about 90 minutes for the 1st registration before it appeared. Hopefully it won't be as long. :(

[Mark McLeod]

It's on the Edit/View page not the main TIMS page.
At the bottom.

[Mr MOE]

Mark:

I look forward to your registration analysis. Great work! Keep it coming! :D

[Pjohn1959]

Dope....


Thanks Mark!

[Travis Hoffman]

Tennessee just got even more interesting (71, 79, 234, 1024...)

[Koko Ed]

Tennessee just got even more interesting (71, 79, 234, 1024...)

FLR just got more intense with 217 and 2056 signing up.

[dodar]

Tennessee just got even more interesting (71, 79, 234, 1024...)

Ya, SMR is gonna be really fun, on top of the fact that it is a new regional. Big name teams from all over FIRST: Florida, Ohio, Indiana, Georgia, and the rest of the Southeast/Appalachian states.

[Alan Anderson]

Tennessee just got even more interesting (71, 79, 234, 1024...)

The TechnoKats (45) decided on Midwest (IL) over Smoky Mountain (TN) partly because we wanted to play with Team Hammond (71) for a change. It looks like we needn't have worried.

WildStang (111) is a lot of fun to hang out with too, so it was still a good choice.

[Mr. B]

Is there anyway to view the event wait list? We are on a wait list, but might want to change to an open event if the wait list is large. any thoughts?

[Gary Dillard]

Tennessee just got even more interesting (71, 79, 234, 1024...)

I guess I'll have to wear a clean flannel shirt to the competition now.

[Mark McLeod]

Funny you should ask, but no we can't see the waitlist.
This email from FIRST just arrived: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?p=978791#post978791

It's not a sequential list anyway. For instance, in Texas 1st event Texas teams get priority, in Washington state teams get preference. In Michigan they sort you into Districts based on a complex criteria.

P.S.


FIRST does not issue the wait list. Teams attending any given regional can change at the last moment as their finances are determined, therefore the number of places available can also change. It is also unknown how many late registering rookies there will be. We do not want teams making definite plans based on their place on a wait list when information may be changing.

[Alan Anderson]

In Michigan they sort you into Districts based on a complex criteria.

Not Detroit, eh? Are you sure? You could be great, you know, it's all here in your cRIO, and Detroit will help you on the way to greatness, no doubt about that-no? Well, if you're sure-better be KETTERING!

(implied comparisons between Michigan District events and Houses are purely arbitrary and are intended neither as endorsement nor disparagement)

[Travis Hoffman]

FLR just got more intense with 217 and 2056 signing up.

2056 breaks from their Waterloo/GTR tradition for the first time - to Rochester's benefit. :)

The GTR East/West updated team lists also indicate something new will likely happen this year. Now more than ever, I hope they find a way to hold that Uber Champion matchup. :)

[Koko Ed]

2056 breaks from their Waterloo/GTR tradition for the first time - to Rochester's benefit. :)

The GTR East/West updated team lists also indicate something new will likely happen this year. Now more than ever, I hope they find a way to hold that Uber Champion matchup. :)

It kills me that a team can cross two borders to go to GTR but no American teams will come.
2006 seems so long ago.

[Karthik]

It kills me that a team can cross two borders to go to GTR but no American teams will come.
2006 seems so long ago.

One American team now, Team 467 from Massachusetts.

[Koko Ed]

One American team now, Team 467 from Massachusetts.

I stand corrected.
I would like to see more.
Why is one side filling up more than the other?
That's weird.

[waialua359]

When we signed up 6am HI time for CMP, we automatically were placed on a waitlist.
Were there a few open slots this morning for teams that signed up today?

[Mark McLeod]

No slots today. The Championship open reg slots were all gone by October 7 (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=976437&postcount=30) a week after registration opened.

[RoboMom]

Server Error
500 - Internal server error.
There is a problem with the resource you are looking for, and it cannot be displayed.


Is it just me? usfirst.org
(I'm not registering anything, but I am trying to finish a ppt for a FIRST workshop!)

[Mark McLeod]

Nah, it's general.

[Vikesrock]

Is it just me? usfirst.org

As Mark said it appears to be a problem with the site itself.

Here's a tool that may help with similar queries in the future:
http://downforeveryoneorjustme.com

[RoboMom]

<off-topic-sort-of>
<banging head on keyboard in frustration>
As my signature says below:
"Experience is that marvelous thing that enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again"

[Gary Dillard]

Server Error
500 - Internal server error.
There is a problem with the resource you are looking for, and it cannot be displayed.

I think some guy was running regional events through a filter to see what changed and he brought the site down.:ahh:

[Mark McLeod]

I think some guy was running regional events through a filter to see what changed and he brought the site down.:ahh:
I have a very light touch. You'd hardly even notice me. Oh, by the way Gary, I noticed your Mastercard is coming up on it's expiration date, and your disk needs to be defragmented...

On the bright side my data is exactly up-to-date and I know nothing has changed :-)

[Mark McLeod]

Back to our irregularly scheduled program chatter...

Bosnia has joined again along with another Turkish team.

Australia
Bosnia
Brazil
Canada
Chile
Germany
Israel
Mexico
Turkey
United Kingdom
United StatesHI Regional is hosting the Australian team
Mexico teams are going all over-all three Texas events, AZ, CO, San Diego, Oregon, Toronto East
San Diego also gets a Brazilian team
Israel Regional will get not only Bosnia, but also Brazil reps
LA hosts Chile
Las Vegas gets to see Germany as always-I wonder what draws them to LV every time?
WPI sees a UK team as does NYC
Midwest gets a team from Turkey
Seattle sees the Turkish team again but also gets a second one
NYC has always seen the UK's 759. I was there when they first crossed the pond and have a signed Union Jack to show for it.

Did you know the UK teams are only two-year schools?
Think of running a team with only freshmen and sophomores year-after-year...


We're approaching the 2009 # of teams (25 teams shy), but are only ~150 teams away from last year's numbers too.

20% of veteran teams remain missing (or tardy like most of the Israelis)
>200 rookies now
~41,000 students now registered
2,147 event slots spoken for, plus pending wait list wannabe'sHere are the places supplying the largest team blocks:

CA ---- 159
MI ---- 149
NY ---- 104
TX ---- 83
MN ---- 81

[Basel A]

How many of the Michiganders are rookies (or veterans, if that's easier)?

[JB987]

How many of the Michiganders are rookies (or veterans, if that's easier)?

Or...does anyone know what the lowest rookie series number is for this year so we can quickly judge who the rookies are this year (excluding the occasional reassigned much lower numbers)?

[Mark McLeod]

A Michigan team also happens to be the first rookie number this year - 3450.
Alan mentioned that in post #2, almost 100 posts ago. I'm not surprised you missed it :ahh:

32 Michigan rookie team numbers, plus team 244

6 Michigan teams are attending Regionals (in addition to Districts): 141, 216, 217, 244, 288, 1528

[JB987]

A Michigan team also happens to be the first rookie number this year - 3450.
Alan mentioned that in post #2, almost 100 posts ago. I'm not surprised you missed it :ahh:

32 Michigan rookie team numbers, plus team 244

6 Michigan teams are attending Regionals (in addition to Districts): 141, 216, 217, 244, 288, 1528

Ahh, 10 self inflicted robot kicks from our 2010 bot...I first read the post a month ago, but alas, my soon to be senior brain didn't register the info permanently...a cogent reminder to review a thread if it's been a long time since one first read it?

[Karthik]

I stand corrected.
I would like to see more.
Why is one side filling up more than the other?
That's weird.

The East started filling up faster than the West prior to 2nd regional registration opening. Since then, the West has caught back up and now there's only a two team difference. (27 in the East, 25 in the West)

[yarb65]

Back to our irregularly scheduled program chatter...

Bosnia has joined again along with another Turkish team.
Australia
Bosnia
Brazil
Canada
Chile
Germany
Israel
Mexico
Turkey
United Kingdom
United StatesHI Regional is hosting the Australian team
Mexico teams are going all over-all three Texas events, AZ, CO, San Diego, Oregon, Toronto East
Israel Regional will get not only Bosnia and Turkey, but also Brazil reps
LA hosts Chile
Las Vegas gets to see Germany as always-I wonder what draws them to LV every time?
WPI sees a UK team as does NYC
Midwest gets a team from Turkey
Seattle sees the Turkish team again but also gets a second one
NYC has always seen the UK's 759. I was there when they first crossed the pond and have a signed Union Jack to show for it.

Did you know the UK teams are only two-year schools?
Think of running a team with only freshmen and sophomores year-after-year...


We're approaching the 2009 # of teams (25 teams shy), but are only ~150 teams away from last year's numbers too.
20% of veteran teams remain missing (or tardy like most of the Israelis)
>200 rookies now
~41,000 students now registered
2,147 event slots spoken for, plus pending wait list wannabe'sHere are the places supplying the largest team blocks:
CA ---- 159
MI ---- 149
NY ---- 104
TX ---- 83
MN ---- 81

There will be at least one US team at the Israel Regional Team 1662 and possibly Team 1836.

[DonRotolo]

Las Vegas gets to see Germany as always-I wonder what draws them to LV every time?
Someone should ask them. They're an American high school in Wiesbaden, students are dependents of American military personnel. I checked their website, and no mention of why they go to LV.

[ebarker]

no mention of why they go to LV.

Because what happens in LV stays in LV !

[Foster]

Because what happens in LV stays in LV !
So thats why it's so hard to find a posting of the competition results!

Back on topic:
Can you show a breakdown of how many teams are going to 1 or 2 events and the Championship? ie 1 only, 1 and Championship, 2 only, 2 and Champs, Champs only (can you do that?)

I understand that the numbers may be off since there is a waitlist for events.

[Mark McLeod]

26% of teams are signed up for extra Regionals (including 6 MI teams)
Only 47% of Michigan teams are listed for their 2nd District event yet.
9% are signed up for Championships (in the end that will be ~18%)

Counting Regional/District/Championship events:

4 events = 1 team
3 events = 43 teams
2 events = 405 teams
1 event = 1203 teamsTaking Championships out of the count gives us:

3 events = 5 teams (all MI teams at a Regional-one team has not been assigned its' 2nd District yet)
2 events = 337 teams
1 event = 1310 teamsNotes:

Fewer than half of the Michigan teams have been assigned 2nd District events yet.
This doesn't count the 64 or so teams that will attend the Michigan State event.
Championship will gain 200 teams from event winners.
An anticipated couple of hundred teams have yet to register or appear off hidden wait lists.
We haven't reached unrestricted registration yet, and we're only halfway through the registration period.P.S.
In case you were looking for these specifics derived from the above #'s:

1 event only = 1203
1 event + Champs = 107
2 events + Champs = 39
3 events + Champs = 1147 teams are currently registered for Championships, two teams who registered have dropped out already.

Went back and looked only at teams that are not signed up for Championships:

3 events = 4 teams
2 events = 300 teams

[JB987]

So thats why it's so hard to find a posting of the competition results!

Back on topic:
Can you show a breakdown of how many teams are going to 1 or 2 events and the Championship? ie 1 only, 1 and Championship, 2 only, 2 and Champs, Champs only (can you do that?)

I understand that the numbers may be off since there is a waitlist for events.

Results have been posted at the official event website (albiet a couple months after the fact)...so "What happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas" sometimes temporarily! Good thing FIRST posted results same day...
(http://engineering.unlv.edu/first/

[Mark McLeod]

Events proceed...

Philadelphia and Smoky Mountain both filled to initial capacity over the weekend.

9 more Regionals are within 1-5 spots of reaching initial capacity:
(1) FLR, KC
(2) AZ
(3) MD, SC, Toronto East, OH
(4) Toronto West
(5) NJ18 Regionals are already at initial capacity:
BAE, San Diego, WPI, Pittsburgh, NYC, Sacramento, Boilermaker, Oklahoma, Los Angeles, Midwest, LI, Silicon Valley, Connecticut, Smoky Mountain, Colorado, Boston, Virginia, Philadelphia.

6 Regionals went into stealth mode before the 2nd event registration opening:
DC
Florida
Alamo
Dallas
Lone Star
Seattle Cascadeplus the always enigmatic MI District events.


P.S.
10 Regionals have gone beyond initial capacity numbers by adding rookies to the team list, so some of the reserved slots are already partially showing in spots.

P.P.S.
# registered teams passed the number that played in 2009 (1677) around 4:30pm.

Unrestricted registration opens Thursday, so we should see more multiples then, but it'll all be blocked from us by wait lists if Regional Directors don't begin clearing them soon. I wonder how much the wait lists discourage subsequent registrations?

[dodar]

What do you mean by stealth mode? Like the regional directors arent allowing anyone to register for it?

[Mark McLeod]

Stealth mode are events that didn't reach their initial advertised capacity, but reset their open slots to zero, so anyone registering for it would immediately go on the wait list.

There's just no way to see what's going on and when it reached, if it ever did, initial capacity.
Regional Directors do this to give themselves more latitude in assigning limited availability slots.

The Texas Regionals are a good example. They were all frozen below capacity, so preferential treatment can be given the Texas teams. They have a State funding restriction that says the teams must play in-state or not receive the funding.
Washington State has a similar State funding restriction, but they handled it up front by freezing the team list right from the start, then they opened it up when they knew all the State teams could be covered.

[dodar]

Oh ok that makes sense. Florida did reach advertised capacity, atleast last time I checked. Reached 51 teams middle of last week.

[Mark McLeod]

Florida original capacity was 54 teams and was at 50 last week before 2nd event registration opened. At that time it was frozen at 50 teams. For "initial capacity" I use the numbers as they were when registration first opened, not later manipulations of those numbers.

Around 12:30 today it went to 52 teams as two more rookies were added.

I attached the Florida registration plot.

P.S.
The Florida Regional has 12 rookie teams, so I can see why they might have cut short the open slots. That's a lot of growth.

[Mark McLeod]

Finger Lakes and Arizona Regionals have now reached initial capacity.

The running for the event with the most rookies (where the vets need to work their hardest):

(12) Florida
(10) San Diego
(10) AlamoNote:
Toronto East & West combined have (14) rookies

Here's everyone with rookies as of Halloween:
FL -------------- 12
SDC ------------ 10
Alamo ---------- 10
Tor-E ------------ 8
SAC ------------- 7
MI-West --------- 7
MA -------------- 7
OK -------------- 6
OH -------------- 6
MI-Traverse ----- 6
MI-Kettering ---- 6
Bayou ----------- 6
GA -------------- 6
CT -------------- 6
Tor-W ----------- 6
MI-Troy --------- 5
MI-Niles -------- 5
MI-Ann Arbor --- 5
Cascade --------- 4
SC -------------- 4
PIT ------------- 4
NC -------------- 4
MI-Livonia ------ 4
Dallas ---------- 4
AZ -------------- 4
10k ------------- 4
UT -------------- 3
Lone Star ------ 3
Silicon Valley -- 3
NJ -------------- 3
MI-Detroit ------ 3
LI -------------- 3
IN -------------- 3
IL -------------- 3
DC -------------- 3
CO -------------- 3
BAE ------------- 3
WI -------------- 2
Olympic -------- 2
TN -------------- 2
PA -------------- 2
OR -------------- 2
N. Star --------- 2
KC -------------- 2
Los Angeles ---- 2
WPI ------------- 1
VA -------------- 1
NYC ------------- 1
MO -------------- 1
FLR ------------- 1
MD -------------- 1

[SteveGPage]

Here's everyone with rookies:



As of yesterday morning, the Chesapeake Regional - in Baltimore, MD has added a Rookie team. 3650, from Waldorf, MD.

Thanks for all your hard work in getting this data!

Steve

[Mark McLeod]

Thanks for the correction.
The numbers I posted were mostly as of this past weekend and only the top returns were updated this afternoon as the question occurred to me.

[SteveGPage]

Thanks for the correction.
The numbers I posted were mostly as of this past weekend and only the top returns were updated this afternoon as the question occurred to me.

Thanks, Mark! By the way, our new rookie team is now called the "Electric Eagles"!! Not to be confused with your "Robotic Eagles"!

Steve

[Meredith Novak]

The running for the event with the most rookies (where the vets need to work their hardest):

(12) Florida
(10) San Diego
(10) AlamoNote:
Toronto East & West combined have (14) rookies



We (FRC16) have 3 rookie teams registered for Alamo and we are waitlisted. Having these teams 3-5 hours away from us in all directions is bad. Sending them to a tournament alone is absurd.

[Mark McLeod]

Why didn't you register for Alamo when your rookie teams did to be sure you all went to the same place?

Have you contacted the Alamo Regional Director and explained the situation linking you to the other Arkansas rookies? Alamo has a lot of space, so it may not become a problem.

You have quite a mentoring challenge with the rookies so widespread.

---------------
The number of teams passed the 1700 mark at around 6am EST, this morning.
That's about 10 days ahead of last year. Growth has gained a little since the day 2nd event registration opened. It's reached 8% ahead of this time last year. That's about the same % gap that 2010 registratration held over 2009 registration numbers at this time.

Chesapeake and Oregon have reached initial capacity now.

[Meredith Novak]

Why didn't you register for Alamo when your rookie teams did to be sure you all went to the same place?

Have you contacted the Alamo Regional Director and explained the situation linking you to the other Arkansas rookies? Alamo has a lot of space, so it may not become a problem.

You have quite a mentoring challenge with the rookies so widespread.



We are required by our corporate sponsor, Baxter Healthcare, to attend the Midwest Regional (sponsored by Baxter Healthcare), so we have to sign up for that first - good thing since it filled up.

I sent an email to FIRST HQ and contacted the Alamo regional folks before I got waitlisted to let them know what was going on. The local Alamo people did not know FIRST was going to do this. They are doing all they can to get us in. I have yet to get an answer from FIRST HQ.

The 3 AR rookies will be JCP teams and that is why I instructed them to register for Alamo. I did not dream they would shut out the mentor veteran team!

It has been a very stressful situation all around. No one told us about the rookie grants available to AR even though I asked directly about the JCP money for our area. I scratched around and got these 3 teams to register and got a grant submitted in a 2 day period on the weekend after the deadline had passed for the grants.

These new teams have been so tough through all of this. If they are half as good at being a robot team as they have been in this gearing up quickly process, they will be a force! I am so proud of them.

[Mark McLeod]

These new teams have been so tough through all of this. If they are half as good at being a robot team as they have been in this gearing up quickly process, they will be a force! I am so proud of them.

A little too much trial by fire just to get started.
No one needs that kind of stress.

I'm sure the Alamo folks will get you registered. There's always room to squeeze another pit in.

[Meredith Novak]

A little too much trial by fire just to get started.
No one needs that kind of stress.

I'm sure the Alamo folks will get you registered. There's always room to squeeze another pit in.

I expect they will get us in, but it has been very frustrating and hard on my team. I haven't even told the rookies about it. Maybe we can have a good laugh about it in San Antonio. ;)

We could have had many more teams in Arkansas if I had known about the grants that were set aside for us. It has been an emotionally crushing few weeks.

[Mark McLeod]

No big rush visible at noon when unrestricted registration began on day 35.
Some of that is probably because 70% of the events are now obscured by wait lists.

A bunch of Regionals that were close to being full went to initial capacity and started their own wait lists:
KC, SC, 10K Lakes, NC, UT, Waterloo

Only 15 events have non-waitlist, open registration.

1733 teams are registered.
243 new teams

Here's a chart of when (in days from registration opening) Regionals reached their initial capacity. Events that closed early, such as Texas & Michigan, aren't included.

[JB987]

Lots of room for teams at Vegas Regional guys! Everyone who has joined us has had a great time and found the trip to be economical. The Regional Planning Committee will be posting updated info soon about hotel deals, etc...Stay tuned. 987 promises to go easy on all out of state visitors;)

[AdamHeard]

Lots of room for teams at Vegas Regional guys! Everyone who has joined us has had a great time and found the trip to be economical. The Regional Planning Committee will be posting updated info soon about hotel deals, etc...Stay tuned. 987 promises to go easy on all out of state visitors;)

Unfortunately we won't be making it to Vegas this year, but Joe is right. It's a GREAT event, 973 has been doing it for years and has always loved it. There are some really nice, cheap hotels around as well (less expensive and nicer than most hotels we've stayed at the last few years at other events). Highly reccomend it.

[Mark McLeod]

Things haven't moved much since unrestricted registration opened yesterday, but here are the number of teams going to 4 events, 3 events, etc.
This includes Championship/Regionals/Districts.

# Events -- # Teams
4 Events ------- 4
3 Events ------ 53
2 Events ----- 437
1 Event ----- 1246

[AdamHeard]

Things haven't moved much since unrestricted registration opened yesterday, but here are the number of teams going to 4 events, 3 events, etc.
This includes Championship/Regionals/Districts.

# Events -- # Teams
4 Events ------- 4
3 Events ------ 53
2 Events ----- 437
1 Event ----- 1246

Are the 4 event teams all from Michigan?

[Mark McLeod]

Yep, Michigan teams 141, 216, 244, & 288

[Andrew Schreiber]

Yep, Michigan teams 141, 216, 244, & 288

The interesting part I found was that 216, 244, and 288 are not registered for either MSC (can't be) or CMP yet. They are looking at a potentially 6 event year.

[AdamHeard]

The interesting part I found was that 216, 244, and 288 are not registered for either MSC (can't be) or CMP yet. They are looking at a potentially 6 event year.

WOW. That is just absurd, they're certainly going to have some experience come champs...

[Mark McLeod]

NJ has reached initial capacity and joined the society of wait listed events.

Michigan (160) is close to surpassing California (161) as the monster team state.

[thefro526]

WOW. That is just absurd, they're certainly going to have some experience come champs...

And some tired Robots as well.

I couldn't imagine going into the Championship with a Robot that has 5 Events of wear on it already.

Does anyone have registration information for the Championship? I believe we're on the wait list, so I'm curious to how long it is...

[GaryVoshol]

Michigan (160) is close to surpassing California (161) as the monster team state.Of course Michigan, theoretically, has no room for any more teams at the 8 Districts. (40 teams each event, each team gets 2 events)

[Mark McLeod]

Of course Michigan, theoretically, has no room for any more teams at the 8 Districts. (40 teams each event, each team gets 2 events)
Maybe you could rent additional space from Wisconsin?
Travel would probably be better for those upper peninsula teams...:)

In past years the extreme upper peninsula team has only attended one District. I imagine because the distance to travel can be 9 hours. So, with more upper teams this year there might be more unused District slots to allow for one or two teams over the theoretical limit.

In any case there probably won't be 3rd Districts to look forward to.

[Alan Anderson]

Of course Michigan, theoretically, has no room for any more teams at the 8 Districts.

Michigan has room for more District events. Adding another would let 180 teams have the full experience.

[Mark McLeod]

Michigan teams just went to 164, somewhat beyond the theoretical District limit.

That beats California's current 162 total teams.

Texas has added a few more teams to the event lists.

Buckeye reached it's initial capacity.

The Netherlands is back, but attending Seattle instead of their usual Las Vegas Regional.

[Foster]

Michigan teams just went to 164, somewhat beyond the theoretical District limit.

FIRST is all about going past theoretical limits. :rolleyes:

[Andrew Schreiber]

Michigan teams just went to 164, somewhat beyond the theoretical District limit.

That beats California's current 162 total teams.

Texas has added a few more teams to the event lists.

Buckeye reached it's initial capacity.

2 Districts with 42 teams in them. Not optimal but I know Kettering can handle it and it is one of the smaller venues.

[IKE]

2 Districts with 42 teams in them. Not optimal but I know Kettering can handle it and it is one of the smaller venues.

4 teams over require 8 slots. Thus it would be 42 teams at 4 events or ... >40 teams would require extra matches. I would prefer that if they expand an event, they would wait until the later events. Kettering seems to have a lot fo field related downtime associated with it due to being a Week 1 event. I really like where Alan's going with the 9th event. That would be pretty sweet.

[BJC]

If they made a 9th event, I'm sure many Michigan teams would jump on the opportunity to go to a third district event. Problems arise when you start asking how to choose which teams go and how the extra district is going to effect the Michigan ranking system. I'm sure there are other less obvious problems too. Otherwise... YA!

[Andrew Schreiber]

IKE is right of course, I was not suggesting they come to KU merely that it, being a very small venue, can handle 42 teams so most other places should be able to.

If they made a 9th event, I'm sure many Michigan teams would jump on the opportunity to go to a third district event. Problems arise when you start asking how to choose which teams go and how the extra district is going to effect the Michigan ranking system. I'm sure there are other less obvious problems too. Otherwise... YA!

In 2009 when we were last allowed to register for 3 events it was first come first served and the 3rd one counted for nothing.

[Karibou]

IKE is right of course, I was not suggesting they come to KU merely that it, being a very small venue, can handle 42 teams so most other places should be able to.


I agree that KU can handle 42 teams...barely. I would certainly not push it past 42. The venue IS small, and once you start dropping below 8-feet-wide pits (which is what I believe that we had at KK11), it gets frustrating. For example, by a stroke of bad luck, we had 6 and a half feet of pit space in Traverse City. I'll just say that it was not fun. Very cramped, and unsafe.

If anywhere else is smaller than KU, I'd wonder why it was chosen to host an event. The other venues that I've been to (Troy, Detroit, and TC) could certainly hold a few more teams without much of an issue, and I understand that the venue for Western MI is large as well.

[Mark McLeod]

Broke 1800 teams this morning.

[J93Wagner]

SWEET!!!! HERE'S TO EXPONENTIAL GROWTH!!! :)

(I couldn't resist the CAPS LOCK.)

[Mark McLeod]

Only four teams away from the number that played last year.
P.S. Reached 1808 about a day later, just before 9am EST on 11/16, the same number as played in 2010. We haven't matched the peak of 1826 from 2010 yet though. Usually, the list of teams falls back a bit from it's peak within a week or so of registration closing.
The Wisconsin Regional is also now at initially advertised capacity. That means 10 Regionals are still open book, plus the Texas events immediately show Texas teams that fit their criteria.

I'd hazard a guess that an additional 30-40 teams are simply invisible while they're cooling their heels on waitlists, and with some of the known late registering areas, i.e., Israel, we'll easily have more teams than last year. Probably not exponential though. This is definitely a slow growth year, but we'll still probably break 1900 teams.
We do have more rookie teams (280) than last year (277). Not so many resurrected vets (9) as last year (21).

P.S. I'd also guess that there are ~150 teams on the Championship waitlist, based on last year's numbers, and this year's drop in available open slots.

Here are where the missing ~300 teams are from and by their rookie years.

Still missing by rookie years (rookie year/# missing/as a % of teams remaining in 2010 from that rookie year):

1998 & earlier -- 3 --- 3%
1999 ----- 5 ------ 8%
2000 ----- 10 --- 16%
2001 ----- 1 ----- 1%
2002 ----- 6 ----- 7%
2003 ----- 5 ----- 7%
2004 ----- 18 --- 17%
2005 ----- 28 --- 24%
2006 ----- 25 --- 17%
2007 ----- 38 --- 22%
2008 ----- 31 --- 14%
2009 ----- 63 --- 23%
2010 ----- 61 --- 22%


Missing by location:
Israel ----------- 41
MI --------------- 21
NY --------------- 21
TX --------------- 21
CA --------------- 15
MN -------------- 15
OH -------------- 10
CO --------------- 9
FL ---------------- 8
IL ---------------- 8
Canada-ON ----- 7
HI ---------------- 7
MA --------------- 7
NJ --------------- 7
VA --------------- 6
AZ --------------- 5
GA --------------- 5
IN ---------------- 5
LA --------------- 5
NH --------------- 5
PA --------------- 5
WA -------------- 5
DC --------------- 4
SC --------------- 4
UT --------------- 4
CT --------------- 3
MD --------------- 3
MO --------------- 3
MT --------------- 3
NC --------------- 3
OK --------------- 3
OR --------------- 3
TN --------------- 3
AL --------------- 2
KY --------------- 2
MS --------------- 2
NM --------------- 2
NV --------------- 2
WI --------------- 2
AK --------------- 1
Canada-AB ----- 1
Canada-BC ----- 1
Canada-QC ----- 1
KS --------------- 1
ME --------------- 1
ND --------------- 1
PR --------------- 1
Turkey ---------- 1

[RoboMom]

Some of these teams aren't yet missing.
They are on the waitlists.

[waialua359]

Our team missed out on registration of a 3rd regional during week 6 since we were in Japan as we tried just one day later.
As we searched for other regionals during that week, they were all booked.
We're playing a wait and see being on a waitlist. :(

[Mark McLeod]

We now have more than 300 new teams counting both the rookies and new instant veteran-status teams.

California and Michigan are tied with 164 teams each.
Five areas have more than 100 teams each (century areas if you will).
(164) California
(164) Michigan
(118) Texas
(108) New York
(104) MinnesotaSeattle Cascade has opened up again, so there are a few more slots for willing teams.
Israel teams are trickling in, up to 17 now.
A few more Texas teams got admitted to each of the local Regionals, but there's still a lot of room for the waitlisted teams.

I was just counting the number of fields that FIRST needs this year and it looks like 14 are necessary. 13 active all at once week 3, plus the spare field they usually talk about. Maybe a separate mockup field back at HQ?

Attached is a plot of the registration progress thus far.

-------------------
I'll be off grid for a couple of weeks starting tomorrow, so feel free to talk amongst yourselves...
If some of you wouldn't mind posting the registration total every few days or so I'd appreciate it. That way, when I return, I can see what happened while I was gone.

[thefro526]

P.S. I'd also guess that there are ~150 teams on the Championship waitlist, based on last year's numbers, and this year's drop in available open slots.



I wonder if there are even that many. I wouldn't doubt it, but according to one of our head mentors who spoke with FIRST HQ in regards to the waiting list, it sounds like Championship Registration is down this year and that many of the teams registered may not have payed yet.

My guess would be that on (EDIT) January 28th we'll see quite a few teams drop out because of lack of payment, at which point those who have the funds available will slip in.

[Chris is me]

Payment for Championship is not due until January 28th.

[thefro526]

Payment for Championship is not due until January 28th.

Thanks for correcting me.

Though I still wish it were December 2nd - I dislike waiting.

[AdamHeard]

Thanks for correcting me.

Though I still wish it were December 2nd - I dislike waiting.

If you've paid, and you're on the champs list now, it's a pretty sure thing you'll get in (based on the past). I've been on teams that signed up and wait listed during regionals and still made it.

[thefro526]

If you've paid, and you're on the champs list now, it's a pretty sure thing you'll get in (based on the past). I've been on teams that signed up and wait listed during regionals and still made it.

We've made it in off the wait list twice before, but both times required near instant payment when a spot opened up. Luckily for us, we had the money alloted in those years, and it sounds like we do this year as well.

[IndySam]

I miss Mark.

One of you computer nerds needs to help us mechanical nerds out and publish some data please.

[GaryVoshol]

Some data:

CA now has 171 teams.

Michigan has 172! (Which is theoretically 12 over district capacity - stay tuned)

[Ether]

Michigan has 172! (Which is theoretically 12 over district capacity - stay tuned)

It's more like 2.13455108077·10^311 over district capacity :-)

[synth3tk]

I miss Mark.

One of you computer nerds needs to help us mechanical nerds out and publish some data please.
2 out of 3 non-mechanical nerds believe 95% of the statistical data generated by 40% of computer nerds. 60% of the numbers in the previous statement were made-up.

[biancs15]

A lot of the info concerning which teams have signed up for which regional can be found here : http://www.usfirst.org/whatsgoingon.aspx.

[lynca]

A lot of the info concerning which teams have signed up for which regional can be found here : http://www.usfirst.org/whatsgoingon.aspx.

All the sports facts and statistics are freely available.

But yet that basketball guy who talks about PER still draws a huge audience.

Mark, is our registration SportsCenter for FIRST ! Come back to CD Mark.

[rsisk]

Did I miss something? What happened to Mark?

[EricH]

I'll be off grid for a couple of weeks starting tomorrow, so feel free to talk amongst yourselves...
If some of you wouldn't mind posting the registration total every few days or so I'd appreciate it. That way, when I return, I can see what happened while I was gone.
He should be back before too long.

[IndySam]

Historically speaking: when will teams be moved off of regional wait-list now that registration is closed and the first payment deadline has passed?

[Mark McLeod]

I'm back, but half asleep and I'll be playing catchup for the next week. Guess how many threads get updated on CD in just a couple of weeks...

I just glanced at the numbers, but here's what the glance told me.

Unusually large gain in the days I was gone. Some due to teams being released from waitlists and Israeli teams finally registering.
14.4% growth is better than in the past two years, but not as good as 2008.
Over 400 new teams (rookies & 9 new vets). That's about the same percentage of new/total teams as in 2009.
Registration is oscillating around 2069 with as many teams coming off the list as are still appearing. Must be frantic on-going payment negotiations.
Some waitlists have been cleared already, but many teams, including mine, still await FIRSTs final decision. Texas & MI are still playing hold-em'
~8% loss of veteran team no-shows is the best ever. 166 vets are missing in action.
Some teams have begun dropping off the Championship team list.

[waialua359]

We were told decision for Dallas waitlist on Dec. 15. We are keeping fingers crossed.
Looks like they added double digit no. of rookie teams to their regional in recent weeks.

Its a cost strategy for us, since American already flies to Dallas on the way to Orlando.
VEX Worlds is the week after and our team is going there the following week on one trip if we get into Dallas.

[Gary Dillard]

Received this yesterday

Sent: Monday, December 06, 2010 12:20 PM
To: frcteams
Cc: LJ Robinson
Subject: FIRST Smoky Mountain regional questions
This email is being sent to all teams registered for the Smoky Mountain regional who are also registered for another event.
We have 2 late registering local rookies who cannot get into the event because it is full.
We have no more room in the facility to increase the number of teams.
So, I am asking all of you:
Firstly, are any of you not able to attend this regional after all and are planning to cancel? If so, could you please respond right away and let us know.
Secondly, would any of you be prepared to go to another regional instead of Smoky Mountain? We have room in a number of regionals, North Carolina, Palmetto, Florida, Bayou.

If we cannot get a positive response to either of these questions, these 2 rookies will not be able to compete this year, so I appeal for your help.

Have a great season,
Ian McEwan
FIRST Vice President Regional Operations.



We're considering it, since Peachtree showed 1 opening this morning we could go there; however that is the same week as spring break.

[ATannahill]

Received this yesterday



We're considering it, since Peachtree showed 1 opening this morning we could go there; however that is the same week as spring break.

Can they not fit two more teams into the event?

[EricH]

Can they not fit two more teams into the event?
The message says there is "no more room in the facility to increase the number of teams." That means that they're probably already running 8' by 8' pits (or maybe 8' by 10' pits) to accommodate everybody, and barely have enough room for the field/storage/walkways. So, they're asking if anybody doing the event as a second event will either switch events or drop out, so that the rookies can compete.

I've got a hunch that there will be room for the rookies before terribly long, knowing FRC teams' tendency for helping other teams to compete and all.

[Mark McLeod]

It looks like one team dropped out of Smokey Mtn in the last day, so they'll need at least one more.
P.S.
Team 461 was the generous team that gave up their slot in TN for one of the shutout rookie teams.

As much as the event organizers strive to fit in everyone who want's to come, the time arrives when one more would spill out the door.
SBPLI has that situation this year. More teams wanted to come than we could rearrange the furniture to fit. In past year's the venue has been able to come up with creative ways to reorient the field, reduce or eliminate the practice area, relocate the A/V folks, move as much excess as possible out into the hallways. Sounds like TN would need to setup a tent outside.

[DonRotolo]

Seem like it's time for us to build a 4-dimensional room, just for this eventuality. Or are 5 dimensions needed?

Welcome back Mark, we missed you.

[Mark McLeod]

Here's a message of interest pertaining to the waitlist for Championship.


Greetings Championship Wait List Team:

Now that registration has closed, we want to touch base with you and share the following to help you understand the 2011 FRC Championship wait list process:

Championship spot availability is based on how many merit-based qualifying teams choose to attend or decline to attend the event. You can view the merit based qualifying criteria at http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/content.aspx?id=944&terms=championship+eligibility Please note, teams that decline their qualifying spot may not offer the spot to another team; declined spots are offered to wait list teams by FIRST Headquarters;
Some of the merit-based qualifying teams may have already registered for the Championship during open registration. This will open additional spots to wait list teams;
We will start making offers to wait list teams once the events are underway, around the 3rd week of competition, given there are spots to offer. However, some spots may open up after the payment deadline date (1/28/11) as some registered teams may drop the Championship due to funding issues. In this event, we will start making offers to wait list teams in early February.
Teams are normally moved off the wait list on a first come first served basis (i.e., date registered on the wait list.) However, and although unlikely, FIRST reserves the right to move a team into the event at its discretion;
We do not publish the wait list. As with the regionals, FIRST does not want any team making travel arrangements based on where they are on the wait list. There is no guarantee even the first team on the list will get a spot;
You may send payment for us to “hold” for you; however, this does NOT guarantee your team a spot in the Championship nor give your team preference for being moved off the wait list. In the event your team is offered a spot and you accept, we will apply the monies to your account. If your team does not get a spot your payment will be returned.Please note all Championship wait list decisions are made at FIRST headquarters. Questions should be directed to frcteams@usfirst.org, Subject Line: Championship Wait List.

We wish each of you the best of luck this season.

Warm Regards,

FRC Teams.

Go Teams!

[Mark McLeod]

Historically speaking: when will teams be moved off of regional wait-list now that registration is closed and the first payment deadline has passed?
Last year many Regionals had cleared their waitlists by December 5, a few days after the deadline. Everyone (half) cleared by December 8.
Michigan was a conspicuous exception, because they run to a different registration schedule. Last year Michigan finally cleared their waitlists over the year-end holidays, before Kickoff.
And of course the Championship waitlist is much later and was handled unusually last year.

This year we have more Regionals delaying their waitlists.
Presumably, due to what appears to be a very late rookie registration drive.
The most obvious are the Texas Regionals, frozen to make sure late registering Texas teams get preference. As Glenn informed us, they are scheduled to clear December 15 this year.

If you have a particular event in mind I can give you a time chart of its' 2010 registration tally.

[IndySam]

Last year many Regionals had cleared their waitlists by December 5, a few days after the deadline. Everyone (half) cleared by December 8.
Michigan was a conspicuous exception, because they run to a different registration schedule. Last year Michigan finally cleared their waitlists over the year-end holidays, before Kickoff.
And of course the Championship waitlist is much later and was handled unusually last year.

This year we have more Regionals delaying their waitlists.
Presumably, due to what appears to be a very late rookie registration drive.
The most obvious are the Texas Regionals, frozen to make sure late registering Texas teams get preference. As Glenn informed us, they are scheduled to clear December 15 this year.

If you have a particular event in mind I can give you a time chart of its' 2010 registration tally.

Boilermaker
Thanks Mark
Welcome back :)

[TD78]

Last year many Regionals had cleared their waitlists by December 5, a few days after the deadline. Everyone (half) cleared by December 8.
Michigan was a conspicuous exception, because they run to a different registration schedule. Last year Michigan finally cleared their waitlists over the year-end holidays, before Kickoff.
And of course the Championship waitlist is much later and was handled unusually last year.

This year we have more Regionals delaying their waitlists.
Presumably, due to what appears to be a very late rookie registration drive.
The most obvious are the Texas Regionals, frozen to make sure late registering Texas teams get preference. As Glenn informed us, they are scheduled to clear December 15 this year.

If you have a particular event in mind I can give you a time chart of its' 2010 registration tally.

looking for Boston and Connecticut...hoping one or the other is soon!
thanks.

[Mark McLeod]

I just got notified that WPI has accepted us from the waitlist, so they've started the clearing process.

Last year Regionals also did a half pass at the waitlists just prior to 2nd event registration opened up. That didn't happen this year.
Clearing the waitists may take place over several days, because they first give the waitlisted team 24 hours to accept before moving on to another team on the list.

Here are last year's registration charts for:

Boilermaker (cleared mostly on Dec 5 and Dec 8)
Boston (mostly cleared by Dec. 12)
Connecticut (final clearing Dec. 8)

[ebarker]

Smokey Mountain was filled up with no hidden reserves.

This morning 1311 - Kell Robotics - withdrew from the Smokey Mountain Regional. 1311 is moving to the Palmetto which is the previous week. 1311 is going back to back - Peachtree then Palmetto....

FYI - as of this writing the empty slot at the Peachtree is now filled.

However - if you want to move from the Smokey Mountain to the Peachtree it is a very do-able thing. There is a little wiggle room there.

Ed

[JohnBoucher]

Sounds like TN would need to setup a tent outside.
When Connecticut was at the Meadows venue, they had a large tent in the snow and rain for the overflow teams.

[Chris is me]

I just got notified that WPI has accepted us from the waitlist, so they've started the clearing process.

Glad to hear it, but I don't see you guys on the Event page yet. Does that take awhile to update?

[Mark McLeod]

Glad to hear it, but I don't see you guys on the Event page yet. Does that take awhile to update?
Don't know how long it takes to update.
Maybe they spent the afternoon sending out a bunch of invitations and will go through the responses tomorrow.

[Mark McLeod]

One of the Smoky Mtn rookies (3856) has taken 461's slot.

1311 is still listed even though they've agreed to release their spot, and I now know of several teams including my own that have received invitations to move off other event waitlists, but have yet to appear on the respective event team lists. So there's a backlog or lag at FIRST HQ on moving teams on and off the event lists.

3 teams dropped out and 8 added in within the past few hours.

[Mark McLeod]

Michigan has flushed its' district event waitlists about 3 weeks earlier than last year.
Kettering, Traverse City, West Michigan, Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Troy are full at 40 teams each.

Livonia has only a single space unfilled, and Niles is still only half filled.

Now to wait and see where the overflow will go?

[Basel A]

I have it from a reputable source that they're looking for a 9th district event. Which should leave 16+ spots for 3rd district events for teams.

I'd like allowing non-MI teams to be allowed to fill those gaps (with no chance to advance or qualify for Nationals), but I don't see that happening.

[Jack Jones]

I have it from a reputable source that they're looking for a 9th district event. Which should leave 16+ spots for 3rd district events for teams.

I'd like allowing non-MI teams to be allowed to fill those gaps (with no chance to advance or qualify for Nationals), but I don't see that happening.

Recieved 12-9 at 4:28 P.M.:

We have a new week 2 event (March 11-12) at:
Waterford Mott High School
1151 Scott Lake Road
Waterford, MI 48329

The event will be hosted jointly by our two Waterford teams 2612 Waterford Mott and 3098 Waterford Kettering.

Today we began clearing the waitlists for all the other events. When this is complete, there will be open spots available at Niles and Waterford, for teams that still need second events. The Waterford event is not yet open on the FIRST website. I will let you know when it is.

[Mark McLeod]

The second late registering Tennessee rookie is finally on the Smoky Mtn. event list in place of 1311.

The Waterford District is now listed on the FIRST event site.

Still no movement as a result of the latest waitlist invitations.

[Mark McLeod]

Here is the current tally for how many events teams are signed-up for. This includes Regionals, Districts, and Championship.

Overall ~a quarter of teams do more than one event.

# Events/#Teams
5 Count 1
4 Count 4
3 Count 61
2 Count 490
1 Count 1523

[IndySam]

New rookie just appeared at Boilermaker, any more pop up over the weekend?

[AdamHeard]

Here is the current tally for how many events teams are signed-up for. This includes Regionals, Districts, and Championship.

Overall ~a quarter of teams do more than one event.

# Events/#Teams
5 Count 1
4 Count 4
3 Count 61
2 Count 490
1 Count 1523

Who is the 5 count?

[Mark McLeod]

New rookie just appeared at Boilermaker, any more pop up over the weekend?
8 new rookies appeared over the weekend counting the new Indiana team, one rookie dropped out.

Right now it looks like JC Penny is sponsoring 129 rookies.
They seem to account for the big increase in rookie teams this year.

Rookie team 3785 is being sponsored by #64 The Gila Monsters, remember them?
The Gila Monsters last played in 2005 and were somewhat replaced by team 39 who have not re-registered to play this season.

Who is the 5 count?

Team 141

[Mark McLeod]

Here are the registration fees teams have/will pay so far:

Initial fee (vet): 1657 teams @ $5,000 = $8,285,000
Initial fee (newish): 423 teams @ $6,500 = $2,749,500
2nd+ events: 482 event slots @ $4,000 = $1,928,000
MI 3rd events: 6 teams @ $500 = $3,000
Championship: 140 teams @ $5,000 = $700,000Total FRC registration fees = $13,665,500

[KrazyCarl92]

Is this the largest single year growth in the number of FRC teams so far?

[Vikesrock]

MI 3rd events: 0 teams @ $500 = $0

I'm not sure how many MI teams are signed up for 3 events, but I know at least 2337 and 141 are registered for 3 right now.

[Basel A]

I'm not sure how many MI teams are signed up for 3 events, but I know at least 2337 and 141 are registered for 3 right now.

Man, Clint (head mentor) is fast... I wasn't even aware of this!

[lynca]

Here are the registration fees teams have/will pay so far:

Initial fee (vet): 1657 teams @ $5,000 = $8,285,000
Initial fee (newish): 423 teams @ $6,500 = $2,749,500
2nd+ events: 488 event slots @ $4,000 = $1,952,000
MI 3rd events: 0 teams @ $500 = $0
Championship: 140 teams @ $5,000 = $700,000
Total FRC registration fees = $13,686,500

Impressive amount of money! Makes me wonder how much is spent on FIRST fields and how much more money regionals have to raise. :ahh:

[Andrew Schreiber]

Impressive amount of money! Makes me wonder how much is spent on FIRST fields and how much more money regionals have to raise. :ahh:

http://usfirst.org/uploadedFiles/Who/Annual_Report-Financials/FIRST_FY10%20AFS_Website_Copy.pdf May answer some of your questions.

Edit: Or http://usfirst.org/uploadedFiles/Who/Annual_Report-Financials/FIRST_AnnualReport2009.pdf

[Mark McLeod]

I'm not sure how many MI teams are signed up for 3 events, but I know at least 2337 and 141 are registered for 3 right now.
Thanks for catching that, I was assuming...
53 teams are still only registered for a single District event, and I forgot 3rd District sign-up opened while I was away.

Six Michigan teams have already been registered for third events.
Teams: 27, 123, 141, 302, 904, 2337

[Mark McLeod]

We just lost the Netherlands, as well as Team 84, Chuck.

[Alex Cormier]

as well as Team 84, Chuck.

That one is a surprise. Any news on why?

[waialua359]

We were told by FIRST that they would let us know by tomorrow afternoon now. Lots of rookie teams going to Dallas as they are reserving spots.
We hope we get in, as I just got a quote for $430 round trip to Dallas, which is pretty cheap from HI. I hope the rate remains for a few days longer.

[JaneYoung]

We were told by FIRST that they would let us know by tomorrow afternoon now. Lots of rookie teams going to Dallas as they are reserving spots.
We hope we get in, as I just got a quote for $430 round trip to Dallas, which is pretty cheap from HI. I hope the rate remains for a few days longer.

Glenn,

It would be so awesome to compete with you guys in Dallas! That fare is amazing! Let us know as soon as you find something out. :) You would be such an inspiration to all of the rookies! They would love it.

Jane

[IndySam]

Mark
How many regionals have cleared waiting lists we are still waiting for Boilermaker?

[EricH]

That one is a surprise. Any news on why?
I'd check Waterford District if I were you, Mark and Alex. MI teams that suddenly lose an event are probably going there. There aren't any teams registered *yet*, according to the FIRST site, but they should start showing up pretty quickly.

[Mark McLeod]

Boilermaker may be full, since they are at last year's capacity. Was there extra room last year and have you talked to the Regional Director about how many teams will be allowed in?

It's all very late this year.
We got notified a week ago that we were given a slot and coming off the WPI waitlist, but the event list hasn't changed at all yet.
We're going ahead now with travel plans based on the email, but it worries me.

Based on last year's final capacity few events are down to zero space left. The events that are at last year's capacity (or we've been told they're full, like TN), and therefore presumably have no more room, are Boilermaker, LI, TN, NC, NYC. Maybe the Seattle double event, however, I saw a new rookie popup there on Monday.


P.S.
Eric, Team 84-Chuck is from Pennsylvania.
It seems to me I noticed a post about helping them raise $ to compete this year.

[EricH]

P.S.
Eric, Team 84-Chuck is from Pennsylvania.
It seems to me I noticed a post about helping them raise $ to compete this year.Forgot about that--85 is from MI.:o

[IceStorm]

Any changes to number of teams per state? Wondering if Michigan or California has came out on top yet.

[Mark McLeod]

California is ahead 175 to Michigan's 172 173
followed by:
144 Texas
130 Minnesota
127 New York

The rest are under 100 teams.

[Mark McLeod]

A new team 3877 from Madrid just joined and signed up for Colorado.

It doesn't actually say Spain in the team list, but the contact phone # uses Spain's county code.

This appears to be the lead mentor's webpage: http://WWW.DABOT.ORG

[JaneYoung]

A new team 3877 from Madrid just joined and signed up for Colorado.

It doesn't actually say Spain in the team list, but the contact phone # uses Spain's county code.

This appears to be the lead mentor's webpage: http://WWW.DABOT.ORG

It's frustrating not to be able to see the TX regionals' team lists as they've has been updated. It creates a form of limbo. At this late date, it's just not healthy.

Jane

[Mark McLeod]

Got a bit of waitlist clearance going on now.
Looks like everyone who was holding out has added teams now.
24 of 48 Regionals have updated their team lists.

The Michigan Districts shuffled teams between themselves and still more have open slots now.

P.S.
Bomb Squad did get into Alamo to rejoin their Arkansas JC Penny rookies.

This is a more realistic view of multiple events now that most waitlists have been worked over.
It'll continue to change, primarily as Michigan continues to enroll up to Kickoff and then adds 64 or so State Champ teams.
# Events -- # Teams
4 -------------- 5
3 ------------- 73
2 ------------ 549
1 ----------- 1405

[Mark McLeod]

Teams that played last year but haven't returned this year (by area).
MI and CA are equivalent in size, but MI had twice the attrition rate.

Loss as a % in the largest areas, Minnesota wins:
(Note: reworked these using last seasons total teams)

Minnesota (105) ---- 1.0%
Texas (104) -------- 3.8%
New York (119) ----- 6.7%
California (153) ---- 7.2%
Michigan (140) ---- 14.3%Missing in action:

MI ---------- 20
CA ---------- 11
OK ---------- 8
NY ---------- 8
Israel ------- 8
IL ----------- 7
OH ---------- 6
WA ---------- 5
FL ----------- 5
CO ---------- 5
CANADA-ON - 5
VA ---------- 4
TX ---------- 4
NJ ---------- 4
MA ---------- 4
IN ---------- 4
AZ ---------- 4
UT ---------- 3
PA ---------- 3
OR ---------- 3
MO ---------- 3
GA ----------- 3
CT ----------- 3
WI ----------- 2
TN ----------- 2
SC ----------- 2
NC ----------- 2
MS ----------- 2
LA ----------- 2
KS ----------- 2
HI ----------- 2
DC ----------- 2
AL ----------- 2
Turkey ------ 1
PR ----------- 1
NV ----------- 1
NM ----------- 1
Netherlands - 1
MT ----------- 1
MN ----------- 1
ME ----------- 1
MD ----------- 1
CANADA-QC - 1
CANADA-BC - 1
AK ------------ 1

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And on the positive side, here are the teams, by area, that are playing.
Twelve countries are represented.

Area ----- Registered
CA ---------- 175
MI ---------- 171
TX ---------- 145
MN ---------- 130
NY ---------- 127
WA ----------- 82
VA ----------- 68
CANADA-ON - 65
NJ ----------- 64
FL ----------- 61
MA ---------- 53
MO ---------- 52
Israel ------- 48
OH ---------- 48
OK ---------- 48
PA ---------- 48
IL ---------- 44
CT ---------- 42
AZ ---------- 40
GA ---------- 38
NC ---------- 36
CO ---------- 35
IN ---------- 35
OR ---------- 35
MD ---------- 34
NH ---------- 33
WI ---------- 32
HI ---------- 26
SC ---------- 25
LA ---------- 24
KS ---------- 19
UT ---------- 18
TN ---------- 16
CANADA-QC - 14
DC ---------- 14
KY ---------- 14
ID ---------- 13
Mexico ----- 12
AL ---------- 11
MS ---------- 11
NV ---------- 11
ME ----------- 8
MT ----------- 7
Brazil -------- 5
RI ----------- 5
WV ---------- 5
AR ----------- 4
Turkey ------ 4
IA ----------- 3
ND ----------- 3
VT ----------- 3
WY ---------- 3
AK ---------- 2
DE ---------- 2
NM ---------- 2
PR ---------- 2
UNITED KINGDOM - 2
Australia ----------- 1
CANADA-AB -------- 1
Chile ---------------- 1
Germany ----------- 1
Herzegovina -------- 1
Spain --------------- 1

[ptan]

Do you have the opposite stat? Teams that didn't play last year, but are playing this year? Just curious, because I'm helping a dormant team get reestablished this year, and I know a few other mentors starting up new teams.

[Mark McLeod]

We have 16 resurrected veteran teams that did not play last season.

Last played ---- # teams
2-yr ago ---------- 6
3-yr --------------- 4
4-yr --------------- 1
5-yr --------------- 2
8-yr --------------- 1
9-yr --------------- 1
18-yr -------------- 1

I haven't gone through the rookies exhaustively to see if other old teams are hidden under new numbers. I did notice or was told of a couple.



Area -- # vets resurrected

NY ------------ 4
CANADA-ON - 3
CA ------------ 1
FL ------------ 1
GA ----------- 1
Israel -------- 1
MA ----------- 1
MI ------------ 1
OH ----------- 1
TX ----------- 1
WA ---------- 1



Here's where all the teams that didn't play last year are from. This includes rookies, new teams treated as vets, and resurrected vets that didn't play last season.
Area ----- New Teams
MI ---------- 52
TX ---------- 45
CA ---------- 33
WA ---------- 28
MN ---------- 26
FL ---------- 22
NC ---------- 19
CANADA-ON - 16
NY ---------- 15
GA ---------- 10
LA ---------- 9
Mexico ----- 9
CT ---------- 8
KY ---------- 8
TN ---------- 8
MO ---------- 7
OH ---------- 7
OK ---------- 7
CANADA-QC - 6
IL ----------- 6
Israel ------- 6
PA ---------- 6
VA ---------- 6
AZ ---------- 5
CO ---------- 5
IN ---------- 5
MA ---------- 5
MD ---------- 5
OR ---------- 5
SC ---------- 5
UT ---------- 5
AL ---------- 4
HI ---------- 4
NJ ---------- 4
AR ---------- 3
ME ---------- 3
NH ---------- 3
WI ---------- 3
ID ---------- 2
KS ---------- 2
MT ---------- 2
Turkey ----- 2
WV ---------- 2
DC ---------- 1
MS ---------- 1
RI ----------- 1
Spain ------- 1

[dag0620]

We have 16 resurrected veteran teams that did not play last season.

Last played ---- # teams
2-yr ago ---------- 6
3-yr --------------- 4
4-yr --------------- 1
5-yr --------------- 2
8-yr --------------- 1
9-yr --------------- 1
18-yr -------------- 1



Who's the team coming back from 18 years ago?

[JaneYoung]

We received word a few days back that we had been added to the line-up in Lone Star. It's good to see our name on the list this morning.

Not sure, but I don't think they've updated Dallas, have they, Mark?

Jane

[Madison]

Who's the team coming back from 18 years ago?

Probably 3588 from Lindbergh HS in Renton, WA.

https://my.usfirst.org/myarea/index.lasso?page=team_details&tpid=48819&-session=myarea:C77D64051dbd21E809oGY35DE9DB

They competed as one of the original teams.

[Mark McLeod]

Who's the team coming back from 18 years ago?
Team 3588 (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=985766&postcount=8) from Renton, WA last played in 1993. (What Madison said)

Dallas hasn't changed since the 15th.

[Mr. B]

Mark, I see team 358 is on the list for WPI--I look forward to meeting you there.
I really enjoy this thread, Thanks for all your work.

[Mark McLeod]

I may be disappointing in person, I fail to spout random facts.
and my wife complains that I have my head in the computer all the time...

See you there :)

[Foster]

So watching the NFL draft is boooooriiiig. I'm going to start a campaign to get you on Sports Center to talk about the teams, who is going where and why, the relationships with rookie teams, etc.

Thanks Mark, it was a good year of runup. Now to watch teams fill into the championships.

[DonRotolo]

I may be disappointing in person, I fail to spout random facts.
I disagree. :D

[Peter Matteson]

I disagree. :D

Seconded. See you @ WPI.

[Travis Hoffman]

Both Pittsburgh and North Carolina have had teams added off the waitlist. I'm not sure if they are done yet - Pittsburgh claimed to have up to 39 total spots.

[Mark McLeod]

How about this...

14% of the teams are "away" teams at the Long Island Regional.
0% of the Michigan District teams are away teams.In other words they aren't a local team in the sense that they live in a different area that is covered by a different "home" Regional.

If some of you are willing to take a shot at your own local Regionals, where you know who's just visiting and who always comes, I could do the remainder. It would be a coarse estimate across most of the events, since we have limited local knowledge, but it could be based on where teams consistently go over the past, say three years.

[AcesPease]

How about this...

14% of the teams are "away" teams at the Long Island Regional.
0% of the Michigan District teams are away teams.In other words they aren't a local team in the sense that they live in a different area that is covered by a different "home" Regional.

If some of you are willing to take a shot at your own local Regionals, where you know who's just visiting and who always comes, I could do the remainder. It would be a coarse estimate across most of the events, since we have limited local knowledge, but it could be based on where teams consistently go over the past, say three years.

For the CT regional I come up with 28% away counting only CT teams as local.

[Siri]

For the Philadelphia Regional, I count about 63% under ~1 hour of travel, and 42% with around 30min or less. (That's from PA, NJ, and DE.)

Estimated to nearest 15min
Average - 1:20
Media - 0:45
Mode - 0:30

[Mr. B]

For WPI in its second year, 17 out of 34 are new to the event after the wait list was cleared.
For Boston, 5 out of 45 are new to the event--before the wait list is cleared.

[RoboMom]

I may be disappointing in person,
I REALLY disagree.
I won't see you at WPI. You need to head more south than Philly one of these years. ;)

[buildmaster5000]

I would be curious how many teams in the DC regional are either in DC or within 50 miles if the city. I came up with 33 out of 49teams.

[Foster]

I may be disappointing in person, I fail to spout random facts.

I doubt that you will be disappointing in person, I'll be to busy going Ummm wow you are Mark, uummm I, I mean Ummm.

Part of the charm for me for baseball is all the stats, so I loved listening to Harry Kalas broadcast the Phillys with all the "stat" nuances that you bring to the opening signups.

Now if I could get webcasts with "well 1640 is coming into this event with 6 seniors, the second largest next to 1511, but the frosh class of 148 has 3 years of experience with VEX so it should be a good match"

[waialua359]

Dallas hasn't changed since the 15th.

Our team called FIRST twice after the 15th deadline. We are still awaiting word, depending on whether expansion of the regional is possible or not. The Dallas committee is still working on it.
We were offered Virginia instead today, but declined as the cost is $300 more per person for the airfare, based on a quote this morning.

If we cant get in, we'll just stick to 2 regionals and CMP.

[vhcook]

How about this...

14% of the teams are "away" teams at the Long Island Regional.
0% of the Michigan District teams are away teams.In other words they aren't a local team in the sense that they live in a different area that is covered by a different "home" Regional.

If some of you are willing to take a shot at your own local Regionals, where you know who's just visiting and who always comes, I could do the remainder. It would be a coarse estimate across most of the events, since we have limited local knowledge, but it could be based on where teams consistently go over the past, say three years.

I'll give this a stab for the two regionals I know best. I'm going to give you three numbers: % away teams (including teams for whom this is not their "home" regional), % rookie (based on current registration data), and % new to the regional (including rookies). That last number accounts for teams that have not been to this regional before, as opposed to teams that use this as their second regional fairly often.

Regional %Away %Rookie %New
Kansas City 15% 9% 16%
Oklahoma 8% 13% 19%


I should probably mention I counted team 935 as local for both regionals since they are roughly equidistant from both and usually attend both.

[JB987]

Our team called FIRST twice after the 15th deadline. We are still awaiting word, depending on whether expansion of the regional is possible or not. The Dallas committee is still working on it.
We were offered Virginia instead today, but declined as the cost is $300 more per person for the airfare, based on a quote this morning.

If we cant get in, we'll just stick to 2 regionals and CMP.

Viva Las Vegas???

[Greg Young]

I think the North Carolina regional is filled at 51 teams, up from 44 teams its first year.

Away teams: 29%
Rookie teams: 33%
New teams: 65%

We have lots of rookies and lots of new teams.

I've only counted NC teams as local since this is only the second year of the regional. If 48, 449, and 1319 come back next year I'll count them as local.

All the rookies are new NC teams. 17 of them. I didn't count 2055 and 2059 as rookies since their team numbers indicate that FIRST doesn't consider them rookies. Both are descendants of 2108.

New teams include the rookie teams.

Greg

[waialua359]

Viva Las Vegas???

Oh! I thought our backup backup plan was supposed to be hush hush? :)
Will let you guys know as soon as FIRST lets us know.;)

[JaneYoung]

Will let you guys know as soon as FIRST lets us know.;)

Color me very sad if you guys don't get into Dallas. Very very very sad. I guess I'll have to start pushing for a trip to Hawai'i soon. :)

Jane

[DonRotolo]

For NJ, 8 of 60 are "not from around here". Including 2 Brazilians and a Turkish team - very cool, four national anthems! (Waldo from Canada is also attending, we haven't seen them since they won Chairman's in 2008).

There are several more teams - about a dozen - who have 'closer' regionals (e.g., Bronx could go to NYC, Philadelphia could go to, er, Philadelphia, etc) but chose Trenton, NJ.

5 are Rookies, only 3 are second year teams.

[Zflash]

I've only counted NC teams as local since this is only the second year of the regional. If 48, 449, and 1319 come back next year I'll count them as local.

Greg

As long as the schedule works out we will be at NC again next year. It is a great regional that is put on by a great group of people and volunteers. The venue is also the most unique one we have been to for a regional competition.

[Mark McLeod]

Here is everywhere, including what you've all contributed.
This is rough and has no guarantee of accuracy, but it's a ballpark summary.
Those who contributed understand how arbitrary the cutoff can be between home & away teams.
I put the rough criteria in the attached spreadsheet with the summary data.

Event --------------------- #Teams - #Local - #Away - % away - Rookies - Not at '10 Event

BAE/Granite State Regional --- 53 ---- 44 ----- 9 ---- 17% ----- 8% ---------- 25%
New Jersey Regional ----------- 60 ---- 44 ---- 16 ---- 27% ----- 8% ---------- 30%
Finger Lakes Regional --------- 44 ---- 31 ---- 13 ---- 30% ----- 9% ---------- 27%
Alamo Regional ---------------- 60 ---- 55 ----- 5 ----- 8% ---- 32% --------- 100%
San Diego Regional ------------ 59 ---- 44 ---- 15 ---- 25% ---- 22% ---------- 47%
Florida Regional --------------- 63 ---- 58 ----- 5 ----- 8% ---- 32% ---------- 43%
WPI Regional ------------------ 34 ---- 17 ---- 17 ---- 50% ----- 6% ---------- 50%
Lake Superior Regional -------- 42 ---- 41 ----- 1 ----- 2% ---- 21% --------- 100%
Greater Kansas City Regional - 55 ---- 47 ----- 8 ---- 15% ----- 9% ---------- 16%
Pittsburgh Regional ----------- 35 ---- 20 ---- 15 ---- 43% ---- 11% ---------- 40%
Wisconsin Regional ------------ 53 ---- 32 ---- 21 ---- 40% ----- 8% ---------- 32%
New York City Regional ------- 65 ---- 44 ---- 21 ---- 32% ----- 6% ---------- 28%
Israel Regional ---------------- 52 ---- 50 ----- 2 ----- 4% ---- 10% ---------- 13%
Arizona Regional -------------- 45 ---- 45 ----- 0 ----- 0% ---- 13% ---------- 13%
Sacramento Regional ---------- 47 ---- 35 ---- 12 ---- 26% ---- 23% ---------- 47%
Peachtree Regional ------------ 49 ---- 44 ----- 5 ---- 10% ---- 20% ---------- 33%
Boilermaker Regional ---------- 41 ---- 35 ----- 6 ---- 15% ---- 12% ---------- 24%
Bayou Regional ---------------- 40 ---- 34 ----- 6 ---- 15% ---- 30% ---------- 45%
Chesapeake Regional ---------- 63 ---- 32 ---- 31 ---- 49% ----- 8% ---------- 49%
Saint Louis Regional ---------- 31 ---- 25 ----- 6 ---- 19% ---- 26% ---------- 35%
Oklahoma Regional ------------ 52 ---- 48 ----- 4 ----- 8% ---- 13% ---------- 19%
Lone Star Regional ------------ 57 ---- 57 ----- 0 ----- 0% ---- 28% ---------- 32%
Seattle Olympic Regional ------ 50 ---- 35 ---- 15 ---- 30% ---- 36% ---------- 64%
Seattle Cascade Regional ------ 48 ---- 46 ----- 2 ----- 4% ---- 17% ---------- 21%
Waterloo Regional ------------- 29 ---- 21 ----- 8 ---- 28% ----- 7% ---------- 34%
Los Angeles Regional ---------- 63 ---- 59 ----- 4 ----- 6% ---- 11% ---------- 17%
Washington DC Regional ------ 49 ---- 33 ---- 16 ---- 33% ----- 6% ---------- 33%
Hawaii Regional --------------- 29 ---- 26 ----- 3 ---- 10% ---- 17% ---------- 21%
Midwest Regional -------------- 51 ---- 34 ---- 17 ---- 33% ---- 12% ---------- 37%
SBPLI Long Island Regional --- 50 ---- 43 ----- 7 ---- 14% ----- 6% ---------- 18%
Autodesk Oregon Regional ----- 60 ---- 36 ---- 24 ---- 40% ---- 13% ---------- 30%
Palmetto Regional ------------- 46 ---- 25 ---- 21 ---- 46% ---- 11% ---------- 57%
Greater Toronto West Regional - 36 ---- 34 ----- 2 ----- 6% ---- 25% ---------- 36%
Greater Toronto East Regional - 36 ---- 29 ----- 7 ---- 19% ---- 31% ---------- 47%
Silicon Valley Regional -------- 44 ---- 42 ----- 2 ----- 5% ----- 9% ---------- 14%
Connecticut Regional --------- 53 ---- 38 ---- 15 ---- 28% ---- 17% ---------- 34%
10,000 Lakes Regional -------- 62 ---- 53 ----- 9 ---- 15% ---- 15% ---------- 29%
North Star Regional ----------- 59 ---- 48 ---- 11 ---- 19% ---- 14% ---------- 37%
Las Vegas Regional ------------ 42 ---- 11 ---- 31 ---- 74% ----- 5% ---------- 43%
Smokey Mountain Regional ---- 50 ---- 15 ---- 35 ---- 70% ---- 30% --------- 100%
Colorado Regional ------------- 45 ---- 37 ----- 8 ---- 18% ---- 16% ---------- 29%
Boston Regional --------------- 45 ---- 40 ----- 5 ---- 11% ---- 13% ---------- 27%
North Carolina Regional ------- 51 ---- 36 ---- 15 ---- 29% ---- 33% ---------- 65%
Buckeye Regional -------------- 57 ---- 42 ---- 15 ---- 26% ---- 12% ---------- 30%
Philadelphia Regional ---------- 57 ---- 36 ---- 21 ---- 37% ----- 4% ---------- 35%
Dallas East/West Regional ----- 48 ---- 47 ----- 1 ----- 2% ---- 33% ---------- 35%
Utah Regional ----------------- 28 ---- 28 ----- 0 ----- 0% ---- 25% ---------- 25%
Virginia Regional -------------- 60 ---- 53 ----- 7 ---- 12% ----- 7% ---------- 22%

[JaneYoung]

Mark,
Don't we have team from Saltillo, Mexico coming to Lone Star? FRC 3526 - Blue Ignition?

(Great name and motto, guys!)

3526
Team Name General Motors Ramos Arizpe / Nortek Controls / ACS-Xerox & ITESM Campus Saltillo
Team Location Saltillo, CU Mexico
Rookie Season 2011
Team Nickname Blue ignition
Team Motto Let's fire up science & technology...!
Team Website http://www.blueignition.com.mx

Jane

[Mark McLeod]

Just my arbitrary nature.
You can see the criteria I used next to each regional in the spreadsheet attached earlier.

Everyone's free to reject and rework the numbers as you like.
Just publish the new numbers here with the rational behind it.
If you want it I have another spreadsheet I can post with excruciating team-by-team detail on who was counted as a home team and who was counted as an away team. It might be easier to rework the numbers on that. It's a messy sheet though, because I automatically generated it and then went through reviewing team-by-team to see if it made a coarse kind of sense.

Yes, Texas sees a few Mexican teams this year, but since Mexico doesn't have a closer regional than Texas I arbitrarily counted it as a home team. The same thing goes for Mexico teams attending San Diego. I only counted Mexico teams as away if they hopped over a closer Regional to go someplace like Toronto.

It's really extreme for IA, WY, MT, ID who have quite a drive, but no close regional to attend.

For teams that don't really have a regional I just counted them as a home team if they went to the same place as last year or if they were rookies and the regional was the closest one.

[JaneYoung]

For teams that don't really have a regional I just counted them as a home team if they went to the same place as last year or if they were rookies and the regional was the closest one.

Oh, I get it. Thanks for the explanation, Mark.

Jane

[Kevin Ray]

I may be disappointing in person, I fail to spout random facts.
and my wife complains that I have my head in the computer all the time...

See you there :)

I've known Mark for many years now (through FIRST) and he's the FIRST (pun intended) person I look forward to seeing at the regionals or nationals. He is a very very interesting person to talk to and scary smart. He is the go-to guy when you're in a panic. Everyone, including FIRST staff goes to him at events when they're stuck on many areas especially progamming. So don't let his humble demeanor trick you.

Now, on a more mundane note, we're still wait listed this year on NYC and the nationals. When we last spoke you intimated that NYC might be notifying waitlistees soon. Any idea if that is going to happen?

[Mark McLeod]

Thanks for the kind words Kevin and the rest of you.

The best bet for NYC is to talk to someone at FIRST and maybe the Regional Director Ana Martinez in NYC to see what may be happening.

NYC let one team off it's waitlist this past Thursday, but there's no telling where they've drawn the line or how many other teams are on their waitlist.
It looks like there might be up to two more NYC teams that normally attend, but don't show up on the event list (yet).
Complicating matters are some NYC teams that could not get into their traditional LI Regional this year. I imagine across the board FIRST will eventually ask waitlist teams if they can move to open slots at other area events.

They have plenty of room in the Javits Center, but looking back at their match turn-around last year they ran late by about an hour and a half each day of the Qualifiers/Finals, and they still only got in 8 matches rather than the average 10 most other events managed. That might mean FIRST will be leery of adding too many more teams.

P.S.
Michigan has been adding teams today filling out more of Waterford and Niles, plus four other teams in Livonia and Troy.

[gblake]

Impressive amount of money! Makes me wonder how much is spent on FIRST fields and how much more money regionals have to raise. :ahh:
Here are the registration fees teams have/will pay so far:

Initial fee (vet): 1657 teams @ $5,000 = $8,285,000
Initial fee (newish): 423 teams @ $6,500 = $2,749,500
2nd+ events: 482 event slots @ $4,000 = $1,928,000
MI 3rd events: 6 teams @ $500 = $3,000
Championship: 140 teams @ $5,000 = $700,000Total FRC registration fees = $13,665,500
For a really rough WAG at the cost of the non-Michigan regionals, let's try this.
~50 events x ~$200,000/event = $10M.
Plus Michigan.

If the actual average cost is higher or lower you can do the math.

Blake

[Karthik]

For a really rough WAG at the cost of the non-Michigan regionals, let's try this.
~50 events x ~$200,000/event = $10M.
Plus Michigan.

If the actual average cost is higher or lower you can do the math.

Blake

Blake,

Isn't this based on an assumption that regional registration fees actually go to the regionals? Last time I checked the registration fees went to program costs and the KOP. Regionals traditionally don't see any of that money and are reliant on their own local fundraising.

[gblake]

Blake,

Isn't this based on an assumption that regional registration fees actually go to the regionals? Last time I checked the registration fees went to program costs and the KOP. Regionals traditionally don't see any of that money and are reliant on their own local fundraising.Understood

I wasn't trying to give a complete answer. I just wanted to offer a useful but very rough figure for the costs of the regionals. That seemed reasonable in a thread about team registrations. A complete answer would definitely also be a complicated answer.

There is some useful info about FIRST income/expenses in the thread that constains this post. http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=734790&postcount=5 There is also some grumpiness there (the switch from Vex to Tetrix parts was happening at roughly the samel time).

But, back to the central topic, let's not drive this thread into the ditch with side discussions about the the implications of the statistics Mark is reporting here (and "Yes", I realize I'm guilty). Just seeing the stats is interesting enough on its own. I recommend reading and then adding to existing/previous threads if you want to do discuss those implications.

Blake

[Andrew Schuetze]

It looks as though the time afforded FIRST finance by the holiday schedule has allowed them to work thorugh some of the delays created by the lateness of NASA grants amoung other late developing funds. Several more waitlisted teams are now registered for events.

Case in point, the Alamo event is now up to the maximum 64 team size with Michigan, Georgia, Arkansas and Mexico sending the half-dozen out of state teams to the event.

Still seems to be some issues to work through or resolve in regards to the status/size of the Dallas event but it is now sitting at 49 registered teams.

Lonestar appears to still have room with 57 teams registered in a venue that has room for up to 64 teams in the spacious George R. Brown Convention Center. I recall that event being a 63 team event last year.

[RoboMom]

Today Bill listed the events that still have room. http://frcdirector.blogspot.com/
Really surprised to see some of the these events on the list (even if they only have a slot or two.)

[Mark McLeod]

Taking Bill's list here's a guesstimate of how many slots are available at each of the events he mentioned. These numbers are based on a combination of last year's capacities, interpolation, and your basic guesswork. No direct knowledge of Regional attendance policies is implied.

20 - Bayou
20 - Duluth
12 - Oklahoma
11 - Wisconsin
11 - Seattle
9 -- Kansas City
9 -- Hawaii
9 -- Toronto
9 -- Las Vegas
7 -- Lone Star
7 -- Peachtree
6 -- Utah
6 -- Fingerlakes
5 -- Arizona
5 -- Palmetto
5 -- Buckeye
4 -- Oregon
4 -- Midwest
4 -- Washington DC
4 -- New Jersey
4 -- Silicon Valley
4 -- Connecticut
3 -- North Carolina
3 -- Colorado
1 -- Florida
1 -- Boston

[ATannahill]

Mark, do you know the average size of a first year regional?

[Mark McLeod]

Mark, do you know the average size of a first year regional?

Small sample size...
With so few, it's all over the place depending on the size of the venue they were able to get.
Not counting existing events that became double events this year, I guess it's an average of 52 teams each. Last year it was only 35 teams per new regional.



FYI
Blake's estimate for the cost of a regional comes from the FIRST Regional Planning Guide & Manual which was published on the FIRST forums.

For a really rough WAG at the cost of the non-Michigan regionals, let's try this.
~50 events x ~$200,000/event = $10M.