So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

WHich one gets your blood pumping?

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

I think Championship is the best. I think so because you see the robots on the internet and you can just imagine how they are. And then finally, you get to see them live right in front of you. Then Championship is better because it gathers the best of the best basically. And also, we did better at Championship than at regionals for some reason.

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

While the championship is great for seeing a wide variety of teams and robots and you get to see people that you probably will never get to see at your regional (I don't really expect many western teams to come to FLR) and the presentation is spectacular the championship is often distant and overewhelming. The energy level is high but nothing like the pure adrenalin of a regional. The regionals are a big old party wrapped around a robotic cometition while the champioinship feels like a convention. It's impossible to match the intensity even with the superior teams.

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

Arizona Regional always has a small amount of teams, you get to know everyone, and I think it was better than when we went to Nationals last year. Nationals were fun in their own way, though, and I'd love to go again.

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

I can't choose. Philly is my favorite regional because I know the people who are there each year, its like a family. Championships are exciting on a whole new level so its both for me.

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

I have no idea what the Championship is like since I've only seen it over the webcast(although I got excited enough from that). I do know I was catatonic for a week after the Chesapeake Regional; I can only imagine what it must be like to go to two regionals.

(Hopefully I won't have to wonder next year...)

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

Regionals are always something to look forward to. They may be small compared to the Championships, but they are by far more exciting. At the Midwest regional, for example we had a little round of Jeopardy, and Dean Simmons and the Kamens had a little concert after the first day of competition. Teams have a better chance to win an award, and congratulate those who had won an award.

Teams also have less time between rounds that they compete in, keeping a flow of excitement throughout the participants.

Plus we wouldn't be so exhausted from such a long walk from the pits to the stands. :p

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

In my opinion The Championship is better because of how many different robots you get to see and all the people you get to meet from all over the United States and even other Countries. At a regional this is possible but doesn't apply to all regionals. Also at the championship I personatly feel a lot more exitement when I'm out on the field. (dont know why i just do)

But that's just me. :p
Dave

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

The regionals (Peachtree & Boilermaker) we went to this year seemed more exciting! The final matches (4 of them, 1 was a tie) at the Boilermaker were unbelievable. Team #71 fell over with a little help, and most people thought the other alliance had won the finals but that was not the case.

Confined spaces make all the cheering seem louder and you can concentrate on one field. Having so many people at the Championship's means you have to sit so far from Einstein for the finals. Having Sir Charles do the play by play at the Peachtree for all the matches made it even better! Winning the Chairman's award at the Peachtree didn't hurt! :)
Dave

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

Regionals (by far). At regionals everyone is excited and cheering. The teams know each other and cheer for each other (especially during play offs). There just a closeness about regionals that make them more exciting.

In particular I know at SBPLI (our home regional), we made sure we cheered for other teams we knew - such as Baldwin who we mentored. (I'm not saying we don't cheer for everyone, but in particular teams we mentored and have relationships with.) As Kyle said, it's like a family. :)

Also by the Championships everyone is whiped out and ready for the end. ;)

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

I think Regionals are more spirited and everyone feels closer, since a lot of the same teams go to a lot of the same regionals you start to meet people and so on. The Championship is just so large scale its hard to feel like you mean anything...

I voted for Championship though, because from a drivers point of view the Championship was way more exciting. I haven't been nervous for a match since last year when I was a rookie arm-op. I actually got nervous for one or two of the divisional finals, and again when we got to Einstein. Not to mention when you get to Einstein, you have a whole gigantic section of people cheering for you. The number of teams that cheer for you increases a ton because you make friends teams that are done and need someone to cheer for and so on...


...It's intense.

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

Hands down, Championship. It's 3 days of intense competition, and you kind of escape from the "real world", and there's thousands of people and hundreds of teams. I know that I meet more people at Championships, because teams from around the nation, and world are there. It's not just the near by teams, that you usually get a regional event. Regionals are great, but I'd have to say Championships definitely. I already miss being there :(

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

I would have to go with Regionals.

For one, it allows the team to function more like a team. Most of the team at the regional will go down to the pits after a match and see what is going on. At championship, most of the team stays in the stands which creates lack of communication.

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

I went with the Championship for one reason: the intensity.

The competition seems to be on another level entirely when you're at the big competition, and that definitely makes it better. The qualifying matches were many times better than they were at the regionals I attended, and (what I saw of) the finals included the best matches I've seen all year.

Still, being able to do both is enough for me. :)

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

Conor's First Law of Parties
-The More, the merrier.

The championship has over 300 teams and with well over 10,000 people. Therefore the championship is more fun, as well as it has more people that you usually don't get to see at regionals. Not to mention the competition level generally is higher than that of regionals. Don't forget, the championship has the Webhug.

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

IRI!
The intensity of a regional and the competitive level of championships. Plus the talent show.
Out of those two choice, championship by a narrow margin.

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

In terms of intensity, I would have to go with Championships because of the sheer competitiveness. But in terms of closeness, regionals because in our home regional(SoCal) we know all the teams and its just fun. So if you are looking to have a good time then regionals but if are looking for a good time with competitiveness then Champs.

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

the championship is more exctiting to me...more robots, more people, more excitement

at regionals you only get to see 60-70 teams, while at championships u get to see over 300

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

Personally, I like regionals. We went to three this year, yet never saw the same team three times. I saw lots of old friends, and made many new ones along the way. At the Championship, I'm usually so exhausted (and busy) that I don't get to walk around the pits and visit all of the teams, etc. I like the smaller regionals (like Waterloo for example, 24 teams) because you play with and against each team, often more than once. You get to see the teams you've mentored compete and succeed without having to run to another field. I love the Championship as well, I just like the more personal sort of feel to the regionals better.

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

Championship was much cooler than all the regionals because you saw so many people and got so much cool swag.

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

It's a close call. I voted Championship, because when I'm there the excitement extends farther than I can see. Regionals are more concentrated and the excitement level can even peak higher, but I perceive a definite boundary around it.

Especially at early Regionals, there's a lot of anticipation over what is possible, and a lot of opportunity for any given team to do something outstanding. At Championships, there's an undercurrent of "best of the best" which raises my expectations of the teams' performance, strangely making it harder for a good showing to excite me. Fortunately, there are plenty of great showings to compensate.

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

While the Championship is the place to see all your friends from across the countyr and generally be at the "big show", I found I had the most fun this year at the Palmetto Regional. The trip down was fun, the people were hospitable and friendly, it was economical, the competitin was good and there were no hassles.

They did a great job and we hope to go back next year.

WC

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

This poll is really close. People are really split on their opinions.

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

My plan is working!
MWHAAHAHAHAHAHA!

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

I agree fully with Koko Ed. I've been to 7 regionals and one championship. While I got to see a lot of awesome robots and intense competition, its nothing compared to the small scale competition where just about every team knows another. All the teams just felt very close to each other at regionals.

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

Regionals are my pick, because they are smaller so you get to know more people. The championships, while following the "more the merrier" principle, are so large that it's hard to keep track of all the fields and find people sometimes.

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

I think regionals are more fun to attend. The teams seem to yell louder, your local rivals are usually around to go against them or compete with them, usually if a team is mentored by another team both teams show up to the same regionals, and even the music seems a lot louder and more exciting. Even the actual competitions are just as fun as nationals once you get to the semi-finals and final rounds at some competitions, especially in the Northeast and midwest where most of the powerhouse teams are, you're sure to see the same teams battle for a a regional championship battle for the division or world championship in April.

As far as the social life goes nationals is better. Like after how bad UTC was for their social this year I won't be surprised to see A LOT MORE kids just go home. At nationals if the social isn't good you still get to go back to the hotel and hang out with other teams. I thought the party in the park was pretty good (better than the SkillsUSA dance that SkillsUSA has at their nationals)..

My team mainly kept to ourselves except we did have a good time when we met team 1592. They had kids on house arrest, with a room overlooking the pool, they got their projector, hooked up power point and decided to have a party in their room and project it out to everybody at the pool. Now my team has kids who want to try and track them down to get to know them and maybe devlop a friendship so we could say "well your kids probably never seen a lot of snow why don't we host you and come up to UTC this year, and maybe you guys host us down in Coca Beach".

I guess regionals are better if you want a lot more spirit, yelling, and seeing a lot more action in the pits.

Nationals is probably better if you're into more social stuff if you're not a key member of the team and don't really care that teams aren't "as spirited" as at the regionals.

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

So many thoughts I am not quite sure that I can organize them...

I voted for regionals because they are venues that have a limited number of teams all competing on the same stage. In many cases, going back to the same regionals year after year allow more relationships to build among teams as well as more competition/rivalry. I can think of a few teams that we look forward to seeing again and again because of friendships forged as well as competitive battles fought.

I also believe that regionals can be more exciting because there is more chance for success. I doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that less teams means more potential for team success in competition.

I started attending the nationals back when it was held at Epcot in the American Pavilion(?) and the number of teams then was much more manageable. Throughout the growth at Disney and the subsequent Houston National, I felt more disconnected at Nationals than at the regionals. Certainly there were more teams and nothing can compare to 18,000+ screaming fans (for excitement), but being limited to a field (Newton, Galileo, etc.) did effectively limit exposure to many of the other teams and I never felt like I had time to capture the whole experience. I guess in my long-winded manner, I am trying to say that I personally feel more excitement in the smaller regionals because I don't get overwhelmed as much as at Nationals.

Our team has made the decision not to attend Nationals the last two years for a variety of reasons, but the debate always arises - if we don't attend nationals, how will we ever know how good we really were? We shall see what next year brings... :rolleyes:

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

I'd say both regionals and championships are of an equal "exciting level". The Championships, with their sheer size, with you knowing how much work has been put into every single one of those robots and youre there to compete against every last one of them. Regionals are excitiing because you get to show the teams from around your region what youve been doing the past year. Youre there to show the rival town from just a few miles away just how much you worked for the sole purpose of beating (or allied with) them.

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

I've been to three championships: Hexagon Havoc 1996 at Epcot (with one of two St. Louis teams started that year; both have since disbanded), then Stack Attack 2003 in Houston, and Triple Play 2005 in Atlanta. Also seven regionals: Toroid Terror 1997 at Midwest (rookie year for that regional, I think), Zone Zeal 2002 at St. Louis (rookie year for that regional and for my current team 931), Stack Attack 2003 at St. Louis, First Frenzy: Raising the Bar 2004 at St. Louis and at Midwest, and Triple Play 2005 at St. Louis and at Buckeye. Starting in 2003 I have also volunteered at every FIRST event I've attended.

Regionals are more enjoyable for me. About 50 teams and the volunteer staff needed to accommodate them makes for an event size where I can comfortably try to meet and interact with most of the participants. Given the choice, I'd rather go to my home regional (St. Louis) and one or two others, and skip the championship.

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

Personally I believe the championship is more exciting, because you've seen what your robot can do and you know that the teams participating will give a real good match. The teams are also more experienced. Plus you get to meet a lot more people from different parts of the nation/world at the championship.

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

Give me a good Midwest Regional or West Michigan, and a FIRST season can be complete. Championships are always good because of the scale. But statisticly, MWR and WMR are some of the hardest regionals out there. And odds are you'll play ever team at the regional, giving you a better chance to see some heavy hitters go at it, where as Championships has the chance you'll never play a team you want to. (I wanted to see my team go up against 71 but they weren't in our division, and they didn't come to WMR this year :( )

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

the Florida regional was probably the most exciting event I have been to. The Buckeye was really crazy (mascots and referees were dancing in the field, lots of people dancing all over the place) but it was still really quiet in the stands. The championships was really great experience but it wasnt as exciting and loud as the Florida regional.

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

The Championship was def. the best. You got to see the robots you had only heard about, and you got to play with the best. Not only that, but you got to go to a different city and meet new people. Even thought VCU was great, Atlanta was better. We even did better there than at our regional.

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

Although I like Regionals because they're smaller and easier to scout, I have to say Championships wins the prize for me.

Regionals are great because I can see my "close" friends. Like 103 and 222 and the teams I can't really just hang out and visit with on a daily basis. But those are the teams I see more than anything.

Championships is awesome because I get to meet new people. See my friends that livei n California, Canada, Texas, Georgia, and the places I couldn't even IMAGINE driving to (at least, not with my current car). You finally get to see the teams and the people you've been talking to all year on CD. Checking out the "infamous" robots that are not on your local coast. It's a great feeling because there's so much more to experience.

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

it is really working!!! this is like the hardest poll question to answer....

i would say championship is more exciting because you see all these great teams that you wouldn't see @ the regionals...some ppl just have to see 111, 71 and many others up close if ya know what i mean...chance to play those powerhouses are always fun...

championship and regionals both have their postive attributes....i just have to be glad i've been able to attend competitions over the years

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

I voted Championships. Although we get a lot more recogition ot Peachtree and more people know us there, Championships is what this is all about. You go to the regional to make the Championships. It is the best of the best competing. And then during the last match of the entire competition, everyone is on their feet all 20,000+ people watching 6 robots go at it. That is just purely crazy.

You can meet so many more people. And there is ultimate frisbee there on the field outside.

And thn the hotels are fun. At peachtree, a lot of the teams drive there and back everyday, but at the Ga Dome, it isn't possible so all the teams ar together at the hotels and can hang out with each other.

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

Regionals got my vote. You have more matches at regionals, so it is more exciting for each individual team. Also, it is in a smaller area when compared to the Championships, so the crowd and music all get hyped up more. At regionals I had more energy to cheer and whatnot because I didn't have to walk so far to the pits and back. At nationals I was exhausted and just didn't cheer as much as I did at regionals.

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

The regionals seemed to have more energy to me. Esp cuz they arent really able to do all the fun songs at nats cuz there is no place to dance :(

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

Nationals for the sheer numbers. You've got tons of teams in the hotels to hang out with, tons of teams outside, everywhere. And finals on Einstein are great.

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

I voted Championships. It was a hard decision. During the championships I was a little more concentrated. But because the regionals are the first competitions of the year, to me they are a little more nerve-wrecking. By the time you get to nationals you are used to the surrondings(music, crowd, etc.). When you get to Einstein it is back to or over the nerve level of regionals again.

Both are a lot of fun and it is great to be around all the robots and competion. :)

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

championships for the simple reason that there are 4 times more teams/people than at a given regional

Re: So which one is more exciting? Regionals or the Championship?
 

Regionals are my vote. The Championship has better teams, is very paced, excitement, but completely draining. Regionals are a bit more loose and fun.