Off-Season In Canada
 

Hi I'm just on the look for an Off Season event in Canada. Preferably in Ontario. If not I am wondering if any other teams from Ontario or even local states would like to organize one since I have yet to see one near the Ontario area.

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

I am not too sure about an off season event here. I know that teams go to the one held in Rochester (Ra Cha Cha Ruckus). It is held mid to end of October. Here is a link to last years event.

http://ruckus.penfieldrobotics.com/

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

Thank you! For showing me this.
Was hopping there was one closer, I guess I'll talk to my Head Mentor about this.
Thanks again Steve!

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

610 should host one at Crescent...or Canada's Wonderland....

Just sayin....

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

:)

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

!

-Nick

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

Yes! Cresent should host it, make another GT-W but off season and smaller. That would be cool.
The Cananda's Wonderland Idea sounds good too, we'll get more people interested and get FIRST known even more. Many many great ideas for offseason in Ontario.

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

Wonderland has been done.

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

So lets do it again!

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

What year was that Steve? Would be neat if we could do it again... :)

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

2006 ;)

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

Well lets make 2014 happen! :P

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

We're currently trying to plan an off season event at the Telus Spark in Calgary. It's a bit far from Ontario it'll be a great chance for Calgary teams to get some extra practice.

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

And 2005.

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

And 2004.

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

It only counts if 1114 catches on fire.

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

If it happens, someone needs to take a picture and caption it "HOTBOT Evolution".

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

WOW! :ahh: I think we are long overdue for an off-season event in SW-Ontario...

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

Whatever it takes to win ::safety::

Up until this year, Wonderland 2006 was the trick answer to the last time 610 "won" in Canada.

But seriously I have a million great memories from the Wonderland event, its when I first got to know most of the amazing people involved with FIRST in Canada. The relaxed atmosphere of an offseason event can be really fun, I hope to see an offseason event come back to Canada.

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

Ontario Off-Season 2014? Who else wants in!

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

I Think a 2014 Off-Season Event would be very cool...

Just the question would be on size...
Host one the Size of Waterloo, NorthBay or Bigger?

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/25558 (looky looky I was there)

"STOP THE MATCH!!!"

Here is a pic of the Wonderland venue....and some other stuff going on.

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/22099

Judging by the number of midnight posts and amount of smilies, it sounds like we are overdue.

Wonderland would be perfect... #makeitloudagain !!

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

Whatever the size is, keep one spot for us! :D

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

Is it too late to host one at this time? I think we should get in contact with FRC Canada. See what they can do for us.

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

It will likely get easier to host Offseasons in Canada with the advent of a Canadian district (and thus, a field that lives in Canada year-round).

I remember way back in 2004 when I was still a student on 1075, 1075's ball-smacking auto, and 1241's refrigerator bot + AWESOME human player (who I think still mentors 1241 today) allied with 1114 to win the Wonderland Invitational. Good times.

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

While the ability to get one together in a short time is very venue dependent, typically May/June off-seasons are already in planning mode by this point. However if your looking for something in the fall, and the right group of people come together, it could happen.

I hope you guys get an off-season event (or two of three :p) up in Ontario. As we say in New England, off-seasons are where the fun really starts, and you guys have so many great teams up that way!

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

Fun Fact: MidKnight Mayhem (1923's June offseason) was put together between May 1 and June 29. It's doable, but it's hard on the people planning it. I wouldn't recommend it at all.

The point about the field is important: Before Mid-Atlantic Districts, offseasons required renting a field ($$$). Now, MAR allows teams hosting events in the area to use the district field for their offseasons, for free. It was a big catalyst in helping MKM happen. Canada going districts, eventually, could mean you have a field there for most of the year to draw from instead of shelling out massive amounts of money. Even if FRC Canada charges you, it surely won't be as much as shipping it from Manchester or Indiana.

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

Just an idea, as I have no contact with the people who would make this decision and have no knowledge of the logistics/rules involved, but depending on where this hypothetical off season event is maybe there is the possibility of bringing in one of the Michigan fields? That could maybe cut down costs. Just something to look at.

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

Boy, I am sure glad that you have volunteered to start things off and take care of the planning. :eek: I am sure that you will make it a great event. Do you have a venue yet? :confused:

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

Andymark has 3 fields they rent out for off-season events starting after May 17th.

Putting together an off-season event isn't that hard if you have the right folks and venue. I put together the Ohio FRC State Champs event last year starting in July for a September event.

This years event is on May 17th and we are started the major planning a few weeks ago.

You don't have the big show that is an FRC Regional, so there is a lot less to plan and coordinate.

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

What's the proposed dates?

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

I'll see what I can do.... Mostly need to do research in some venue. Also the price of renting out the Field. Also need to have an estimate of amount of teams that want to join on this fun.

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

Glenn,

The Ruckus is usually around Halloween. Come to that one!

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

YEAH! Inquiring minds want to know! Chop chop make it happen. Where's Mark Breadner? Paging Mark Breadner!

July would be a...bad idea. August is boring in Canada, eh?

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

Canada's Wonderland just called me.....
Talking to them and questioning them as I type this. :o

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

Make sure you swing a deal for free or heavily discounted park passes for all participants - I have complete faith in you. :cool:

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

So.
I will need to gather some dates. Also the number of teams who are interested or even knowing they want to come.

At this moment I have Ontario Science Center asking for numbers and dates.

Still waiting on Canada's Wonderland to Call me again. Thanks again.

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

These off-season events sound exciting, I know my team would be interested in participating. If you would like any help in planning your event, I would be glad to help. :D :D

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

Oh its 4946 was a pleasure playing with you guys!
At the moment I'm trying to figure out a venue for us, after that I will need to find out the date for the field. Then things will get hard to find teams that want to join. Once it gets to that point I'll need as much help as I can get to get the word out.

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

It was fun playing with you guys as well!! Roughly how many teams would you want to be attending ? I can talk to some of the other teams in Ontario and see if they are interested. As for getting the word out, I'll get everywhere I can :D :D

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

We would like to do one here. The primary difficulty is getting a field.

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

We are very interested in an off-season event in Calgary. What dates were you thinking of, and how likely is it to actually happen?

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

At this moment I'm hoping around 36 just like a regional. But it can also be determined by the venue that I will be able to book. Hopefully I can get canada's wonderland.

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

Yes that would be amazing if the Halton teams can host an off season.
I emailed andy mark almost a week ago but I'm still waiting for a reply.
With this delaying me. I'm also delaying checking dates for booking of location.....

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

Still havent received an email from andymark about the field rental...

How long does it usually take?

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

I remember going to Canada's Wonderland with 854 back in the day. It was a blast! I am sure that 2013 Cybergnomes would be down for some offseason action.

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

Who did you email? Liz Smith is in charge of the field rentals now and she hasn't responded to me either and my event is already on their schedule for May 17th.

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

Canadian Teams are more than welcome at any of our Off-Season Events here in Michigan. It would be great to compete with any of you.

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

It will be a pleasure to see you guys again. Great to know that you guys are willing to come. Hopefully this will go smoothly making it easy to have a location booked for us.

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

Yes I emailed Liz Smith 1 week ago. I really need to know dates to I can confirm with the locations that are asking for dates.

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

With travelling across the boarder it will be hard with the things that we bring since we wont have the same paperwork like FIRST gave us for regional. But if we are able to come down there and it is easy for us, I will ask our headmentor.

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

I emailed her yesterday, hopefully that isn't a sign of how long the queue is.

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

Ouch if the queue is long this is not gonna go well. Ohwells time to just hope for the best.

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

Please be patient, a lot of our staff is out travelling over these next couple weeks, Liz included. You should all have a response soon.

-Nick

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

I realized that. Liz actually just responded to us concerning our event.

FYI Andymark does plan to rent and include the truss components with the field rentals at an additional cost.

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

Should obtaining a field become troublesome, might it be worth while looking into building one based on official FRC spec? Possibly pool together the Halton teams or maybe others interested? Just a thought.

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

Thank you for telling me this! I shall be patient now aha!

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

That can work, but then again, its gonna take a lot of work and money also. But if we do that, we can host more off seasons so that could be a good idea.
Anyways if you want I'll be at men as career coaches next week if you want to talk to me in person (if you're going)

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

This endeavor doesn't include just the aluminum/Polycarb/Diamond plate field. But all of the cables, Lights, Stack Lights, Rockwell PanelViews, Rockwell IO Blocks, Rockwell controllers, etc. This would be quite costly.

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

We've been to the Rochester Ruckus twice and to IRI last summer. Absolutely no problem going across the border.

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

That is very true. You have a really good point.

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

I will talk to my head mentor and talk to him about it, if we cant get this offseason up and running.

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

Count us in!

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

We would love to attend!! August seems preferred.

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

Yup August is the ideal date for this event. Gives us a nice ending to the summer!
I will keep updating if more things comes together, on this thread!

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

For many years 1075 went to Kettering Kickoff (Flint, MI) and Brunswick Eruption (North Brunswick, NJ) without any major issues.

We drove there in a combination of mentor and parent vehicles and kept costs to a minimum. As long as all the team members going have passports, it hasn't been that big of a deal.

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

we just need to get 1114 to drive a reallly big trailer to IRI, then they can take a bunch of robots back with them.

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

Ahah! that would be cool!

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

Still pending on a reply from liz.. hmmm

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

Any reply? We are nearing the off season, and the fields are going to be booked up.

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

hey, Lauryn from team 3161 here :)
Our team would totally be down to attend this, and if you need any help organizing anything, I'm here to assist you in any way possible :p

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

Well.... Liz from AndyMark still hasnt replied to my email which is kinda bothering me, looks like i wont get one up and running this year.

Hopefully I can get it running next year and it will run smoothly!

Thanks again.

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

Fist Canada sent out an email this morning looking for proposals for an Ontario Off season!

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

Did they really? Would you mind fowarding that email to me
JustPlyZ@gmail.com (Personal) or mdhsrobotics3571@gmail.com (Team) Either will work :)

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

I've attached the document.

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

Why thank you! :)

Off Season In Canada
 

Hey! I am curious as to what teams are holding off season events in Canada. FIRST Canada has just released their proposal package, and it would be great to see some off season events in the Toronto area.

Re: Off Season In Canada
 

Rah Cha Cha Ruckus is held just south of Canada (Rochester, NY). Unfortunately, the event is near or has already reached full team capacity, but there is a waitlist and registered teams dropping out isn't terribly uncommon.

Re: Off Season In Canada
 

True, but I'm sure the wait list is crazy long by now :)

Re: Off Season In Canada
 

Re: Off-Season In Canada
 

So this event might go ahead? So excited!

Re: Off Season In Canada
 

Kettering Kickoff may be a possibility.

Re: Off Season In Canada
 

For many years, 1075 did Kettering Kickoff and Brunswick Eruption.

They're both long-ish drives from Toronto area, but not outside the realm of do-ability.

Re: Off Season In Canada
 

If you can do BE you can do Midknight Mayhem as well. There actually quite a few MAR events to try out.