2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

Here are the Dates
Announce on www.usfirst.org

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

Awesome!

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

Excellent! (and thanks for the posting)

NYC is week six and on Friday, Saturday and Sunday again.
:)

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

This is probably a situation where I ought to know more about this and don't, but why would they put OKC and LSR the same weekend? And follow it up with New Orleans the next weekend?

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

Please note the following disclaimer on the FIRST regional event listing and if we are lucky, something gets adjusted with OKC and LSR:ahh:

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

Of course, my three top regionals (other than my home) are the SAME week. Now to choose..Hawaii, Boston, or Philly? Man!

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

That was my concern. They are really hurting OKC A LOT by putting it there. MOST teams in Texas even the ones closer to OKC call LSR home and will continue [until the Dallas regional happens in '09] to call it home, so having a new and a rookie regional on the same week as a very STRONG southern regional is definitely going to impact the OKC by AT LEAST 10-15 teams. I thought FIRST considered things like that when organizing events, etc? Although I understand a lot of work goes into the process IMHO I believe that it would have been better suited to make OKC a second or third week regional.

Also I don't like Bayou being back to back with LSR. I think some teams aren't going to be up for that because that would mean losing 2 weeks of school almost [unless you're from Houston [because our spring break is during LSR week]].


Pavan


PS. Dave, this is different than judging a game.

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

Put it this way Sara...
Have you been to Boston? [Ima say yes]
Have you been to Philly? [again, Ima say yes]
Have you been to Hawaii? [ima say NO... at least for a regional since this is it's first year haha]
Just what I think :p

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

WOW! Midwest regional isn't on the same weekend as the Boilermaker regional. All is back to semi-normal in the Midwest finally!

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

It really disappoints me to see that Boston got moved to Week 5, because that puts it up against much Long Island and Philadelphia, and leaves no NE regionals in Week 4. It also means the Professional Development days I have on March 20 and 21 will go to waste.

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

Ouch, Detroit, West Michigan and Great Lakes are back-to-back-to-back. Detroit also falls on MME (Michigan Merit Exam) testing week. That kinda sucks. The big winners from all this is Midwest, STL, VCU, FLR and KC, all are close enough drives that many Michigan teams will travel to them.

I don't know about the rest of the schools in Michigan, but Goodrich doesn't get spring break until March 31, that could kinda screw GLR as well, because most teams won't want to pull kids out directly before spring break.

It is going to be goofy, with a lot of close regionals being on the same week. Weeks three and five are going to be a nightmare, I would be surprised if all of the regionals fill up in those weeks.

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

That's Great I can't wait for Silicon Valley or Davis

had a great time last year and just have missed ever since

hope every one is there

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

Remember that the dates are highly dependent upon when FIRST can book the arenas for the events. I'd imagine that it would be difficult to get *every* regional perfectly scheduled.

Hopefully, though, this will inspire more teams near OKC to start other FRC programs to help fill up that regional!

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

They probably didn't have a choice. It's based completely upon when the venues are available. For example, the Boilermaker regional at Purdue University always has to take place during Purdue's spring break, so it has always been a week three regional. Before criticizing, take a moment to think of the monumental task of organizing just one regional event. Now multiply that times 41 and you've got quite a task on your hands. The fact that these events even happen within this time frame at all is impressive in itself. Talk to someone on a regional planning committee sometime, or be on one yourself, it will give you a whole new perspective and respect.

Also, I'm very happy that the Midwest Regional is a week one event this year. It has conflicted with the Boilermaker Regional the past two years, so maybe some of us Indiana teams will make the event and bring the heat this year :)

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

I am sad that the great lakes and the greater toronto one are at the same time... oh well... maybe we will come down to finger lakes instead

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

But WI is...which means I won't be able to ref Boilermaker for the first time ever! :(

However, since Midwest is finally not back to back with WI, The Ultimate Protection Squad may finally be making their triumphant return to Chi-town...only time will tell.

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

Jersey week 1, there's a shocker :rolleyes:

Good thing the 4 regionals I'm planning on going to fall on different weekends, so it might be possible to attend them all.

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

I wonder if this is the year that FLR breaks the 40 team barrier?

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

11 or 12 fields at least in the works this year.
Craziness!!

And week 3/27/2008 - 3/29/2008 is really annoying.
12 regionals (if we include Israel) that weekend, and now some tough decisions as to where I want to go.

Boston, GTR, Philly, Long Island, Las Vegas, Hawaii.
All in the same weekend!!!

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

yay! GLR for my bday!!!

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

The Florida Regional is currently listed as 3/13 - 3/15/08.

Huge problem for Florida high schools as the FCAT (FL Comprehensive Assessment Test) schedule appears to conflict. Palm Beach County Schools (& I believe high schools throughout the state) are administering the 11th grade Science portion that week. Believe me that our students will not be excused from this testing.:(

Any thoughts from other FL teams?

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

Michigan teams have a similar problem with the Detroit regional being during Junior Testing, and Great Lakes being during the make up week.

Counting both Junior testing and Easter weekend as major conflicts (though I suppose some teams won't see Easter weekend that way as they like regionals where students don't have to miss as much school) nine of my team's ten closest regionals fall on weekends with major conflicts.

~Allison

PS - Does anyone know if the page that shows the team capacity for each regional is up yet?

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

It's at: http://www.usfirst.org/whatsgoingon.aspx (select FRC)
but it shows 0 teams for all capacities, so it's not ready for prime time.

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

I wonder what it would take to realign the OKC and LSR regionals?
Not sure how that decision was made - could have just been an open date.
I will miss our Friends from TX being able to come to the Beautiful Sooner State for some friendly competion. Seriously we need the veteran teams in the area to help get things off the ground.

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

Here's a thought from a Nevada team...

We have dealt with same problem last 2 years with timing of our own LVR and State Proficiency tests. Our State provides a "make up" day for kids absent during test week the first part of the week following testing...it may be worth checking with administration to see if your kids can do the same.

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

I'm pretty sure LSR is not going to change. Seeing as KATY ISD hates changing dates on short notice.

Not sure about OKC though

EDIT: the decision about LSR being at the merrell center was made way before last years LSR and has not changed since so I am almost certain it won't change now

(LSR rockin the merrell center 2008 :D See you there)

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

http://www.firstnemo.org/resources.htm
Some suggested reading:
"Questions to Consider when choosing your FIRST events"

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

Out of my personal curiosity, do any of the Houston area teams that are going to a second regional know which one they will be attending?

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

We face the same issue in CT. The UTC Regional falls in the middle of CAPT Testing for 9th and 10th graders, but fortunately our school doesn't do the test on Friday, and Thursday we only send our drive team, so it has worked out very well the last two years that everyone was an upperclasmen who needed to go (previously UTC was week 2).

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

624 is currently in the process of choosing one of the week 2 regionals

Currently we are not likely to attend:

1) finger lakes regional

We are currently considering:

1) VCU regional
2) Kansas city regional
3) Arizona Regional (we have attended this one twice now)
4) San Diego Regional


Our team is deciding which one of the four we will be attending some time in the next 1-2 weeks

We can confirm that we will be attending the LSR regional (as it is located in our home districts biggest stadium) along with as many people from our school as we can bring:D :D :D

(i should probably add that our school totals 2,800 students in all)

If you have any comments on any of the above regionals let me know as it might help make our decision easier.

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

To bad Seattle wound up during the 4th week. Team 987 was hoping to join the inauguration...our mentors can't get away from work on a back to back with our home regional (LVR) so it looks like we will be heading to San Diego...

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

woow... the Brazilian Regional is confirmed!! that's a really good new to all those who has been working hard for FIRST development here in Brazil!!
Surely would be great if some teams out of Brazil could come... It would help to make the level and the quality of the matches even better than the last year...

I must say We can expect great things from this regional. (and i'm not saying that because I'm a brazilian, i know that many teams have been working hard in the development of new systems)

And i repeat it would be great if teams for other cowntries could come... something like #75 and #2016 in past season, but this year we could have teams from other cowntries attending the competition! We surely will host everyone who come here in the best way possible!!

see ya during the season!

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

Yay for the Hawaii Regional!!!

BTW. Its Manoa Valley. Not "Menoa" but hey, when have engineers EVER needed correct spleling? lol Its all about the MATH!!

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

Looks like our team will be traveling about 20,000 miles this year to 3 regionals and championships, pending any financial setbacks. We have already started fundraising like crazy.:ahh:

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

Team 624 is currently in the process of choosing one of the week 2 regionals

We are currently considering:

1) VCU regional
2) Kansas city regional
3) Arizona Regional (we have attended this one twice now)
4) San Diego Regional




Thanks for choosing the Arizona Regional "Twice" in the past, we take that as a great compliment! We'd love to have you back again this year too!

Looks like its going to be another GREAT ARIZONA EVENT, good mix of veteran and rookie teams.

HOPE TO SEE MANY OF YOU IN ARIZONA ON WEEK TWO!

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

Team 1249 will be at Pittsburgh but undecided about the second region. Looks like Palmetta again right now. Really enjoy that regional except for the drive

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

Hey,

Just wanted to let you guys know that our team voted and we will be going to the Arizona regional (the regional won by a landslide)

See you there.

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

If your team hasn't yet decided :eek: on a regional to attend, you might find the NEMO paper, "Questions to Consider When Choosing Your FIRST Event(s)" to be helpful. This and other resources can be found on the NEMO website, www.firstnemo.org.

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

OOOOOMG!

Team 116 is registered for the 2008 NYC Regional!
:)
Gotta get Krispy Kremes instead of Dunkin' Donuts.....

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

12 regionals in week 5 and one in week 6 then a two break until championship. that's gonna seem like a three week break. I hope that next year there can more regionals in week 6.

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

Uh, this is the first year there even is a Week 6. Last year the Championship was fairly early; I believe there was only a 2 week break. That year was the anomaly, not this year.

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

There was a week 6 last year too, actually. It was Javits again that caused the "problem." Big long booking list for a venue like that in NYC. If scheduling worked out better, there probably wouldn't have been a week 6 to begin with.

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

Can a mod change this thread to not be a "sticky"?
We have a 2009 thread (or 2) now to replace it's "sticky" rating.
Thanks!

Re: 2008 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

Done, and closing the thread as well. Go visit the 2009 thread.