Re: 2010 Northeast Utilities FIRST Connecticut Regional
 

Thanks for the thanks... But it was a much larger team that myself and Kathie for making this happen (including great support from our friends at the Connecticut Science Center and the Downtown Hartford Marriott). You can meet the entire Regional Planning Committee next week at the Regional.

Re: 2010 Northeast Utilities FIRST Connecticut Regional
 

I wouldn't count Buzz out. We performed horribly at the BAE, and using the time between regionals and the lovely witholding allowance, we completely redesigned our arm and hung in 8 of 12 seeding matches in St Louis and made it to the Semifinals. Buzz is also a veteran team with excellent leadership and drive. To think they've sat on their duffs for 3 weeks is ... insane :)

Re: 2010 Northeast Utilities FIRST Connecticut Regional
 

The Enforcers (Team 178) will be there yet again. Let's hope we do as well in Hartford as we did at the Suffield Shakedown Scrimmage!

What is everyone else doing with their jackets/bags? We usually have anywhere between 40 and 50 people associated with our team at the competition, including students, teachers, parents, and mentors. We're worried about having to keep everything in the pit area as suggested by a previous email. It would be a major safety hazard for us! Just wondering how other teams are going to be dealing with this.

Re: 2010 Northeast Utilities FIRST Connecticut Regional
 

We do not have room in our pits for jackets either

Re: 2010 Northeast Utilities FIRST Connecticut Regional
 

I'm not the team's contact, so I'm not familiar with the email, but we can't keep bags and jackets and stuff in the stands?

Re: 2010 Northeast Utilities FIRST Connecticut Regional
 

I think that because of the rather limited seating, they would prefer that you didn't. Just my guess

Re: 2010 Northeast Utilities FIRST Connecticut Regional
 

That's correct. CT FIRST has requested that all teams do not leave any jackets, bags, or other materials in the stands in order to accommodate all spectators.

Re: 2010 Northeast Utilities FIRST Connecticut Regional
 

I'd love to do that, if we could have more than 10 feet by 10 feet for the entirety of a 20 person team's stuff on top of our normal pit setups.

Any chance that the venue could set up spots for stuff out of the stands? I'm guessing not, but if it turns out there's some giant closet somewhere, this could be a breeze for everyone. :) If not, we'll make do.

Re: 2010 Northeast Utilities FIRST Connecticut Regional
 

Like Joe said, Team 694 is psyched to go to Connecticut for a second year in a row.
We're also going to be running our second regional Can Drive out of our pit area, with all proceeds going to City Harvest. Please drop by our pit to check out our robot and donate!

Re: 2010 Northeast Utilities FIRST Connecticut Regional
 

I doubt it would be too terribly difficult. The Convention Center is HUGE. There's a lot of extra space, especially given the set up of the building. Maybe if CT FIRST doesn't formally set it up there could be some unofficial bag check area?

Re: 2010 Northeast Utilities FIRST Connecticut Regional
 

The born and bred New Englander in me just says leave your coat in your car/bus and just walk the 60 seconds outside between the parking garage and the convention center. Chances are the weather will be in the 50s/60s anyway, so it's not like it'll be cold.

Re: 2010 Northeast Utilities FIRST Connecticut Regional
 

Sadly the bus doesn't stay all day for us, so we have to bring it :( The one disadvantage of living 20 minutes from Hartford

Re: 2010 Northeast Utilities FIRST Connecticut Regional
 

In the past one of the Teams I worked with (1493 I believe but it might have been a different one) kept all of their coats under the stands. Just bring giant trash bags or Rubbermaid totes and keep the jackets in them under the stands, just make sure you label them with your Team info, and a contact phone number in case they need to be moved.

Re: 2010 Northeast Utilities FIRST Connecticut Regional
 

So did anyone notice the massive influx of super competitive teams?

1501, 1574, and 222 are all entering the Connecticut Regional. 1501 has one of the highest Seeding Point totals in the country, 1574 is easily the best team outside of the US or Canada, and 222 is on the heels of a season with Einstein appearance and IRI Finalist award. Add that to who was already going to be here and you're set for a dense regional.

Predictions coming up...

Re: 2010 Northeast Utilities FIRST Connecticut Regional
 

Chris, I'm not surprised. Connecticut has always been a very competitive regional, it often draws a few teams from outside the local area for this reason.