Ideal Regional?
 

Well, now that we have some "off time", I was thinking about it and wanted to know everyone else's idea of their "ideal" regional. I remember the idea being tossed around the toughest regional about it being the one with the most GP, but this would be a little different. How would your ideal regional be stacked? Would it be the best of the best like IRI or would it be something somewhat low key? Any particular preference on venue or location?

Just a curious though I had, and wanted to know about other peoples ideas.

Re: Ideal Regional?
 

The ideal regional is one without too many teams in extremes on both levels. Not too many teams way better than the average, and not too many teams way below the average level.

A regional with a few top teams that help the other teams become better is the ideal one. Oh, and any regional with JVN in it. That just makes it cool. :cool:

Re: Ideal Regional?
 

If I'm looking for a competitive regional then something like IRI or MSC come to mind.

If I'm looking for an inspiring regional nothing ever came close to the 2009 DC regional and the amazing display of graciousness by 45, 118, 234, 365, 768,1885 and many many others was etched forever in my memory.

But when it comes to my ideal regional it's always the one where I can have a good time with my FIRST friends. That's why I always love to go to the Florida regional (every team should go to the Florida regional at least once. The venue isn't that great and the setup is lame but my God the atmosphere and the teams are the nicest most fun people you will ever meet in FIRST).

Re: Ideal Regional?
 

I think my ideal regional is like 2011 midwest with a bit more pit space. The venue was great and the ratio of powerhouse teams rookies was nice. It was rather close to home and how the volunteers handled everything was very nice. The darker lighting also makes one feel on stage and the center of attention.

Re: Ideal Regional?
 

The future regional that's basically on an FRC Cruise Ship.

Re: Ideal Regional?
 

When I went on a cruise with my ex years ago and took in a show on the ship I seriously thought "This would be a cool place to hold a competition." A VERY expensive place to hold a competition but a cool one nonetheless and we'd finally have our "water" game to boot!

Re: Ideal Regional?
 

To be honest I feel that the CMP is the closest to the best. We opted to go to St. Louis rather than a second regional this year. From an inspiration standpoint the massive quantity of ideas and excitement cant be topped.

On another note, FWR (milwaukee) is having a very different assortment of teams so Im looking forward to see what the new (to us) teams have to bring!

Re: Ideal Regional?
 

I'd like a two stage regional. One stage that is very competitive and you go to test your metal (no pun intended) with other teams.

The second stage would be a relaxed event, where rookie teams would get a chance to work with the powerhouse teams (winning alliance of the previous stage).
This would theoretically help level the playing field through the sharing of experiences. It would also create a tighter knit community by giving people time to hang out with each other away from all of the stress and chaos of competition.

Re: Ideal Regional?
 

You know your regional is awesome when a team that's over 1000 miles away makes your regional it's home regional instead of the one that's only ~50 miles away. (yes I'm talking about 103)

And this year there's two FL regionals = double the fun!

Re: Ideal Regional?
 

I don't know if this falls under the "regionals" category but something like this year's Troy District would be ideal (to me at least). There's a pretty descent amount of experienced powerhouse teams as well as the building teams/rookies but it's still gonna be extremely entertaining to watch. Hopefully that mix of powerhouses and building teams will allow everyone to benefit, especially the building teams.

Close to home + good teams + nice people = good times all around :)

Re: Ideal Regional?
 

Lot's of dancing space:) Also, spacious pits.

Re: Ideal Regional?
 

I would have said FLR til you put the spacious pits thing up.

Re: Ideal Regional?
 

LSR, Everyone gets a corner pit with nice big isles. A great mix of veteran teams and normally 5-10 rookie teams each year.

The practice field has been a bit weak the past few years but other than that it's the perfect regional.

Re: Ideal Regional?
 

The inaugural DC regional will be hard to beat for awesome event memories, its neat to have a "backyard" regional that has the drawing power to get teams from all over the country. Sadly I don't know when we are going back as we are cutting back to only one event most years and don't want to make it a week 4 or 5 event.

Re: Ideal Regional?
 

DC Regional was pretty great. The only thing was that they didn't let you cheer from the ground. You had to stay in the stands.

Re: Ideal Regional?
 

Greater Toronto East is going to be a tough new Regional this year, its also pretty stacked with a lot of Canada's top teams: 188, 610, 781, 1075, 1114, 1241, 1547, 2056, 2809, ect. Thats a lot of good teams for a 36 team regional.

Re: Ideal Regional?
 

I love the Greater K.C. Regional, the pit space is huge, the field area is huge, there's tons of seating, it's been growing in team size and the competition is good. The only thing that may be bad is that people with allergies to animals such as horses and other various livestock are bothered (it's a rodeo arena).

Re: Ideal Regional?
 

KC's setup last year was probably my favorite out of all the regionals I've been to. The only things I'd change about KC is the smell of the American Royal that hangs around just a little bit and the fact that it's a Week 1 regional. I think the competition in KC might be quite a bit different if it was a later week.

Re: Ideal Regional?
 

MSC hands down. The high concentration of high caliber teams makes it incredible.

Re: Ideal Regional?
 

At the risk of local horn-tooting, this is more or less how the season works in New England. There are now four regionals (BAE GSR, WPI, Boston, and UTC CT), all of which have their share of pretty competitive teams. They're intense and hard-fought.
But after the official season comes the fun. We have a ton of off season events*, which are generally fun and relaxed. Everyone gets a chance to tweak their robot (or build a new one), try new drivers, or just wipe the dust off for one last hurrah. There usually are fewer teams, more matches, and many opportunities to interact and learn from other teams. And the cost for all of these events is on the order of $1000 - for all of them combined. That's ideal, if you ask me!


* including Mayhem in Merrimack, Beantown Blitz, WPI Battlecry, Bash at the Beach, River Rage, Where is Wolcott, Mainely Spirit, and one or two more I can't remember.

Re: Ideal Regional?
 

I haven't been to MSC since 2009 but I didn't care one bit for the pit set up which was here, there and everywhere. Otherwise the event was amazing.

Re: Ideal Regional?
 

The pits are *only* split in half :rolleyes:

Re: Ideal Regional?
 

I have to echo what Ed said. if you want a regional with some intensity behind its crowd and absolute niceness in the pits, can't go wrong with Orlando. If you want a calm, laid back regional with some of the best backdrops you haven't been to a reional till you've been to Colorado. But for the overall experience I would have to say Champs in Atlanta; the pits, the fields, the sounds, it was a 24/7 nerd rush and I mean 24/7 because you could hardly sleep during that entire week. :p

Re: Ideal Regional?
 

Like I said: awful. MSC needs to be in a place worthy of it, like Ford Field.

Re: Ideal Regional?
 

I LOVE big regionals. I guess 36-40 team regionals get a lot of replay time, but I've never not been to 60+ team regionals. The competition is so thick, and there are so many more teams that can inspire.

I guess an ideal regional is one where you have a large number of teams, with a 75/25 split of in-state and out of state teams.

Re: Ideal Regional?
 

N/E Regional in CT this year has 64 teams. That's a lot of teams! I am set-up, take-down & FTAA. I will try my hardest to make sure the teams get as much round time as we can get them. It's a big task to get that many bots through in a timely manner. There are a lot of teams that can be number 1. Should be a fantastic time! Would love to see an East & West division in CT. The Convention Center is big enough.

Re: Ideal Regional?
 

What's wrong with having 2 pits? It's how I get my exercise. :rolleyes:

Re: Ideal Regional?
 

A regional where the event is fully staffed with a combination of experienced and rookie volunteers, including a healthy dose of alumni in the key positions.

Re: Ideal Regional?
 

I think a competition like the Troy District is ideal. This year we have 8 rookies competing there amongst the 44 teams. We also have a great cast of veteran teams for those rookies to learn from (with the recent addition of 1918 to the party it's gonna be an amazingly competitive regional). Pits are nice. Only complaint would be trying to find a seat when the Thunderchickens, HOT, Robostangs, and Killer Bees sit their huge teams down.

MSC: Pits are terrible, I agree. I don't know if this happens every year, but in 2010 the pits were mainly split up into 2 but there were also a few teams that got put in a hallway out in the middle of nowhere (I think 910 Foley Freeze was one of them if I am not mistaken). I'd love to see this thing happen on Ford Field or at the Silverdome even!

Re: Ideal Regional?
 

<wishfulthinking>

maybe FIRST can buy the silverdome and use it for year-round FIRST action! :p

</wishfulthinking>