Originally Posted by Racer26 (Post 1292168)

Gotta say, I'm a little confused by Crescent School being the host. Don't get me wrong, 610 is a great team, and will be great hosts, but their facility isn't exactly conducive to the type of environment an FRC event needs.

From what I know of their school, there isn't really an appropriate spot to host a FRC field, complete with enough seating for 30+ teams, plus 30+ 10x10 pits with aisleways nearby.

I presume the venue is Crescent's field house, which I understand they had a partial field set up in for practice in 2013 due to space concerns.

The building is roughly 40m x 40m judging by the satellite image on Google. Crescents Website says 30,000 ft^2, which doesn't add up. The on-floor footprint of an FRC field plus all of its gear is about 40x70ft = 2800ft^2. Add some buffer for aisles between the field and whatever seating there is, and you get pretty close to NCAA basketball courts at 50x94ft. This is easily seen at Waterloo, where we play on an NCAA-spec Basketball Court. Pits needs another area that size minimum. Then people need somewhere to sit.

Crescent school has ~135 parking spaces based on the satellite image on Google. There is no nearby public parking facilities. 30 teams plus event staff? Never mind that the school will presumably still need some of its parking for staff and students not involved in the event, I can't see how enough cars will fit.

Certainly, I don't see this event being able to have capacity >28-32 teams, same as Waterloo.

This is a problem, as its replacing an event that had 60+ capacity.

Yes, Ontario as a whole has gained some capacity this year with the addition of Windsor and North Bay, but its lost about 30% of its former capacity in the Toronto area. Of the 73 Ontario teams registered in 2013, this relocated event at Crescent is geographically the closest to 40 of them. Additionally, almost 44% of Ontario's 73 teams were multiple regional attendees in 2013.

I don't see this leaving much room for growth in Ontario in 2014, especially in the Toronto area. This also completely ignoring the ~23 Ontario teams that were lost in 2013 to the Teacher Strike who may return.

All in all, cool, I'm excited for an event at Crescent, but if they were axing half of GTRWest's capacity, they should have added a 3rd similarly-sized GTR, perhaps in the Mississauga area (Rick Hansen SS maybe?)

Originally Posted by PayneTrain (Post 1292171)

The listed capacity of GTR-Crescent School is 20. I imagine it might have wiggle room up to 24 so the regional could potentially field 8 playoff alliances. The total listed capacity of all Ontario regionals combined is 145, and I imagine if necessary could edge up a little bit. If the province fielded 90 teams next year and half of them attended 2 events, there would still be slots left for other teams outside of the province.

Regardless, I'm not on the planning committee of any of these events nor am I a participant in any capacity with FIRST Canada, including its volunteering group or advisory/director board, so I'd defer to them knowing what to anticipate relative to teams, venues, and how the capacity for the events work together.

Originally Posted by cad321 (Post 1292176)

So 1114 wont be at GTR West. Does anyone know if 2056 will be attending. If they're not than this would make a much more even playing field, Even if they are though, with 1114 not competing it will open up another spot to give an extra team the opportunity to make it to worlds.

Originally Posted by DevenStonow (Post 1292169)

and now the two "Sunday-Monday" events in NEFIRST are now Saturday-Sunday-probably was just a typo on FIRST's part.

Originally Posted by Racer26 (Post 1292183)

The running theory is that FIRST Robotics Canada is holding 8-10 spots at the Crescent school event for rookies.

This is similar when compared to Ontario's other super-tiny event, Waterloo. Waterloo has capacity for 30-32 teams, but is currently showing much less open capacity.

Originally Posted by EricH (Post 1292492)

Similar to many other events as well. My understanding is that for any given event, a number of slots are held back for rookies, particularly late-registering rookies. The exact number varies, I think, but 8-10 is a pretty good target.

For example, Los Angeles is listed as a 55-team event. Last year's event capacity was 65 teams, at the same venue--and I'll vouch that room is plentiful in there even with 65 teams. That means that there are 10 slots not available; it's reasonable to assume that they're being held back for rookie teams.

Originally Posted by Meredith Novak (Post 1292170)

We should be able to announce something in Arkansas early next week. Nothing like right up to the wire. Sigh.

Originally Posted by Racer26 (Post 1292168)

Gotta say, I'm a little confused by Crescent School being the host. Don't get me wrong, 610 is a great team, and will be great hosts, but their facility isn't exactly conducive to the type of environment an FRC event needs.

From what I know of their school, there isn't really an appropriate spot to host a FRC field, complete with enough seating for 30+ teams, plus 30+ 10x10 pits with aisleways nearby.

I presume the venue is Crescent's field house, which I understand they had a partial field set up in for practice in 2013 due to space concerns.

The building is roughly 40m x 40m judging by the satellite image on Google. Crescents Website says 30,000 ft^2, which doesn't add up. The on-floor footprint of an FRC field plus all of its gear is about 40x70ft = 2800ft^2. Add some buffer for aisles between the field and whatever seating there is, and you get pretty close to NCAA basketball courts at 50x94ft. This is easily seen at Waterloo, where we play on an NCAA-spec Basketball Court. Pits needs another area that size minimum. Then people need somewhere to sit.

Crescent school has ~135 parking spaces based on the satellite image on Google. There is no nearby public parking facilities. 30 teams plus event staff? Never mind that the school will presumably still need some of its parking for staff and students not involved in the event, I can't see how enough cars will fit.

Certainly, I don't see this event being able to have capacity >28-32 teams, same as Waterloo.

This is a problem, as its replacing an event that had 60+ capacity.

Yes, Ontario as a whole has gained some capacity this year with the addition of Windsor and North Bay, but its lost about 30% of its former capacity in the Toronto area. Of the 73 Ontario teams registered in 2013, this relocated event at Crescent is geographically the closest to 40 of them. Additionally, almost 44% of Ontario's 73 teams were multiple regional attendees in 2013.

I don't see this leaving much room for growth in Ontario in 2014, especially in the Toronto area. This also completely ignoring the ~23 Ontario teams that were lost in 2013 to the Teacher Strike who may return.

All in all, cool, I'm excited for an event at Crescent, but if they were axing half of GTRWest's capacity, they should have added a 3rd similarly-sized GTR, perhaps in the Mississauga area (Rick Hansen SS maybe?)

Originally Posted by GM! (Post 1295329)

Thank you for your thoughts. I believe the document below will address all of your concerns and questions. We are hard at work to produce the best regional we possibly can, taking into consideration all of the concerns that have been brought up by FIRST and yourself.

Crescent School's FRC Regional: GTR West Information
http://team610.com/wordpress/wp-cont...nformation.pdf

Thank You,

Originally Posted by GM! (Post 1295329)

Thank you for your thoughts. I believe the document below will address all of your concerns and questions. We are hard at work to produce the best regional we possibly can, taking into consideration all of the concerns that have been brought up by FIRST and yourself.

Crescent School's FRC Regional: GTR West Information
http://team610.com/wordpress/wp-cont...nformation.pdf

Thank You,

Originally Posted by ErvinI (Post 1295398)

I am very impressed that you guys thought out how to handle scouting. That ScoutCentre idea sounds amazing.

Originally Posted by GM! (Post 1295329)

Thank you for your thoughts. I believe the document below will address all of your concerns and questions. We are hard at work to produce the best regional we possibly can, taking into consideration all of the concerns that have been brought up by FIRST and yourself.

Crescent School's FRC Regional: GTR West Information
http://team610.com/wordpress/wp-cont...nformation.pdf

Thank You,