Championship Location Next Year
 

RUMOR has it that there are SIX locations bidding to host the FIRST Robotics CHAMPIONSHIPS next year. Of the six cities bidding which city would you prefer to visit for the Championships?

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They are two different Polls
 

"M" Thanks for pointing that out. :)

However the "Poll" you are referring to is a "Wish List" of locations, whereas this Poll is of the locations that are actually bidding on hosting the Championships. ;)

I'm looking to see of the six cities that are bidding to actually host the Championships - which would you prefer
to go to. :p

Re: They are two different Polls
 

Where did you get your information? How do you know that in fact, these are the only six cities up for consideration, or that they are all up for consideration at all.

BTW, where would you hold nats in Orlando if its not at EPCOT?

It's the Rumor Mill... he's not claiming that these are, in fact, the cities that are bidding to host the championship. He's just throwing what he heard out there.

These, from what I've heard, are cities placing a bid for the Championships. I'm not sure about Missourri though, but that may have been added to the list.

At Disney the atmosphere was great! Houston was ok and could get better but I say Atlanta. I may be biased a little though. :)

Let's hear your thoughts.

I really enjoyed EPCOT. I would like to see it brought back there. If not, then I would say Houston again. The two were very nice places with very nice surroundings.

Re: They are two different Polls
 

But it's still a wish list.

Re: Re: They are two different Polls
 

Cory this is the "RUMOR MILL" but sometimes rumors have a way of working out to be factual.

Lets see... what other places in Orlando could you have the Championships ? - Universal Studios-Orlando, SeaWorld - Orlando just to name two.;)

But this raises the question, why do students join a FIRST Robotics Team, to go to a Theme Park, or participate in an unparalleled partnership and learning experience? :confused:

I think that it should be put in a different place every year. Personally I do not think Houston was that great. Maybe it was we were stuck in a hotel that we thought would be a lot nicer.

I do have to say the Arena was wonderful, and Houston did a very good job preparing the event.

I say as lond as the temp's warm wherever it is, I don't care.

Good Luck to everyone at the invatationals this year. Hope to see you guys at IRI.

DISNEY!!!
 

Disney!!! I dunno it would be nice to see it come back to Florida, and if FIRST needs a stadium type thing they could always look into using the All Star stadium (I think that's it name)....its really big. Just a thought. :yikes:

Where the heck could it be in Los Angeles? The Sports Arena, Arrowhead Pond, and Staples Center are all too small. The Convention Center is big enough but there is no place for the spectators. None of the theme parks really have places for events like this. Dodger Stadium is all I can think of that would work, but it's outdoors. So, I don't think it will be in LA.:(

Re: Re: They are two different Polls
 

Having met Don and knowing what he does, I would not doubt his information ;). Just assume it's all true.

Trust me, you don't want to be on Don's bad side. He almost beat me up for doing that once :P. (Hehe, just kidding Don.)

The 6 locations seems to be relatively decent choices... We shall see what the people thinks.

Maybe the pits in the convention center, and the comp in the staples center, or, as M. Krass pointed out, why not the Anaheim convention center. Right next to Disney parks. Again, no spectator spots, though

Re: Re: Re: They are two different Polls
 

I have heard this rumour also. I think this could be a big thing for FIRST now that cities are actually bidding for the championship. In the next few months it is going to be interesting to see what happens, but I won't be suprised if it ends up back in Houston again.

I remember reading somewhere that Houston Has Nationals for at least the next 3 years.

At Epcot, they put up tents and raised seating for some arenas, but the biggest area was outdoors except for the robot playing field which was covered. Tents should work at many places in the LA Area, even Dodger Stadium. However my vote would be to talk to the people at Disneyland. I think they could whip up a dynamite venue, especially after getting a few tips from Walt Disney World. They might even co-ordinate with the Anaheim Convention Center.

Ooohh, I think it would be fun to have it in LA!! But that will probably never happen...I can't imagine....but yeah, EPCOT was at the point where they knew how to run things smoothly and it was wonderful there...:'( I wanna go back. I dunno...perhaps Houston will become just as great--who knows??

I have heard some rumors that there is a three year lisence for Houston. I don't know if anyone knows for sure though who is going to hold it next year. I say leave it to the experts back in Florida.

Good Luck to everyone at their invitationals

At work a few days ago, there was a lady wearing one of the 2001 anniversary shirts, so I told her I was in FIRST. Turns out she had the shirt because she works at Disney and helped out with it when it was at EPCOT. Then she went on to tell me that she was told it would be held at Disney's Wild World of Sports next year. Of course, that's only where it could potentially be... but it's one of the top choices. It's a really nice complex though, it'd be a great place for nats. It's actually where I'm having my graduation... in six days... pwned.

It seems like it'd be slightly unwise for a group like FIRST with a direly uncertain financial situation to engage in multi-year contracts with anyone.

I think that you are most likely correct. I have heard from a lot of teams that there is a 2 or 3 year contract for Houston. Although it is most likely a rumor, you never can tell what first might have agreed to. I think that they would at least have 1 year in Houston before agreeing to any contract deal with them.

Agreed. I find it highly unlikely they would have signed a multi-year contract for Houston. I don't think they ever had a contract with Disney, and FIRST was there for 5 or 6 years. I'd almost guarantee next year's championship is still up for grabs, so to speak. I'd love to see it go back to Epcot, though there are some other locations that would be great, too (like Anaheim... I still think that's a great plan).

Well spoken Jeff.

Back in Florida hopefully :)

Not Disneyland... yet. Wait till 2005 for the 50th Anniversary! That's going to be fun....

Anyway, I have herd some things and most say that no contracts have been signed. Also from what I hear, the FIRST heads (not the que-ers, but more like VIPs) liked Houston and would like to go back again next year. But I would not be surprised if WDW is next years location. Also to add, Universal has minimal on-site hotels, and those cost a lot. And I doubt that many teams will find a competition on I-Dive much better than Houston.

yes... houston was nice... but epcot was so much better. i REALLY hope it will go back there for my senior year. BTW, does anbody know when FIRST is going to make their final decision and anounce it publicly about the location of the nationals?

I'd be soo happy in Nationals was at Epcot... Disneyworld is such a magical place hehehe.

Didn't they announce this years nationals location in november?

No. Add like 3 months to that and do a search for Championship location. We went nuts here.

Sorry... FIRST didnt announce the location in february... I think it was ariund november. And as to when FIRST will announce next years venue, Id imagine it depends on whether nats stays at Houston(an earlier announcement) or moving somewhere else(a later announcement)

Cory

From what I hear it is now, the top three are Atlanta, Walt Disney World, and Houston. Most of you probably won't believe my information but I guess you'll see soon enough :). Oh, and from what I hear, the location they pick will be for the next three years. Digest this info as you like :D

Well, just to add my 2 cents into it, I think that Houston was a little more than harsh on the Drive teams. I mean, a half a mile walk to and from the competition arena.. That's a little ridiculous. it got so bad for me that it hurt to walk down the ramps. WDW was closer together. The energy flew more. You could tell that it was a national competition because everybody was so cramped together. It looked and felt bigger. I don't know, maybe it's just me... but I thought that the environment was better at Epcot.

It must have been nice for T3 to have that mini truck to make the trips back and forth in Houston.

Either Atlanta or WDW would make me happy...
I could actually see family in Atlanta :D

Hate to end this rumor, but I heard from a reliable source within FIRST, that they signed a two year contract with Houston. It will be at Reliant Park again next year, unless something changes.

Okay... I have a bone to pick. Too many people are citing "reliable sources within FIRST" to all be correct. If you just heard somebody say something, don't claim it as a "reliable source." Sure, this is the Rumor Mill, but don't try to be passing off random suppostitions as the Word of God... You can't all have "reliable sources," so don't say you do if you don't have one.

I have to agree. Of course, there are plenty of people saying that they have heard this type of thing... hmm... I guess only time will tell...

I don't mind Houston again, as I've lived there for a while. From what I've heard many a person enjoyed the Fl championship better (larger park, closer pits, facilities, etc...), but I enjoy the weather in Houston more than in Fl, and only in Texas do they make brisket burgers that good. mmm:) ...brisket:) ...ahhh, good.:D

FIRST has sent a survey to Main contacts and team captains
 

I would bet big money that NO decisions have been made regarding Nationals yet.........
How do I know this?
FIRST sent a fairly extensive survey to each team 'main contact' with a lot of questions regarding the Nationals. We were then to send it to our student team captains for them to complete as well.
FIRST asked us to compare Epcot with Houston with regards to food, transportation, costs, hotel, service, the parks, packages versus no packages, and so on. They asked what we liked and what we didn't like about everything. The surveys were due to be completed by today.

We have the FIRST Forum coming up next week in several places around the country, and I know that this topic will be a big topic.
FIRST wants to do the right thing by all of us, and they are listening.

i heard that 5 cities were bidding to hold nationals next year and that the meeting for that bidding was last friday (the 23rd)

I don't care where they hold just as long as I am there wherever is fine with me. Altough it is funny to see people raise a fuss about where it is going to be held because you are all probably wrong

Lets see... we could just use simple logic to narrow this problem down.

L.A. is too far from the teams on the east coast, they won't be happy. Plus there aren't any good places to host it. You saw Houston, 2 stadiums and six flags.

Atlanta is a possability. It's well positioned, and there are lots of convention centers there.

Houston is possible. It was there last year, why not again? True, the half mile walk really killed me though. I was forced to do it every time with a crappy dolly-like thing.

Orlando is possible, but doubtful. It's too close to WDW, and it's been there a few times already.

WDW is very doubtful, since it sucks for us west coast teams to burn our money on the airplane ticket, and it's been there already.

St. Louis is possible for the same reasons as Orlando.

To me, the most probable are St. Louis, Orlando, or Houston.
Or whoever bribes FIRST.

Good point. I forgot Atlanta. If it's true, as it seems to be, all the better. Atlanta's cool, and round trip tickets cost as much as they do to Houston.

It's true. Check FIRST's website for the very ultimate in rumor confirmation luxury and amenities.