Tips for first time at champs?
 

This is the first time our team is going to championships, and we just got an email about badges and from what we understand it's not a public event. Which makes sense, because of how many people are going to be there. So I was wondering, what other small things about transportation, hotels, timings, event happenings, etc. are there that we may not know?

Thanks in advance,
Reed

Re: Tips for first time at champs?
 

Book your hotels like...now.

If you have some time, enjoy the city and go up in the arch. A lot of people never get the opportunity. Eat at Pappy's.

Re: Tips for first time at champs?
 

I can't help you much from a technical standpoint as I am a student, not a mentor. What I can tell you about is how things work a little bit. Last year was my first time at worlds. Everyone (spectators, mentors, students) had to register before the event (or at the door if forgot to register before?). We all got lanyards that we had to wear all weekend to prove we were suppose to be there. Secondly, there are seminars going all weekend. One of the first seminars of the week is led by Karthik (mentor of 1114 Simbotics), and it was great last year. Can't wait to go again this year. Scholarship row is huge. I never got to see it while everyone was there, but I heard about it and saw it after it closed. In the Edwards Jones Dome, there are 8 fields set up. 1 per division. There were 2 on each side of the dome and the middle was reserved for robot transport. Pits are a good walk from the fields. Leave with plenty of time. In the pits, there were 6 or so official FIRST fields set up for practice. Pits are smaller than what you are probably used to at normal events. Don't have extra people sitting around in the pits if possible. Just jams up traffic. The last thing I can think of is show up early for good seats and be prepared to fast walk (borderline run). Being at the doors early is key to getting good scouting seats. That's all I can think of for now and congrats on qualifying to worlds.

Re: Tips for first time at champs?
 

It's a public event but everyone has to register - either onsite or in advance. Different badges will get you different places (team, volunteer, invited guest, etc) within the event. Drive team badges like you have at regionals/districts (or volunteer, invited guest, etc) are needed to gain access to the Dome floor.

The number of practice fields is 4, there are 2 subdivisions assigned per field (I helped set them up last year). There are fairly strict rules on the utilization of the practices fields, they are full fields and have FMS so full matches are run there.

There are also some of the normal (wooden) practice elements that you'd have at regionals and districts, and there are less strict rules on using those.

Most importantly, have fun!

Re: Tips for first time at champs?
 

http://www.firstinspires.org/communi...t-championship

Figure out with your mentors what the team rules are about where the students can be and when. Exhibitors row was in a different building last year and there were many students who did not get to go because the team rule was not to leave the building. Come up with a plan and build time in your schedule to go to the conferences (last year held on Wed and Thurs), scholarship row, etc. Don't forget the unofficial events like all the meet and greets and the roboprom.

Stop by the Information Booth on site if you have questions.

Have someone in your group come up with a meal strategy - including making reservation.

Consider asking family members attending to volunteer - for at least a day. Volunteering allows you to see a whole other side to the event, you get to eat the great volunteer food and meet lots of other people.

The event will go by very quickly. Use every opportunity to meet people who may become friends for life.

Heads up - the badging check-in process was ridiculously slow last year on Wed. My hope is they will be improving the flow this year so there aren't 1-2 hour waits just to register.

Re: Tips for first time at champs?
 

Get a hotel within walking distance.

Read everything on the championship site linked in a previous post. Looks like the 2016 info isn't up yet, but the 2015 one is still there as a reference:http://2015.championship.usfirst.org/

Food: For breakfast, we bought a bunch of cereal, milk, fruit, etc. and ate in one of our hotel rooms since the hotel didn't have a free breakfast. For lunches, we ordered from a sandwich place that delivered them out front. Better than having pizza every day. For dinner, we walked to nearby downtown establishments. There was as welcome party the first night with free (finger)food.

Get there early enough to visit the exhibitions before the pits open. Last year we saw the arch in the morning and then the exhibitions, then the pits opened. There are some decent giveaways (swag)

Its a fair distance from the pits to the field, but manageable. Be patient.

Take time to walk around and meet teams you have gotten to know on CD.

Pay attention to special events. Last year Grant Imahara was in the pits.

There was a mentors breakfast one morning. Make sure your mentors know about that.

Have fun!

Re: Tips for first time at champs?
 

Everything is big.

The walk or drive from your hotel to the stadium is (probably) big.
The line up to get in in the morning is big.
The line up to get out after the day is done is big.
The walk from the stands to the pits is big.
The walk from the pit entrance to your pit is big.
The walk from the pit to the playing field is big.
The walk from anywhere to anywhere is big.

They sell concessions in the pits.

There are other things going on in other buildings. These will take a walk or a shuttle bus or other form of transportation. Plan on letting your students go to these other buildings somehow. If you normally have a rule about "don't leave the building" you may want to think about how to work around that.

Last year the Fedex Innovation Challenge was a great excuse for half our team to be wandering around the streets of downtown St. Louis. :D

Visit the Arch. There will be a ton of other teams doing the same thing so it's also a chance to be social!

One potential tip: If your group isn't huge, instead of hotel rooms, considering using HomeAway or AirBNB to rent a house suitable for however many people are travelling. We rented a house big enough to sleep 15 people which was about perfect for our needs, and we had a great time. A parent volunteer took care of cooking meals.

Re: Tips for first time at champs?
 

As more of a fun event that happens every year at worlds bring paper for airplanes :D. They are fun to throw from the top level just don't do it during a match or anything.

Re: Tips for first time at champs?
 

Winning is helpful...

Re: Tips for first time at champs?
 

Oh, you're one of those people. :P

Re: Tips for first time at champs?
 

I suggest making reservations for the arch. It's is truly amazing.

Jimmie Johns for quick and cheap eats.

Re: Tips for first time at champs?
 

(my emphasis)

I won't contradict anyone who says they're fun to throw. The few that are well made and well thrown are fun to watch.

But getting hit in the back of the head every few minutes by a hastily-folded piece of paper, and having junk accumulate at your feet and in the aisles, and seeing the mass of trash pile up on the arena floor? Not fun.

Until they get banned, I won't be the one to deny you your fun. Just be respectful of the people in front of (and below) you, and respect the craft by making good paper airplanes.

Re: Tips for first time at champs?
 

Book a hotel as soon as you possibly can. In previous years (pre-2015) it wasn't so bad, but the addition of 200 teams has made accommodations very scarce later in the season. So plan well ahead.

Re: Tips for first time at champs?
 

So I work part time at a Jimmy John's, its no fun making a ton of sandwiches when there is little to no heads up. I'd call sometime beforehand, if you have a group of 15+ people. Just so they can prepare and make more bread if needed.

Just a thought :)

Re: Tips for first time at champs?
 

Sorry, not a fan of littering. :mad: