Why is IRI so popular?
perhaps because a lot of the attending teams are really good teams, aka the powerhouses (Technokats, for example).

or perhaps it is so well known because people who are holding it post so much about it on CD (just a thought)

I woud LOVE to go, I have been trying to get to a competition where team 45 is wih no luck. That and I am busy on the 18th. And I hae no way of getting there. Next year I'm gonna try to gt there though.

Good luck to those competing!

The reason why I want to go there is to see the Pool fight! :D

Really though - it's because of the people. Aaron, Amanda, "Big", Andy, and so many others. It's one of the very-very few places that you can have an intelligent talk with out someone getting mad and walking off. (Yea - Robotics is a cool part of it in there.) Personally for me though, FIRST has been about people for me. When I entered FIRST - the 1st person that I saw from the organization was Woodie. I swore that I will get his picture/autograph before I got out of FIRST from the student side. 4 years went by - and this past Nationals - I got it. I swore to you all - It was as good - if not better - than winning Nat's.

The reason that I can't -

I just leased an apartment in the Chicago area - and I'm a little low on $$ and my mom won't allow me...:(

Next year though. I have the Blitz and IRI on my agenda if school will allow it for me...:)

I think that the reason we're going is that #1, it's relatively close by, and #2, we're really wanting to go to an invitational. I dont know about the rest of my team, but the reason that i'm so psyced about going to IRI is because it's a chance to redo the game, after you figure out where you could have fixed things. I know personally, that I have looked over our games and strategy's since the end of the season, and found places where i've thought that "oh we could have done that differently and won that match" During the season, you just dont have any time to thoroughly assess things to that degree, you're always too busy worrying about other things (like certain drivers losing the robot at nationals when we're about to go on). Plus, it's always a lot of fun to go to something that is really hyped up because everyone's all spirited, and excited. It's always fun.:D

I don't even know why I am going... Oh yeah, that's right, I am going because Championship Event got too big to be a personal, friendly competition to meet friends. Yeah... That's it. I won't be going to championship events anymore, because I am planning to attend IRI every year instead. It's much easier to attend a smaller competition and meet with friends in a friendlier environment without 200 other teams around you.

I believe IRI is popular because some of the older, bigger teams are attending, like 25, 27, 45, 47, 58, 65, 67, 68, 111, 217, 222, 234, 308, 343. These are the teams I used to look out for back at the 00', 01' season. There are quite a bit of National Champions, regional champions, regional finalists among these teams.

That is not to say the rest of the teams aren't competitive, and because they are, it just make IRI one of the toughest competition around the country. That doesn't happen too often when local off season competitions have a lot of local teams showing up.

Oh yeah, I also think IRI is so popular because Andy Baker is so popular among the FIRST community. When Andy says so, you just can't not go to IRI ;). All in all, IRI is popular because a lot of teams think others good teams are going, and want to play competitively.

Seems like it's going to be fun.

Ken,

This is very nice of you to say. Thank you.

All,

There are soooo many people that make the IRI happen... I am just one of many.

The event is coordinated and led by Scott Ritchie of team 234. Libby Ritchie (Scott's wife) is co-leading the event and doing the lion's share of the detail work. Chris Fultz of Rolls-Royce is leading a parents group from 234 who will be feeding all of the teams on Friday night. David Kelly has done a great job in getting Kenny and SOAP to broadcast the IRI. Paul Osborne (393) and Mike Carmain (45) are coordinating all electrical work.

Ken Leung is riding in on his white horse to save the day and conduct the computerized scoring for the event. Robert Chiavaglia (247, 1034, 1035) is bringing down the ComauPico machine-shop-on-wheels.

Also, the facility where we will be playing not only is hosting the event, but also coordinating all of the concession stand food (at a good value to all)... and they are a rookie FIRST team! Thanks to team 1024 - the MegaBytes for this great support.

Also... we have two great engineers who will be announcing and M/C-ing on the field. Dan Green (Wildstang team leader) will be the announcer and Paul Copioli (Thunderchickens team leader) will be the M/C. We are all excited to see what Dan and Paul have cooked up to help entertain us all... now that their talents will be broadcast over the internet, I am sure that they will "kick it up a notch".

There are many others involved. Many people have volunteered their time as crew members, referees and judges. It is really neat to see everyone pitching in to make this thing work. People are riding buses, road tripping in cars, and flying in on planes to help. I am proud to just be a part of it, really.

Andy B.