Re: 2016 regional dates?
 

Can anyone from Minnesota explain why the capacity of the DECC regionals are now in the low 30s vs the mid 50s two years ago?

Or possibility of NY Tech Valley filling up quickly which currently shows 26 capacity?

Or whether Buckeye at 50 will fill up during initial regional signups?

Deciding what to sign up for.....first.

Re: 2016 regional dates?
 

The Minnesota regionals all start well below their eventual capacity. In the end all 5 (including the Iowa regional) will be 60 teams or more. As for the why, the RD is holding slots back for whatever reason. Some are being held for rookie teams. I would suspect that some are being held to guarantee that all local teams get a shot at a local event.

Re: 2016 regional dates?
 

Anyone know why NASA is offering paid registration for this one regional?

Re: 2016 regional dates?
 

There are something like 15-16 teams that will likely sign up for TVR first thing.
A lot of Rochester teams will sign up for FLR first thing and be discouraged from going to TVR since they're back to back this year. :(

I do, however, know quite a few out-of-area teams that are friends with 20 or 5254 vying for those grants as well.

Re: 2016 regional dates?
 

Not sure why specifically, but I did notice from previous paperwork that it was offered this past 2015 season as well for that particular event.
The grant encourages veteran teams to participate in new (fairly new) regionals, but not sure why its not being offered to the other new ones this year.

I wish the timing was more in sync with FRC registration. As indicated on the grant, it asks if teams are interested in participating in select regionals on the condition of receiving the grant.
Its difficult when the decisions are announced after initial regional sign up. By that time, teams may get the grant, but not be able to sign up because it has already reached capacity.:(

Re: 2016 regional dates?
 

Just about every event hold spots back during initial registration, and only released them later in the fall. The RDs want to make sure their local teams all have a chance to get into a regional, and they need to hold back spots for late-registering teams (like rookies that don't get their act together until December). I'm sure there are other reasons they hold those spots, too - for example, we had a bunch of teams from China in Minneapolis last year, and it wouldn't surprise me if those teams had spots held for them (assuming they signed up late, I can't remember), as there were quasi-local ties to bring them to those events.

While I fully expect the max capacity of the Minneapolis and Duluth regionals to remain the same as they were last year, I haven't actually seen it in writing yet (it'll probably come up at the next regional planning committee meeting though, which is coming up pretty soon).

Re: 2016 regional dates?
 

This doesnt bode well for us, but I do hope its still available in late October.

Re: 2016 regional dates?
 

Jon,
as a member of a regional planning committee, I do understand what you are saying. I was curious and checking that it wasnt a venue issue/change, or other factors.
We in fact employ the same strategy and planning in attending our own event.

thanks for the information.

Re: 2016 regional dates?
 

Saw this today - and all I thought was "this is straight out of a FRC regional"...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PLo26AnHTg

Swear to all that is holy - I have seen all these moves at North Star Regional in MPLS. Laughed all the way through.

Re: 2016 regional dates?
 

Personally I'm pumped by the idea of 359 coming to TVR. It was awesome having 195, 303, 2852, 263 from out-of-town last year attend the event and really up the caliber of the regional, and to have the Hawaiian Kids come would be sick.

As for the grants, there are something like 12-15 teams that use TVR as their home regional, then an additional 12-15 that use it as their second consistently. I believe the purpose of the grant is to encourage high caliber out-of-town teams to come to the little event in upstate NY and make the event LOUD.
I could be wrong though, I wasn't personally involved in these talks.

Re: 2016 regional dates?
 

Las Vegas Regional is again looking to be an international affair. Of the 12 currently registered teams, 7 are coming in from way out of the area:

• 4 from China (5449, 5516, 5824, 5831)
• 2 from Brazil (1772, 5800)
• 1 from Netherlands (5880)

After watching the inspiring interactions between US and International teams last year there, I can't wait to see what next March/April brings.

Re: 2016 regional dates?
 

waterloo is stacked already with
610, 1114, 1241, 2056, 3683, 4039, 4678, 5406

Re: 2016 regional dates?
 

And add one from Germany and possibly more from China...

Re: 2016 regional dates?
 

Looks like Vegas is giving Hawaii a run for their money as being the biggest international event so far in Round 1 of registrations!:ahh:
Wait till 2nd and subsequent regional signups.....:)

Re: 2016 regional dates?
 

Geez, thanks.
Not sure about how our robot will be, but I can assure you some high caliber Hawaiian treats that we will be passing out for sure! :)