Amen Michael. Amen.

Everywhere that was mentioned had some flaw in it. Disney provides transportation, loding, entertainment, power (IMPORTANT), and a facilty. BTW, incase you forget, Epcot delets the whole imagine parking lot everytime FIRST comes, so there doing a huge favor here.

A tangable dream is very realistic too. Would you be more excited if you went to Walt Disney World than oh, Kansas City?

I for one don't think Vegas is all that great. Its way too hot even for this California girl! Sure you can admire all the cool buildings but once you've been there once, that's pretty much there is to do since most things are catered to people who can gamble and see shows. Plus, if you want to see the CSI people, go to So Cal, Santa Clarita more specifically. They film that show in my valley all the time.

I agree with Michael that there doesn't really seem to be many good alternatives. As much as I don't like the state of Florida because of the humidity and people who can't vote (no offense you people from Florida) I think that was the best viable option.

And instead of fretting over something we really can't control, go fundraise or build something!

Does anyone else find it amusing that almost everyone is recomending CITIES to replace disney. It just shows the power of first. As for you people who siad miami woudl be good. I dont think so, the areas around anyplace that could house the fields is well...not the in the best part of town. Disney has that school....i forget the name, they were building it a few years back, but i know there are a bunch of stadiums there and alot of land. Or hey how about we take over the back half of Animal kingdom..That place is HUGE, i think its liek 4 miles long (the safari) Ahh i could see it now, for the closing cermonies...Lions, robots and bears, OH MY!!! I think we should all cross our fingers and hope that we get a venue as good as orlanod or disney for that matter.

Man i could tell you weren't from New Jersey from your lack of knowledge.
EVERY Jerseyan knows that Hoffa is buried underneath the endzone.

Oh. Please forgive my grave error.




Heh. I'll be here all week, folks! :)

Then where will you be?

He's taking a trip down to NJ to dig up Jimmy Hoffa since the location was conveniently given away. (traitor!).

Then, I'm going to sell his bones to Michael Jackson.

Sinc ya part of da family now, we must in-iti-ate you now.
Stick you left foot in a bucket, balance a glass of milk on your head, grab the hand of someone who has a buzzer on it, then try to get from the International Gateway to Test Track, in ,oh, 20 mins.

could be possible to centrally(sp?) locate Nationals in the US??? I think that could be it.... I cant think of anywhere at the moment. Any thoughts???

Indianapolis, IN. the CROSSROADS of America. Colts are thinking about leaving soon, so why not use the Hoosier Dome and Convention Center.

WOW i thought i said some stupid things

OK, let's look at Indy
 

While I don't think that the Colts will leave, the idea of having the FIRST Championships in Indy is a good one. I'll explain:

1. Location. Indy is central and many teams could drive here instead of fly. If only 25% of the attending teams would drive instead of fly, then these teams could save as much as $800,000 total.

2. Security. Indianapolis is pretty safe. All of the event locations would be in downtown or at the Speedway (?), and these places are in decent neighborhoods.

3. Event facilities. Downtown Indy has enough facilities to hold the Championships. Adjacent to the RCA Dome is a large convention center. Plenty of hotels are around and there are other things to do downtown (nice mall, good restaurants, etc.).

4. Intangibles. What if (and I'm dreaming here) FIRST could get the Indianapolis Motor Speedway as a venue? Now that would be pretty cool... much better than a parking lot outside of Epcot. Also... how about having John Mellencamp as entertainment for the team party. OK, so the students wouldn't like him, but us adults would get into it.

In my opinion, I would be sad if we left Epcot. I still feel that it costs too much money to attend the Championships there, but it is alot of fun, that's for sure. BUT, I think that many people are underestimating many students by saying that they would not be in FIRST if we didn't go to Disney. I think that if they put this in a Kansas cornfield, FIRST will still grow at a 40% rate.

Andy B.

Re: OK, let's look at Indy
 

Bring on Mellencamp... thatd be AWESOME!

Tom

Keep dreaming. Disney and Dean are sungg. Disney would bend over backwards to get more capacity to their hotel rooms. They are far behind, some 5,000 rooms too many right now. Plus, due to dwilinding attendence of all the parks, Disney would love to have 10,000 people for a captive audience.