2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

From Bills Place:

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

I see the Michigan state championship on there, but when will the other Michigan dates be announced?

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

There are some serious shakeups in this schedule; Boston is now in week two and Connecticut is now in week five...

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

Arizona is week 4 now instead of week 2

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

Time to start planning the vacation time!
(ARRRGH! Boston is happening the same week as FLR! WHY!?)

Tentative plans:
Week 1. DC
Week 2 FLR
Week 3 Florida (duh!)
Week 4 Philadelphia may choose St. Louis or Bayou.
Week 5 GTR
Week 6 Michigan Championship

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

Did anyone else notice that they start the regionals on Wednesday? Did the regionals add a day in the same year that the districts subtracted one?

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

It might just be that they're pulling the information from an internal calendar. FIRST is on site the day before the regional starts.

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

Minnesota Double Regional! Wow. Now to figure out which one to register for...

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

I'm a little unhappy about the way the regionals are scheduled. NYC is week 2 now which removes it from our options (week before is NJ)

But I am glad to see Palmetto in week 5. Hope to give South Carolina a little visit and see 1251 there as well.

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

If you pay the extra to ship, it is entirly possible to get your robot from Trenton to NYC (Trust me, 555 did it form New Orleans to NYC)

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

Its not the shipping, just timing for our mentors. We try to get in at least a 2 week break for students to catch up on schoolwork especially when most of these kids are all honors/ AP students. Two straight weeks takes a lot out of you and out of school time even if you get work in advance.

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

I hate Boston & New York City in the same week!

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

It's very disappointing to see the Michigan District events missing from this schedule. With all the controversy over the Michigan District Pilot, I see this as yet another set back for Michigan teams. All events should have been announced at the same time. What little faith I had the the Michigan District Pilot & FIRST in Michigan is fading.

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

If they were "officially announced" then why aren't they appearing in VIMS?

Also, why are the 2008 event days up on "Whats going on in my area?"

This may reflect some of the Event Dates, but I'm taking them with a grain of salt for now. Expecially following the quote below:

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

sigh, and NJ is still week 1. I guess they think we can be the groundbreakers. Stogi, maybe this is the year we have to hustle to do both - after last year's NYC regional we were also hoping to do Javits. At leats we can communte to the city.
Bill's place is an informal 'quick & dirty' communications path; give them a little time to make it all pretty and ready for prime time.

Don

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

There have been some delays in other sites that needed launching before VIMS. VIMS will open for events on September 8 as far as I've been told.

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

... That's not what I'm getting at. Both of you have copied only the first line of my reply. I'm not complaining that the information is not available in VIMS just that not everything is finalized and that the thread title could be misleading.

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

Agreed... How about

2009 Regional Dates Announced by an Official (Unofficially)

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

Oh.

Yeah, I guess so. Since I often need to deal with imperfect information at work, and still make serious decisions based on that information, I suppose the small noise level didn't enter my radar. But, the caveat is right there for all to see.

Don

EDIT: Also shows the way a quote, out of context, can be misleading. Keep that in mind when reading the newspaper or watching the news.

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

Well if the list is right about the Buckeye Regional moving to week one that’s going to be new for my team seeing how it was week 3 or 4 the last few years but I guess it will make for just as much fun.

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

Why are there two Minnesota regionals in the same week?

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

I think a better question would be why they even have 2 regionals at all.

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

Our state has so much budget cuts that all schools need our Governor to sign travel docs? **cant believe it**
I had to turn in travel docs already with exact dates, times, and airfare/car rental quotes.
Thank goodness for "unofficial regional dates" ;)

Team 359 will be attending West Coast this year.
1. Oregon week 2
2. Silicon Valley regional week 3 (home away from home)
3. Hawaii week 5
4. Championships (since we "unofficially" qualified already)

If we cant get the projected funds for this year, we will not be doing Hawaii due to double round trip robot transportation costs.

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

just kidding........we may not do week 3.

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

This is awesome news! We look forward to you guys coming back to San Jose. I was telling Alan at IRI how we miss seeing you guys and 368 at SVR every year.

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

I hope 368 comes too.
Perhaps a 254, 368, 359 alliance? ;)

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

i'm a bit excited to bump boston to week 2, yet a little saddened because it eliminates the chance for us to attend san diego or LA

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

i wonder if the Florida Regional will overlap with the FCAT(mandatory test for all high school students in Florida) again?

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

Nice to see a full set of options for teams in the southwest with weeks
1 OKC
3 Dallas
4 Bayou
5 Lonestar

Week two is State English/Language arts testing so that works really well.
I'll check the April test dates and championship and edit this post later.

Championship April 16-18
TAKS April 27 - May 1
Which gives a week to recoup and prepare for exams

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

If history serves to repeats itself, for the last 2 years the Regionals are release unoffically (usually Sept5 or 6) prior to the email blast which usually is released on Sept 12. Check out the 2008 and 2007 Email Blast Archive


09/12/2007 Get Ready for 2008 FRC Event Registration!
http://www.usfirst.org/community/frc...t.aspx?id=6622

09/12/2006 Welcome to the 2007 FRC Season
http://www.usfirst.org/community/frc...t.aspx?id=3130

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

[quote=Cory;764252]This is awesome news! We look forward to you guys coming back to San Jose. I was telling Alan at IRI how we miss seeing you guys and 368 at SVR every year.[/

Cory,
Save some room for the High Rollers in case we decide Florida is too expensive for us this year...we will decide pretty soon.

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

This messes up our plans.

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

I was just thinking about this thread, and came to the conclusion that I think it should be renamed from (Unofficial) to (Tentative). The information definitely came from an official source, albeit with a disclaimer that some of the information is subject to change...

Just my $0.02...

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

I'm really disappointed that LA and SVR are the same week.


[quote=JB987;764269]359.... 368.... 987.... I can't wait....

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

:(

out of the five regionals that i wanted to go to this year (realisticly, i was only going to go to 2 of them). four happen to be on the same week

Peachtree (seems fun, especially after all the excitement last year)
Florida (duh)
Wisconsin (get a chance to hang out with some non robotics friends)
Dallas (same reason as above)

well at least i have a shot at GTR... if not, then Michigan State Championship, if it's in Detroit, if not, i guess im only going to 1 event :(

i hope this schedule changes

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

March 10 – 23, 2009 are the current scheduled dates for the 2009 FCAT. The dates for specific tests depend on your district and the decisions that will later be made by the state.

Source: http://highmail.highlands.k12.fl.us/...37;20dates.pdf

What 1065 always did was send the upperclassmen to the event, and have the lower classmen who could, have their parents sign them out and bring them to the regional right after the testing was over. I think this only works because we were so close to the regional.

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

Dang it, Hawaii and Vegas and UC Davis regional are all the same week :confused:

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

Nice to see Oregon moved back to week 2. It has been one of our favourite regionals for several years now, but it has always been such a rush to get the robot through customs, the van packed and all the travel documents double-checked that an extra week of "breathing space" will be appreciated.

The Seattle regional will be exciting, too... with the move from the Tacoma convention centre to the 17,000+ seat Key Arena downtown, it looks like the amazing people at FIRSTWA are going to make a great, friendly, little regional in to a great, friendly, BIG regional!

Teams who haven't experienced the Pacific Northwest shouldn't miss out. Memorial Colliseum in Portland has to be one of the best venues in all of FRC*, and Key Arena has to be the most exciting new competition space of the year.

Jason

* check it out... HUGE pit spaces close to the playing field, plenty of seats in the stands, lots of good affordable hotels and restaurants in walking distance, free public transportation to downtown, good load in and load-out (once you figure out where to go), and all located in a very nice, very friendly city.... with no sales taxes (and some really good locally-brewed beverages for any thirsty adults who aren't on supervision duty). Oh, and did I mention that the people are great, too?

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

It's in Ypsilanti at Eastern Michigan University, site of former GLR. About 40 or so miles west of Detroit.

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

I totally agree on all points. The venue at Portland is great, particularly the large pit area.

We enjoyed the event very much in 2006 and would like to come back at some point.

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

NYC is returning to a "regular schedule" Thursday-Saturday event in '09?
Looks like I'll have to decide between visiting/volunteering at NYC or Boston this year.

Also.. arghh... CT, Hawaii & Vegas all in the same weekend??
Blah.

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

It appears that the Palmetto Regional doesn't conflict with the spring break in Richland One, the key factor that led to 1618 skipping it last year.

I guess I'll have to find a relatively obnoxious Gamecocks cap to wear up to Clemson.

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

I'm a bit bummed that they moved Boston to week 2. I was hoping to be able to go there this year for our travel regional -- week 2 is also a state testing week for NJ.

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

its too bad also that hawaii and vegas fall on the same weekend. our team prefers vegas as their #1 regional for obvious reasons. :ahh:

By the way Joe, team 987, someone who has worked at our school the last 2 years just told me she is from Cimarron Memorial. She didnt know you guys did FRC since she graduated in '93. My response was that its doing quite well!

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

I'm also a bit bummed that Boston has been moved. Choosing between NYC and Boston will be difficult considering I attend them for completely different reasons (NYC for the people and teams, Boston for the show and the fact that it's very close). I guess I won't decide until I have to.
Must not be very convenient for the Northeast teams that were planning on attending both.

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

I thought that the MIcrosoft Seattle Regional was one week later. That is what it says on FIRST-WA.

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

Glenn,
It really can be a "small world, after all"...I would love to know who the alumni is. Let me know when you get a chance and give our best to her in the meantime! Pretty sure we are likely to see you guys at SVR this time around...your little one should be letting you get some sleep by then (a little bird suggested congratulations are in order?).

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

I definitely agree with that...I saw the title of this thread, got really excited because I wanted to see where the regionals are being held/where we might be going, and then I was pretty disappointed that the MI ones weren't there :(

But...They might still be planning where all of the MI regionals are going to take place, and that's why they're not up yet. Still, all of the regionals should have been "announced" at the same time.

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

rookie question: What regional are good for Chicago Team to go to?

Other than Midwest and Wisconsin of course (im not that stupid lol).

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

Mainly any regional that you can afford and is close to you. Also if you know any teams that are going to that comp, it helps to have a friend. :D

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

I see people mentioning the Hawaii Regional, but the planning committee is expecting nobody from the mainland will want to come with prices and all lately. Are we mistaken?? Hopefully so.

As for 368, we are tentatively only doing Hawaii this year. :(

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

That sucks. :( We were hoping to play with you guys again somewhere.


We'll probably go to SVR, and Davis or Oregon.

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

great, so now FIRST is getting that Boston v NYC thing going (Celtics v Knicks, RedSox v Yankees, Bruans v Islanders/Rangers, Patriots v Jets/Giants...) looks good to me, lol

oh, and to confirm the dates, i know some of the venues have their own event's calender, it might be useful checking that out.

St. Louis, Boilermaker, ? pobally your best bets, can't think of anything closer

but if you have the $$$, come on down to Florida

well, aloha air might be another reason, we don't want to hear about that again.

oh and i just noticed, yet again another year where Florida doesn't get 2 fields... :(

but it falls on my spring break :)

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

I guess a lot depends on when the mainland teams have their spring break.
Is it during week 5?
With last year falling during our second week of spring break, this year its a week earlier.
West coast pricing for round trip to hawaii aren't that bad right now.

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

I don't mean to throw this thread off-topic, but stay tuned for the next FIRST Senior Mentor call, scheduled for September 17, where we'll be discussing how to choose competitions to attend, what to expect at events, etc. A FIRST E-mail Blast will be released with details (and published here).

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

The michigan 'regionals' are actually districts so all the regionals are announced at the same time. They never claimed to have announced all the competitions, only the regionals. Anyway, I would also have liked to see those dates, but I guess we'll have to wait a little longer.

I'm still confused on why there are two minnesota regionals and why they are on the same weekend. Any answers?

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

It is very unusual.
I wonder if Minnesota has some plan for rapid expansion the way Kansas did a couple of years ago.

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

i dont know why there are two, but they are probably on the same weekend so that no team enters both of them

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

Minnesota did go from 1 team a couple of years ago to 54 last year. The expansion is continuing, but I am not sure to what extent.

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

You might check out this resource paper on NEMO on "Choosing Events." Lots of decision points go into a team choosing a regional competition.
http://www.firstnemo.org/PDF/Choosing_Your_Event.pdf

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

In the 06 season MN had 2 teams, I think. 07 moved up to 15-20, and last year we hit 60+.

Anyway, they're running a double regional. That is, both events the same week, and from what I gather, .3 miles apart. Ken Rosen, MN Regional Director, last I heard, claimed they'd be held at the U of M's Williams and Mariucci arenas.

Anyway, why not? More teams is always a good thing!

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

Yeah, a few teams had to go out of Minnesota for their regional since there wasn't enough space. A double regional will be welcome.

-Vivek

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

It's quiet a change that Boston is week 2, at least it won't interfere with the MCAS (Statewide standardized testing)

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

Florida is about 85 degrees about that time of year. If you plan it right you can throw in a trip to Disney, Universal, Kennedy Space Center or the beach as well.
Not to mention its a regional full of really good/tough teams.

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

It worked out for washburn. :)

171 will be doing Wisconsin and one of the Minnesota Regional's if there is room. If you figure that there will be close to 90 Minnesota teams, it all comes down to how many teams they are willing to accommodate at each regional. If it is only 45, we may be stuck registering for something else.

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

hmm... first FIRST triple regional next year in MN? Now that would be cool.

-Vivek

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

This will probably sound stupid, but...

What happened to all of the Michigan events?

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

There's no regionals in MI for 2009

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

FIRST Pilots New Event Competition Structure in Michigan discussed on Chief Delphi here. Bill Miller did not include MI events in his list of Regional events on his blog, other than the state championship in Week 6.

I just read today's post on Bill's blog and he says, "The Michigan District Events will be announced directly to the Michigan teams once the venues are secured. The plan for Michigan District Events includes the possibility of a longer day on both Friday and Saturday in order to fit in more matches." So there you go!

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

Oh well, I'd really been hoping that Chesapeake or DC would be week 3 (when I'm on break). Even if I manage to do it, coming down for just the Saturday won't be the same thing.

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

Please note the corrections from his page...
Seattle MS IS a week 5 regional and not week 4 as previously mentioned.


Good Afternoon Teams,
The Microsoft Seattle Regional will be held week 5. I made the mistake of rushing to publish the list without checking the working list against the contract with the venue.

thanks
R

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

We got stuck in Milwaukee.

From what I gathered, the MN one's competition was kind of pathetic with so many new teams; only about 5 teams actually were pretty good.

Milwaukee was filled with awesome teams, and we, as a rookie team, took 8th in finals.

I always wonder what would've happened had we gotten into MN.

But anyway, 8th was awesome, and everyone learned a ton!

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

I find it kind of pathetic that you would say this.

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

anyone tried pulling off a Rookie All-Star award in MN lately? <bites tongue>

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

Aww man they moved the VCU Regional again. At least it is after spring break is over. And it's disappointing the robotics season ends in April, if it continued into June/July I'd be able to go to the New Zealand Regional when I go there next summer:P .

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

For the last couple years, a lot of Southern California teams have been doing the Los Angeles/San Diego doubleheader, with a one-week break in between.

Guess it's more of an either/or situation now.

Las Vegas looks tempting...

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

FYI, The Monster Jam World Finals is running the same weekend.
http://www.monsterjamonline.com/show...007-03-15.0211

I'm not sure how far "the Vegas strip" is from the location of the FRC Regional competition, but there are hotel deals to be found on that website as well during that time frame (which is the main reason I bring that link to the attention of the FIRST community.)

Ha! If ever a year to attend Vegas for tech-heads & gear-heads, this is the year. :D


Maybe this will be the year I finally make it out there to Vegas.
(Even though CT is the same weekend... :o)

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

It's maybe like 5 or 6 blocks from the strip. Definitely walkable.

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

My question on this is it two fields in one area, or are there two different places in MN that will be having regional events at the same time?

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

Monster Jam will take place at the Sam Boyd Stadium and it is a good 8 miles east of most of the strip. There are lots of other hotels off strip a ways, within a mile walk of the LVR venue at UNLV...keep an eye on the regional website as the date nears and feel free to ask for help from the High Rollers...we would love to see more East Coast representatives make the trip!

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

SVR here we come again...Florida was tempting, but a bit too expensive for Team 987 this year of belt tightening. Looking forward to another great competition and visiting all of our friends...

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

that's great!
Since we cant cross paths due to the timing of both of our own regionals, we'll get a chance to see your whole team at a regional again.
We seem to cross paths somehow every year, by chance. ;)

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

I see the Buckeye & Midwest in the first week... shame both are exciting regionals and having to pick between them will be hard for some people.

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

NYC Regional has two fields!:eek:

We better start recruiting volunteers now!

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

When Bacon was in Vegas we rented a house that slept 22. It was a great experience. We were a 7 min drive from UNLV, we had a kitchen so we only ate out once. (in fact we had 108 over for a cookout on Thurs) There was a pool table and a pool in the back yard. I highly recommend this option. We have fun in Vegas......High Rollers.....we can help find affordable lodging if you come to FLA!!!

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

Wow, that is an awesome idea. Some one needs to put this on the list of things rookies need to know.

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

Lots of great suggestions from mentors under "Travel" in the NEMO resources.
http://www.firstnemo.org/resources.htm

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

How much did it cost?

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

I can't remember off the top of my head but I know it was cheaper than what the hotel rooms would have cost for that many people for that many days. I will go back and look in the records.

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

My understanding is that the will be on the Minneapolis University of Minnesota campus. One in Williams Arena where is was this year and one in Mariucci Arena.

Last I heard about numbers of MN teams was this: last year there were 54 teams (38 rookies, 14 second year teams, a third year team, and a fourth year team). From my understanding, there shouldn't be any loss of teams. Beyond that, there were at least 20+ teams already planning to start a team during the late spring time frame. As was mentioned previously, there were enough teams from the Dakotas and Minnesota, that not all those teams could go to Minneapolis. On top of that, only five teams from outside the Dakotas and MN were able to come.
That is the reason for the multiple regionals. I didn't realize though that they decided to go that route versus a super regional.

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

I live on campus at UNLV, it is walkable... but probably not the safest means of getting to the strip past 7p.m. on a friday or saturday night. Taxi cab is probably the way to go.

-Keaton

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Announced (Unofficial)
 

The DevilDawgs will be in Boston for sure. We're still arguing as to what other event to attend

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

This is correct. The North Star Regional will be held in Mariucci Arena and the 10,000 Lakes Regional will be held in Williams Arena (with pits in the Sports Pavillion). Someone previously in the thread mentioned the events being 3 miles away from each other, the buildings are actually right across the street from each other.

If I had to guess the reason that they choose to go with this dual regional setup I would say that decision likely fell out of the available venues. They couldn't make a single regional much if any bigger than it was this past year and demand for space already exceeded the number of spots even if just MN and Dakota's teams were counted (10 MN teams attended WI as their only regional and only 5 teams outside MN, ND, SD came to MN). Unlike a number of the University of Minnesota buildings Marriuci and Williams Arena are not connected by underground tunnels and routinely transporting robots outside in the winter in MN is just not a good idea. So the only real way they could increase capacity would be to have two separate events so the robots did not have to travel between the venues.

For those that are unsure of why MN has 2 simultaneous regionals, check the registration when all is said and done. I have a strong feeling that both events will be at max capacity.

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

This is correct. From what I heard, the options on the board were:

1.) Minnesota Double Regional
2.) 2 Minnesota Regionals, 2 Seperate Weekends
3.) Wisconsin Double Regional

Wisconsin has the pit space for a double regional, but the real problem was the growing number of Minnesota teams. Also, Minnesota is a completely independentally funded regional while Wisconsin is still relying on NASA funds for another year or two. Minnesota was the better option with all the large facilities, and the funding from 3M, Boston Scientific, and Medtronics. My guess is that they figured it was easier to do two regionals in one weekend than two different weekends. They can group a lot of things-to-do together... This isn't to say that 2 regionals in 1 weekend is an easy thing to do.

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

Actually, he said 0.3, but left the leading 0 off so it was hard to see...

There are no venues at the U of M that have the space for a super (2 field) regional. The U is a major supporter of FIRST in MN, to the extent that the regional last year was being held in the basketball fieldhouse while the state high school basketball tournament was held elsewhere. The regionals are being operated as seperate events, with seperate volunteer coordinators, etc. They are just across the street from each other at the same time, so it will be possible to mingle with all the teams in the state. I have not heard anything about a social event (we didn't have one last year) but if there is one I hope that it will be a single event for both groups to get together.

After several teams had to go out of state last year to compete, there was a wonderful committment on the part of the regional planning committee to make sure that every team in MN would be able to compete in the state this year. The double regional is the result.

Re: 2009 Regional Dates Officially Anounced
 

I'm not sure where you gathered that impression from, the competition at MN was as good as it was at any of the other events I attended, including the Championship. There were a lot of rookies, but there were a lot of very impressive rookies.

I didn't get to go to Milwaukee with you guys (sorry!) but I've seen all the video of the matches. You did a great job and I'm very proud, but I also don't think you would have done a whole lot better at MN (sorry again).

-Jeff

PS: Make sure someone lets me know when the team is meeting, I have not heard anything from anyone yet this fall.