Potential Regional Sites
 

Jadwin Gym @ Princeton University. The place might as well have been built for a FIRST regional.

The picture you see is taken from the stands. In the foreground is the basketball court (one or two playing field(s)). In the background is the track (think pit & practice field space), which you can't see because there is some sort of a reception going on in the picture. All the stands front the basketball court, and there are about 5000 seats in all (that's a very rough estimate, and probably a low one). Parking is usually plentiful in the lot behind Jadwin

Nobody is really using this place regularly after the basketball season ends. Add to that the fact that Princeton University wants to beef up their engineering program and late March is a great time/place to advertise to students...

Whenever the contract with Sovereign Bank Arena expires, FIRST and the organizers of the NJ regional ought to look into making a deal with the local Ivy League University.

Re: Potential Regional Sites
 

I was impressed with SBPLI's new venue (Hofstra arena). Nice seating and field setup, although the pits were a bit crowded. However, I'd like to see it across the street at Nassau Coliseum (~18,000 seats) some day. I mean, it's not unheard of for a Regional to take over a hockey arena...BAE does it at the moment (Verizon Wireless Arena, ~10,000 seats). Granted, SBPLI has only about 2/3 the number of teams as BAE and 18,000 seats is overkill for any regional, but I think FIRST deserves pro arena status and the publicity/attention that goes with it wherever it can get it. ::imagines the day when all regionals are in pro arenas:: (Plus, I don't think the NHL is using it at the moment...)

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I live just down the road from Princeton and I must agree that Jadwin is a perfect place for a competition. My only concern would be its size...it's been a little while since I've been there but would 40-50 pit areas fit in that space behind the basketball court? If they would then I'm all for it :)

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Seattle.

Hec Ed. Key Arena. Even the Tacoma Dome, which is in Tacoma, not Seattle, but it's close enough.

There's no reason the Pacific Northwest can't support two regionals. Maybe we could attract some Korean and Japanese teams. We're a lot closer than California...

Re: Potential Regional Sites
 

I'm still wishing for a Boston Regional. Not sure if there will be one soon. Since there are 3 in NY, one in NH and another in CT all of which aren't too far away. They could hold it at the same place as Beantown Blitz at NU.

Re: Potential Regional Sites
 

Yeah Boston would be awsome for a regional, but I doubt they'll get one. It just seems all the northeast teams as it is compete at just one local regional then spread out across the country. If Boston did get a regional that would probably become the hardest place to win in the nation. I think the city would attract a lot teams to stay in New England instead of going elsewhere and I'm sure some midwest teams might take the advantage to compete here against some excellent teams like WPI, Buzz, Sie-H20-bots, Techno-Ticks, Geal Force and also look at some of Boston's best colleges. It's really a spot FIRST could do well with, I just don't see 7 regionals within driving distance of Hartford/Springfield/Eastern NY.

As long as UTC is the sponsor of New England it will stay in Hartford or in Connecticut somewhere considering this is where UTC has all their major plants for each company.

NH being where FIRST was founded and the location of the HQ that regional will never be moved.

I've only been in FIRST for two years, I just don't know how many regionals FIRST will expand to. This year I saw more regionals than I'd expect that had several open spots, especially with the cost to attend second and third regionals and travel.

Re: Potential Regional Sites
 

I know nothing. :rolleyes:

Re: Potential Regional Sites
 

Washington DC!
Theres the MCI center for one. Not to mention several universities and colleges in the surrounding area that might be interested. GMU, GW, Georgetown (although their basketball is played at the MCI center, so that kinda goes back to the MCI center), ect. There are a ton of teams in greater washington area now. Even though there are 2 regionals within a 2 hour drive of DC, there definately are enough teams to support a 3rd. Some regionals dont even have 40 teams attend them, both Chesepeake and VCU had more than 55 (56 for Chesepeake, 62 or 63 for VCU). I know a few of the Richmond area teams are willing to drive up to DC for the building museum scrimmage, so they'd probably be willing to attend the DC regional as well. Not to mention the growing number of DC, N. Va, and Md teams that could also support it. If the building museum is willing to support a scrimmage, they'd probably be willing to sponsor a team social as well.
If DC doesn't get a regional, I know of at least 2 Virginia universities who are at least mildly interested in sponsoring a 2nd Virginia regional (Va has 55 teams after all). The UVa dean of engineering is jealous of VCU's regional, but I highly doubt the Dean down in Blacksburg would let UVa get the next regional without a fight.

As for Boston becoming the toughest regional, it still wouldnt be as good as the midwest regional, or Purdue.

Re: Potential Regional Sites
 

Another Texas Regional would be great due to the distance separating teams. Maybe Dallas or Austin, University Support from a major University System would definitely push the case and location. Erwin Center or Wells Fargo Arena, anyone interested in such a location, please post or send me an email.

However, there are not enough teams in the area to spur a regional, but it definitely could be a potential site.

Re: Potential Regional Sites
 

My mother and I were at Miami University and saw their basketball arena, and well, as we thought, it made the VCU Siegel center look like a POS. Man, it was nice, big, and lots of parking. Only problem is that there are two regionals less than a day drive away from it (Boilermaker & Buckeye).

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Hmmm.. I heard from a very reliable source that Dean Kamen actually wants a Boston regional. Beyond that I can't say.

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The NVA/DC metro area would be a great place for a regional, but there are no obvious locations that I can think of. The GMU Patriot Center is not big enough for a regional, unless they have a LOT of extra floor space hidden in the back for the pits. The seats are all nonmovable. The MCI center appears to be the same way.
The DC Convention Center has the space, but not the seating.

An interesting side note, the MCI Center and the Patriot Center have the same website.

Wetzel

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you think she is up to something for 2006?!?! =X

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I would recommend that before you jump the gun on what regions need new regionals, maybe focus on what areas don't already have them that could use them more.

Boston has already been mentioned, and I can see that there are so many teams in that one area, despite nearby regionals, there is nothing in state. Good idea to fix.

However, geographically, what areas are developing right now in each region that really need the consideration of a new regional, and need suggestions? I don't pretend to be the most informed about it, but look at Wisconsin...

;) Anybody got suggestions in Milwaukee for something great? From what I hear, that state not only has some extremely awesome teams arleady, but has at least 8 or 9 rookies in the works for next year. I'd definitly want to see a regional location up there. Feel free to check out the thread about the possible regional as well.

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I love Jadwin, it's a great location, and it certainly is a big venue, but I like Sovereign Bank. It's nice to have a practice field and SPACE in the pit area. I'm worried that things would get too cramped at Princeton's venue.

A Boston regional would be cool, but then think about how many crammed northeast regionals there would be. It's a great idea, and maybe if we get many more east coast teams it should be expanded on. But I think right now, what FIRST has is great.

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There are quite a few college basketball courts that put VCU's court to shame. But VCU was probably my favorite regional in the past two years I have been in FIRST.

I would really be up for a Boston regional.

Re: Potential Regional Sites
 

Milwaukee has good potential sites for a regional. My best bet would that it would be held at the US Cellular Arena (http://www.uscellulararena.com/). This is the home of the UW - Milwaukee Panthers Basketball Teams, the Milwaukee Admirals AHL Hockey Team, Milwaukee Wave Indoor Soccer, and many other events.

It is located right downtown next to several hotels and it has enough space for the pits and field. It would proabably be set up like many regionals are, with the field and pits all on the arena floor seperated by a barrier.

There is a bunch of stuff to do in Milwaukee and all the teams here would sure welcome a regional closer to home. We shall see what will happen for next year.

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Wouldn't the biggest thing to look at when looking at new sites for a regional be the funding? Without sponsors a regional might be a little more difficult. But then again many of the after season events didn't have big sponsors for a while.

-Mike

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a great '07 loaction would be Provo or Salt Lake City in Utah. There are planty of available arenas with the proper preparation, and I'm sure that BYU and UofU would start some teams with a regional so close. Also, teams from nevada, cloroado, even cali and texas could go. It would be a pretty good spot i think :D

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I'd like to eventually see another Canadian regional, but on the west coast. We have two in Ontario now, which is awesome, but with new teams being added every year on the Canadian west coast I think a regional there would be awesome.

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VCU is getting a bit crowded. ANyone who went this year knows how big the pits were. A regional in Central NC or maybe Hampton Roads would take the pressure off VCU.

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I have not seen any official notification but I have it from a very good source that there will be a regional in New Orleans in 2007.

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I hope that isn't the same reliable source that told me we would be having a regional in New Orleans in 2005..... er, make that 2006...... no, wait; make that 2007......

The problem with a New Orleans regional is corporate sponsorship. If that could get that taken care of, then University of New Orleans Lakefront Arena would be great! Cool enough for teams to say "We're going to New Orleans" but still too much of a walk for team members to sneak out of the hotel at night and get to the French Quarter/Bourbon Street without "Adult Supervision." :rolleyes:

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How about a South Florida Regional at Ft. Lauderdale convention center.. or one in miami... its 2 miles from the beach :-)

Common who wouldn't want to come to beautiful sunny ft. lauderdale towards the end of winter and get to blaim it on robots

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Actually, the problem with getting a New Orleans Regional competition started has to do with team density and not with corporate sponsorship. More than 75% of the funds required for the event have already been identified. However, it was expected that there would not be enough teams to fully populate a new competition event this upcoming season without adversely impacting the other events in that region of the country. In particular, there was a concern that too many teams would have to be drawn from Texas and Florida to attend the new event, and that would draw down on the attendance at these competitions. So the decision was made to postpone planing for the New Orleans regional for at least one year, and concentrate on growing new teams in Louisiana in 2006.

-dave

Re: Potential Regional Sites
 

A South Florida Regional would be pretty sweet. I would think it could be at the Office Depot Center or American Airlines Arena. The University of Miami has a pretty new convocation center as well.

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There are plenty of places in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area that could support a regional, I'm sure. With only one team in the whole state, and so many huge potential corporate sponsors (3M is based there, Ford has a huge plant, and I'm sure there are myriad others), planning a regional there for 2007 could spawn many more teams in 2006 and the years after. I assume that some of the Michigan and Indiana teams would be interested, but not too many to impact the regionals there. So, why not Minnesota?

(Am I the only person other than pakrat who suggested a regional that isn't coincidentally convenient for my own team? ;))

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I would really like to see a regional somewhere in Europe. Generate some interest and create some excitement over there which could lead to some teams starting over there. I would really like us to be able to keep some of these other regionals around. I know Peachtree is out a ton of money because of no more NASA money. I wonder how they are going to function next year.

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Right now New Orleans has four teams. OP.Walker (1550), Abramson (1534), Kenedy (1589) and New Orleans Math and Science (1304). There will be two new teams in 2006. We are trying to get at least two more new schools on the north shore (Slidell and Covington) making eight in total. NASA will sponsor the regional and guarantee at least 30 teams. The Lake Front Arena at UNO will probable not be the site and the Ponchertrain Center in Meterie will most likely will be the choice, mainly because of the availability to hotels and restaurants. For 2006 NASA has $100,000 available to sponsor New Orleans and Louisiana schools. By 2007 the goal is to have at least 10 teams from Louisiana. BLAST (Building Louisiana Science and Technology) a group of volunteers from major business and universities in the New Orleans area are providing the groundwork and support for getting the regional. This will involve getting the corporate sponsors necessary to fund an endeavor of this size. You guys at Gulfport (364) might like to get involved.

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Provo, Utah!

Brigham Young University has one of the largest enclosed arenas in the world (The Marriott Center), we've got lots of hotels (for all them college families), lots of parking, a 20 lane bowling alley in the student center, all the important stuff!

It'd be a nice in-between location for the teams out west that think Denver is a bit too far, and the teams out east that think Vegas is too much temptation. ;)

Either that or Salt Lake City's Delta Center or something.

[edit] I think pakrat's on to something.... ;) [/edit]

Dave

Re: Potential Regional Sites
 

Actually, you're more correct than you think. BYU has tons of great organizations that would LOVE to help with a FIRST team (mini baja, anyone?)! I've also been in touch with a local high school's (Orem High School) Robotics club (:ahh:) (both the teacher advisor and the student president), and they are both VERY interested in starting up a FIRST team. They even have the school facilities to do it: classes like "Small Vehicle Tech", "Welding", "CAD and Drafting", etc. Man, why couldn't I have gone to a high school like that?? ;)

Dave

Re: Potential Regional Sites
 

Looking over the FIRST map the Northeast is all tapped out. The West (particularly the Northwest) is underdeveloped and remember, it's not just about giving something for current teams to do but to spur the growth of FIRST in a given area. I think Seattle is a good bet. New Orleans (especially if they happen to wrestle the championship away from Atlanta. Dallas. Washington, DC. Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Salt Lake City all look like good bets.
Surprisingly there hasn't been alot of talk about what the new regionals will be next year like there was last year.