Re: Field after Season
 

Team 22 got its own field after winning the Chairmans in 2001.( we were sponsoring so many events they said just keep it!!) FIRST does let people borrow the fields but usually teams have to pay for them to get it out to them - about 2 grand! but its FIRST im sure if you have a good cause and you talk to the right people they will say where do you need it and by when???? :) :) :)

Re: Field after Season
 

Thank you to everyone for the information. Team 540 will try to host an offseason event in Central Virginia. I will post more details soon.
Thanks,
Rob

Re: Field after Season
 

If you are looking to host an off-season event in VA, I would advise you to talk to Pattie Cook or Dee Tomczak. I know from experience, that there have been several attempts to get an off-season event started in Central Virginia. As part of the most recent group of people trying to get an off-season started, there is alot to it that you would never think about. So if you need any help, feel free to contact me, i still have all the planning information that we came up with, and I am very much still wanting to help plan, and get an off-season started in Virginia. Best of luck.

~Mike O'Brien

Re: Field after Season
 

If I was really rich, I'd do the following simply because FIRST is such a huge great program.

I'd establish regional FIRST centers. Each facility would be a year-round permanent place with one common warehouse space for a playing field and 10-20 mini-shops off to the side for each team!

Each team would register annually (maybe a lottery) for their workspace which would be accessible from outside the building (separately keyed for team secrecy).
Each team would have to provide their own insurance, but the physical space, utilities, etc would be provided free of charge or some nominal fee.

Then, each team could reserve the central arena for practice either on a "private" hourly basis or on a shared scrimmage basis.

Ohhhh...if I was really rich! In the mean time, I guess that teams in a given region could pool their resources to buy some scrap carpeting, build a sharable practice field, maybe even design their own 6-team controllers......ah, the beauty of being graciously professional.

Re: Field after Season
 

I'll make sure to contact them on Monday. Also the planning info would be very helpful. If anyone else is interested in helping please PM or e-mail me (I already e-mailed you Mike).