Re: Finale--is it worth it?
 

We're having the same difficulties. We found hotels that offered rooms at $80 a night, but couldn't give them to us because they were all committed to Steele, who wanted $180. If you booked the room for four people, they wanted over $400 where usually a hotel only adds $10-20 per person, if anything.

Since we are coming in a coach bus, we are widening our search and will probably be driving in from a distance each day because of it.

It seems to us that the whole Steele Meetings thing is a way to gouge teams for extra money.

As for the after party, out team has never gone to them and spent the money on a team dinner somewhere. It's worked out really well.

Re: Finale--is it worth it?
 

I haven't like the finale's since '03 when FIRST rented out Six Flags (although the EPCOT finales leave them all in the dust)

I've always sent the kids in, with one or two mentors that volunteered to stay behind and be contacts for the kids, as well as escort them back to the hotel. Then the other mentors (3-4 of us) would find a nice restaurant and have a quiet dinner together congratulating each other on a good season, and just unwinding from 3 days of competition.

Re: Finale--is it worth it?
 

Oh boy, I was about 6 years old when that happened, and I still remember making my parents wait so we could watch the fireworks and the GIANT confetti cannons go off. Oh how I miss Epcot.

Re: Finale--is it worth it?
 

Epcot finales certainly were awesome. Free rides with no lines, and if there was a line, it was all robotics people :)

I liked the Atlanta party in '09, and haven't been to CMP since then.

Re: Finale--is it worth it?
 

You just made me realize how old I am... :rolleyes:

Re: Finale--is it worth it?
 

I also miss Epcot.
One year I bought an LED message device that you spun and it would show your message. I had programmed the word "applause" on it and I was twirling it in the line for Imagination. People would applaud when I spun it and stop when I stopped. What power!!!

My advice, save the $2000 for next years robot.

Re: Finale--is it worth it?
 

That's how they make their money. It is very similar to how people were camping outside of Best Buy stores to be first in line to buy the PS3, only to turn around and sell it for double the price on eBay.

My advice: save the $2000 and use it elsewhere... it isn't worth it.

Re: Finale--is it worth it?
 

Given the geography and variety of finale events, I'd guess that your options for it are more an or than an and for participation. I went to see the arch on Sunday morning last year. Made a reservation for the tram (under advisement) but still waited quite a while in a longish line just to get in the place. That is, the tram reservation does not get you admittance past the security checks. Then met some FRC team members in the room at the top. Might be worth seeing the city at night form there, since I don't think it is normally open at night.

You may have to pick which of the activities you want to attend. I think it would be quite a stretch to see the museums and the arch all in the same night.

Re: Finale--is it worth it?
 

It was wildly entertaining, is a bizarre sort of way. I can still see her coming out on stage and yelling "Hiiii Guuuuyyyyyssss".

Re: Finale--is it worth it?
 

I sent an e-mail to Steele asking about Finale tickets, and their reply was "It has not been determined yet if we will have tickets available on site. If we do, they will be $45 each and we can only presell them to teams that reserve hotel rooms with us."

Re: Finale--is it worth it?
 

I sent an email to FIRST Friday about this. We book through a travel agent and it saves us a ton of money. Last year you did not have to book through Steele to go to the after party. Prior to that, it was $50 to buy them separately. FIRST told me they would be available to purchase on the STEELE website. But, I can't find where. I have emailed FIRST back, but have not heard anything yet. I will post if I find out anything more.

Re: Finale--is it worth it?
 

The Black Eyed Peas concert was only open to teams registered for the Championship itself; we encountered a team that had a few individuals come to St. Louis just as spectators and to hang out, and they had a hard time getting tickets to the concert.
So if there is a special secret Friday night concert set up the same as last year, you will be able to go no matter what hotel you stay at.

There are local St. Louis teams at the Champs, not staying at any hotels; it would seem there would have to be some mechanism for them to enjoy the extra events.

My team's students enjoyed the finale, but not ecstatically. I think if they had had to pay extra for it, most would have skipped it.

And as a native St. Louisan, both the Arch and the City Museum are great engineering/technical marvels, great fun for teenagers. The Science Center is certainly good, but not as much of a "WOW" factor in my opinion. The museum at the base of the Arch is pretty good, too, but the main attraction is going up to the top of course.

See if you can get some Ted Drewe's custard while you're there.

Re: Finale--is it worth it?
 

We called FIRST, and they said that we were pretty safe making dinner plans for Friday night, so I doubt there will be a surprise concert again.

Re: Finale--is it worth it?
 

I think that this year's finale was definitely worth it. While the tornado warnings made for a tough start, I think the Science Center was totally rocking with tons of food and entertainment. The City Museum was really cool too!

IMHO, this year's finale was the BEST!

Re: Finale--is it worth it?
 

Did anyone else find it hard or confusing to get their 'black wristbands'? Were there signs or announcements as to where to pick these up that we missed?

We finally found them at FRC PitAdmin, but it was a struggle to do so. We ordered them thru Steele as part of the hotel. I should have been checking on that during the week but was so busy. Always thought they would announce or something.

Just checking to see if they did and I had my head in the sand.

We only did the City Museum, and it was a pretty neat experience. I was really POd at FIRST or Steele in the evening when we first started to try and find out how the events, busses, and wristbands were to work - but after the sirens and how much they had to deal with in the weather - I did think the Explore St. Louis group (red windbreakers and bus drivers) did a good job at salvaging a hectic night.