Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

As noted, Wisconsin or Midwest is your best bet for a second regional.

FIRST does not compensate teams for travel. Better find a few sponsors to help cover the bill. (Or a lot of sponsors...)

There are no rules on how many events a team can do. If you wanted to and had the money, you could do an event per week through the entire competition season. (Note that doing more than one event per week is physically impossible and doing one event per week all season will likely bring down parental or district wrath.)

Suggestion: Instead of going to a second regional, see if you can raise the funds for a trip down to St. Louis for the Championship. It's $5K entry, plus travel (plan on staying 4 nights), but you get exposed to a lot more teams and a higher level of play--and don't forget meeting all the folks from CD, if you want to. Then, if as a team you decide to go to a second regional instead of the Championship, you can use the extra for a) a practice robot, b) next year, c) lots of aluminum to build a frame later, d) tools, e) whatever else you can think of that you'd need money for.

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

Rough numbers from the St. Louis Park (according to google maps): 6 hrs to Milwaukee, 7 to KC, 7.5 Chicago, 9.5 to St. Louis. That said, I have done all of them (except St. Louis) in less time, but with a bus it probably isn't too far off.

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

Eric,
Any chance you have heard anything about dates for San Diego or Los Angeles regionals? Nothing is posted on either regional's venues yet...

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

Nope, I know nothing about L.A. or S.D., not even a rumor. (Well, other than I think I know who the L.A. FTA will probably be, but things can change...)

However, I can use elimination at Los Angeles. April 2-3 is out. March 9-13 is out. March 19 is out. (Those are due to other events having the arena booked.)

That means that L.A., if it is at Long Beach again, must be Week 1, Week 4, or Week 6. Going by history, Week 4 is most likely, but all of those weeks are possible.

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

Can anyone confirm NYC and/or NJ?
I'm assuming NJ is week 1 again.

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

If you want confirmation I suggest you ask the Regional Director. We are just rumor mongrels.

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

True,
but I'm not asking for an official one.
Many wont confirm yet anyway................its just something for us to ponder on for planning purposes on the possibilities.

FYI, many regional directors (committee) have posted here before. ;)

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

A Charleston, SC newspaper ran an article today about the Palmetto regional. It will be March 24-26 at the North Charleston Convention Center. The convention center is next to the colliseum. It's a flat open space, so I imagine Palmetto will be similar to Peachtree in that regard.:D

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2...ing-for-first/

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

I'm trying to figure some things out and can't find this information anywhere: Does anyone have any information (particularly location) of this new Tennessee regional? It may be within reach for us, but the answer depends on which end of the Volunteer State volunteers itself.

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

Tennessee regional is supposed to be held in Knoxville...

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

Just posted to the israeli teams:
Israel Regional dates: 14-16 March at NOKIA Arena.
I think it is on week 3.

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

Arizona looks like Week 3...

http://www.volunteermatch.org/search/opp722954.jsp

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

UT Knoxville?

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

I assume the XBOTS have it on good authority that Seattle will be Week 3...

http://xbotrobotics.org/

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

Robot is already bagged or shipped.

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

Please remember that until FIRST releases the official information, nothing is a confirmed date or location (just look at Connecticut last year if you doubt this - we were switched twice in a matter of days leading up to the official announcement).

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

Fun fact: FIRST finally deleted all the 2010 events from the TIMS, but they haven't replaced them with tentative 2011 event dates yet. I think that means they're "Coming Soon".

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

Yes, we do. :) Seattle is very likely going to be the largest event in the world in 2011, save for the Championship.

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

Why doesn't that surprise me? I think it's been every week but week 1 since I've been a mentor. I'm actually hoping it's not week 5 again this year.

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

You and me both. While we wernt going to Atlanta, I felt we almost had to much time inbetween ship and CT to get things done. Plus with it falling on Easter weekend (even though Easter was early this year) most of 1071's members lives couldnt have been more hectic.

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

Does this mean it will be a double field FRC event or are you talking about a combined FRC/FTC/FLL event? I am curious from a planning perspective.

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

FIRST has sort of published some of the important 2010-2011 dates at:
http://www.usfirst.org/uploadedFiles...alendar(1).pdf
This was indirectly linked to by Bill's 9/8/10 Blog

Event registration is slotted for October 7 for instance.

The Season Calendar hasn't been updated with this information yet, so take it as you will.

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

September
Wed 15

VIMS goes live (tentative)
2011 FRC Competition dates/locations announced on FIRST website

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

That shows six weeks of regional FRC competitions, with a two-week break before the FIRST Championship. Good to know.

(The rescheduling of the VEX world championship puts it the week after the last FRC regionals, yay.)

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

Perusing the Regional Director contact list I see two new Regionals referenced as of August 12:

• Alamo Regional, San Antonio, TX
• Tennessee as a TBD

No surprises there.

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

Now I have to rethink this out.
If we attend a week 6 regional in Virginia or NC, we could then make it a back to back trip to the VEX Worlds CMP to save on cost......hmmmmmm.:rolleyes:

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

Seattle will be a double field event held week three with a capacity for 100+ teams.

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

So...let's see if today's the day. Nothing posted yet.

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

Bill said he'll try to get them out quickly. Apparently not all contracts are signed yet or something like that...

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

Bill did say "FRC team registration will open September 30th at noon ET (that’s official)."

That's a week earlier than the August draft calendar listed.

VIMS seems to be open.

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

It's the same as it's been for the past month. Working, but no events listed in signup.

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

That makes sense.

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

Well, speaking of what Bill said...

http://frcdirector.blogspot.com/2010...e-is-here.html

Note that some dates are still tentative.

New or split-up events:

Alamo Regional (San Antonio, TX, Week 1)
Lake Superior Regional (Duluth, MN, Week 2)
Cascade/Olympic Regionals (Seattle, WA, Week 3--appears to be the split of MSR)
New district event (Still on TBD status)
GTR is now GTR East and GTR West (Week 5)
Smokey Mountain Regional (Knoxville, TN, Week 5)

4 brand-new events and 2 split ones.

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

just to help everyone out... I have compiled a google calendar with all the regional events, as well as a few others(kickoff, ship date, champs)...

google provides 3 different formats so I will provide them all to you:

• HTML
  
• ICAL
  
• XML

Let me know if you have any issues viewing it or if you'd like anything added. It should be set to public, so I don't anticipate anyone having much trouble viewing it.


ENJOY!

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

Looks like the emergence of the famed "double regional" (what does it mean!). I'm a huge fan of having the New England regionals on the first two weeks and the last two weeks of the season if only so I can have two weeks off between events!

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

Ouch... Lake Superior (Duluth) and Milwaukee on the same weekend. In the past a lot of great folks (individuals and teams) from Wisconsin (and northern Illinois) have come to the Minnesota (Minneapolis) regional(s) to help.
That said, I am excited to see that the regional is happening!

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

I created a map of Week 5 events at http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en...9,7.064209&z=7 .

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

Here is an Excel spreadsheet, showing the 2011 FRC schedule.

Andy B.

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

San Diego is going to be absolutely stacked!

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

How big is the SMR(Tennessee) gonna be?

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

So I guess GTR East will have 1114 and 2056 and GTR West will have everybody else.

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

Very good chance 987 will attend SD again!

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

Don't see anything identifying additional bag n tag sites yet...

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

I know 399 will definitely consider attending San Diego as it is a week 2 event.

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...ts.aspx?id=430

Click the event name for further details.

Smoky Mountain is listed as having a capacity of 40.

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

Just got my first gander at the regional dates. Hopefully, I'll pick my jaw up off the floor soon and won't say anything like, "Remember the Alamo!"

yeah... nah.

We have a week 1 regional in Texas?!? AWEsome!

Jane

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

I'm excited the list came out on VIMS! I just signed myself up to volunteer at the Connecticut Regional and the Boston Regional. I might end up visiting the Dallas Regional for the first time over my spring break... we'll have to see if that one works out.

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

I have spring break the same week(providing Dallas stays on week 4), let me know if you'd like some company(or just get good fares). I'll need something to do that week.

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

I just looked on the FIRST website list for the regionals, and isnt Smokey spelled with the "e" in between the "k" and the "y"? cause they have it listed as Smoky Mountain Regional

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

A quick google search says that it should be spelled without the 'e'.

- Sunny

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

Though we don't "yet' have a double field / 'split' FRC event in Texas, the Alamo FRC event will also be the co-location for the Alamo FTC Championship event. FTC on Thursday during FRC practice. We are still working the venue layout and plans so stay tuned but we promise to have the light shining on all FRC and FTC teams and make it one big FIRST FIESTA:D

As soon as the Dallas event gets confirmed, Texas teams can plan for a Texas two step or maybe an in-state 3 event season.:D

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

I wish they would do a late season, week 4 or week 5 or even week 6, 2nd regional in Florida

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

Yeah, good luck with that, we can compare note on how that turns out :rolleyes:
*cough*NJ is week 1 for the 7th time in memory*cough*

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

At least VA and MD are no longer the same weekend, but VA and NC being the same weekend could actually be worse. :(

The good news is that I can see the Godspeed reunion show without it interfering with a regional I go to this year. :D

edit: Woah, the Philly regional is at Temple instead of Drexel? :(

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

Trust me, Jane, Once you experienced the "joys" of a week one event the enthusiasm for it will diminish after the first field crash which should happen within the first 15 minutes of the event.

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

:eek:

That's going to be some party. :D

Edit: Ed and Don, I'm looking forward to observing a one week event, at the very least. All the other options will be discussed, explored, and looked at. One thing I know - San Antonio is a great place for this. Another thing I know is that people like Andrew Schuetze are committed to making this happen - apparently in a big ole Texas-fashioned way. Right now, I'm feeling mighty proud. (It may be hard for folks who have had options available for a number of years, to understand the sheer magnitude of being totally overwhelmed and impacted by the options and selection choices being made available. It is stupifying.) I've always wanted to see a week 1 regional.

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

While I can see where volunteers (and eventually teams) may not enjoy the crashes, at least the rookies learn how to dance. Builds stamina.

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

Does anyone know about the status of the colorado regional? I didn't see it on the list.

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

TBD, both date and venue. Tentative Week 6.

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

Thanks for the vote of confidence Jane. Kudos also go to Mike Henry founder of 457 Grease Monkeys who has been serving in the role of FIRST Senior mentor these last two years. He along with Patrick Felty the San Antonio RD are working hard to put together a strong volunteer crew to deal with potential field issues. With that said, any long-time regional volunteers from Houston, Dallas, OKC, KS, AZ, ... are all more than welcome to help us make this event a huge success. I can tell you that the likelihood of snow and freezing temperatures is very low and there is a better possibility of 75 - 80 degree days for enjoying a candle light dinner on a river boat cruise down the SA river with 23 of your closest friends. :)

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

which one fills up faster?
NYC or Colorado?

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

If I remember correctly, the 2 years our team went to Colorado (2008 and 2010) never entirely filled up, there are usually 2-4 spots open

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

Here are graphs of last seasons registrations for Colorado and NYC. The lower colored line is the initial open capacity, while the upper line is the final available capacity.

NYC can full up, but there's a lot of space to add more teams.
I don't know that you'd have real trouble getting into either event.

P.S.
Left is Colorado, right is NYC -- sorry about forgetting to label them. I'll fix that oversight.

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

For clarity, is that NYC and then CO or the opposite?

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

Thanks guys!
We intend on doing both, but wanted to sign up on Sept. 31st for one of them, wondering if they would fill up quickly.
Its tentative, but it looks like we're doing week 2, 4, and 6 this year with Hawaii in between. We're just waiting for a couple of crucial sponsorships to get back to us, and hopefully by the time we sign up for the second one.

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

Yes join us for the event so BIG it had to be named after the two mountain ranges that sit on either side of Seattle!!! No longer the Microsoft Seattle Regional (don't ask...) We will be under the stands at Quest Field (where Seahawks and Sounders play..) (By "under the stands" I actually mean in the Quest Exhibition Center.....it is HUGE!!!)

Two regionals in the same house... double the fun... double the prizes..!!!

A two ring circus!!!

(but you only get to play in one ring....)

We have had such huge expansion in the State of Washington that this was necessary...
Probably adding another 20 or more teams this year...

5 years ago we were the 16th team in the State...
Now we will have 80+ teams!!!

World domination... our motto

Come join us!!
We can promise it won't rain.... (inside)

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

I have updated the calendar. It now includes the latest competition info(per Bill's Blog and the FIRST website), including which events are Bag and Tag. I also added many off-season events(from posts on CD as well as the calendar found on the NEMO website)

Feel free to contact me or post a reply here if you have any requests

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

All,

Per Bill's Blog update on Wednesday, I have updated the 2011 FRC Events Excel file for folks to use as they wish. I created this file for us at AndyMark to figure out which events we are going to, and figured that you may want to use it too.

Enjoy,
Andy

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

Thanks for the spreadsheet.

We get to see you in San Antonio this year! Cool! :)

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

Ummm... oops. I meant to delete that part of the spreadsheet. I have uploaded another spreadsheet that does not have our initial travel preferences. By no means have any of us decided on where we are going, other than Boilermaker Regional. With that said, the Alamo Regional does look very attractive.

Sincerely,
Andy

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

And here I thought you could be in two places 2000 miles apart at the same time...

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

I don't think that AndyMark sells cloning devices...yet. (when they begin selling them, you can bet your bot that I'll be one of the first to order one)

--

So Ann Arbor has been moved to week 4...I can only imagine that it's because of state testing. It will be interesting to see which week 4 MI event will fill up faster, assuming that Niles actually happens.

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

His ability to do that and other minor items has been discussed here Andy Baker thread. Please remember to use the search function to find out that Andy could actually be at all the regionals and has done so in the the past.

Oblig Andy Baker: FIRST schedules regionals across the county every week at Andy's request. This means as he goes from regional to regional Andy-Mark doesn't need to use standard shipping, Andy just delivers the parts between matches.

Re: 2011 FRC Season dates
 

I have updated the calendar to include any offseason competitions that currently have dates set and made edits so it matched the official event schedule posted on the FIRST website.

Please let me know if you find any discrepancies or if you have an event that you would like added.