Re: Bills Blog - You're going to want to look closely at the diagram
 

There was room on Thursday, some room on Friday, and no room on Saturday.

I agree with you.

Re: Bills Blog - You're going to want to look closely at the diagram
 

I guess my question is what is going to happen to all those students/mentors/parents/etc that don't fit into the bleachers. It is just going to crowd up the pits... which will be overtaxed the way they normally are.

I would sadly have to say that I think it is going to be very crowded in the pits ... I am not sure what to tell parents who have flown 2000 miles to see the team play... sorry you can't be in the bleachers...there isn't enough room... etc etc..

This is really critical for eliminations... it is bad enough to have to play them in the pits let alone without seating for everyone...

It will be what it is... I just hope there is a really good reason...

B

Re: Bills Blog - You're going to want to look closely at the diagram
 

The FLL has some team numbers are filled in but there are many duplications in the diagram. The FTC and FRC teams are obviously not called out in the drawing. This must be a preliminary diagram of some sort. I also noted that the path to the dome runs right through the FRC quiet area. How quiet will that area be?

Re: Bills Blog - You're going to want to look closely at the diagram
 

Notice how the filename of the map Bill links to is FIRST%20CHAMPIONSHIP_Load_in.pdf. The link to the actual Pit Map (which in the past has shown the locations of teams' pits) on the Championship page on FIRST's website is not yet live. However, there is always the chance that the two will be the same...

Re: Bills Blog - You're going to want to look closely at the diagram
 

From today's Bills Blog.
Things are still a little up in the air I guess. Perhaps it's FIRST come, FIRST Served....... :o

Full text follows.....

Good Afternoon Teams,

If you’re keeping up with the website, you may have noticed the updates to the A-Z Team Guide (conveniently indicated in red) about the two FIRST Sponsored Team Events Friday and Saturday nights
and the new live link on the Championship page with information on the Saturday night FIRST CAFÉ: Food and Friends. If you’re interested in participating in the FIRSTies Talent Show, the deadline to apply is Monday, April 25th.

The official announcement from FIRST regarding dome layout is still on its way.
6 Days until Championship

Re: Bills Blog - You're going to want to look closely at the diagram
 

anybody else notice that cut off shaded-in-blue box in the arena? i'm thought it might be something like a field or equipment, but everything else like that in the pits isn't shaded...

Re: Bills Blog - You're going to want to look closely at the diagram
 

In typical FIRST tradition, we must analyze the smallest slivers of information like a game hint! :D

Re: Bills Blog - You're going to want to look closely at the diagram
 

There's a lot to do that doesn't involve sitting in the stands all day waiting for your team to play. Walk around and look at the displays in the FRC, FTC, FLL and JrFLL pits. Trade pins with the international FLL teams - they love to do that. Check out the LEGO, NI, PITSCO booths. Go to the robotic conferences and the Autodesk Theater. Go check out the FTC and FLL competition. Watch the Aerial Robotics challenge. Go to the HOF booths and talk to the teams there. Go to the FIRST store and browse the merchandise. Go to the Supplier's Showcase and Scholarship Row. If you have enough time between matches walk down to the Gateway Park and check out the Arch, riverboats, and museums there.

Most of all, don't go to St. Louis with the attitude that since they have changed things, it's going to be horrible and a waste of time and money. Embrace the opportunities there. Enjoy the experience.

Re: Bills Blog - You're going to want to look closely at the diagram
 

I completely agree with what you've posted in this thread, including the above that I've reverse-truncated.
I don't believe there are a whole lot of people in FRC that are out looking for a bad time. I've personally never been to a robotics championship event (unless IRI counts) and am very much looking forward to the opportunity of being a spectator, not tied to a team or role, simply enjoying the experience with my family.
My concerns lie with the general public's experience. There will be parents, administrators, current and prospective sponsors for which this may be their first FRC experience. If what they take away is a crowded, chaotic, loud experience, then the perception of FIRST suffers. Those of us well-versed in robotic competitions wouldn't think twice of hearing "ROBOT!" in the pits - others may find this irritating and rude. If a team has a particularly exciting pit display, I'd like to be able to visit it and talk to team members without feeling like I'm imposing on other teams and individuals.
Especially with the performance of the act-that-is-not-to-be-named, there promises to be many, many FRC virgins that we all wish to have a positive experience.
If we want FIRST to be as popular as high school basketball on Friday nights, and I think we all do, we need the experience to be open, inviting, and comfortable.

Re: Bills Blog - You're going to want to look closely at the diagram
 

Apparently there's some room/time for a dance floor?

Re: Bills Blog - You're going to want to look closely at the diagram
 

Originally posted by Carol.....QUOTE/Most of all, don't go to St. Louis with the attitude that since they have changed things, it's going to be horrible and a waste of time and money. Embrace the opportunities there. Enjoy the experience.[/quote]

Carol,
First of all I am not sure you you get the above comment out of my original post.

I was speaking in regards to how to explain to a large group of parents why they won't be able to actually sit in the stands and see there students participating on the field.

I have been to championships for 8 years now... I am aware that there are many things to do... most of things are very appealing to students and mentors... but parents come to see their student's team play on the field. I will certainly encourage them to enjoy everything but they are going to be asking me this question...
I don't have an answer for them...

It will not be a simple thing to just drop by scholarship row and take that in and also visit the other fields and STILL get into the crowded pit stands and find a seat to see one of the 10 or so matches that will be scheduled for the team.

My team will come and play and have a good time. We will partake in everything that is going on...we don't do anything any other way.
We don't spend $25,000 + of team money to come out to complain we come to compete and make new friends and everything else FIRST is about. Parents don't really understand much of this... sure we educate them the best we can... but they want to see the competition.


I feel this is a legitimate concern and I really want to know what to tell parents when it comes up. It has ALREADY come up with my team and its supporters when I have explained what is going be going on in regards to having to change fields. I have repeatedly been asked why and it puts me in a difficult position to have to say that I don't know why...I have to defend FIRST when I am not given any reasons ......



I am more than a little concerned when another teams mentor jumps on a comment and makes the assumption that we are expecting it to be horrible so somehow we are doing something wrong...

Re: Bills Blog - You're going to want to look closely at the diagram
 

The biggest concern I have is not being able to enjoy and participate in all of the offerings of FRC championships.
It seems that there is much more to offer in such little time, that perhaps it should turn into 4 full days instead of just an unpack your robot/get inspected 1st day. I'd love to check out NEMO presentations and offer to do one, but the scheduling almost makes it impossible to do and compete.

After seeing the site map for the event, I am cringing on how crowded it will be in such a relatively small space.

I'm really optimistic about the event but a little concerned about safety and the opportunities to get the most out of the experience.

Re: Bills Blog - You're going to want to look closely at the diagram
 

Bob, I agree with you wholeheartedly on this point. My son's team was a rookie team last year; we went to Atlanta not knowing what to expect. We had a great time and were SO IMPRESSED with the Championships and all that FIRST stands for. We sat in the stands and watched almost every division match, and loved every minute of it.

This year, almost all the parents from our students and lots of extended family members (including quite a few elderly grandparents) are headed to St Louis BECAUSE those of us that went last year talked it up….Now the situation will be difficult in the pit fields. My family and my elderly parents will not be able to camp out in the stands for the day. I encouraged them to come before we knew we would be on the pit field for 2 days. They have their hotel reservations and are excited but I suspect they will end up watching another division's eliminations in the dome. They are not able to stand or walk around all day. I REALLY HOPE and have suggested they set up a viewing area in the dome for the pit fields on Saturday.

We will support our team; we will have a good time; I have not and will not crab about this to any of the other parents on the team. I don't have a bad attitude; I just think it's a DARN SHAME that ALL the spectators and students for the 176 teams in the pit fields can't see their division eliminations.

Re: Bills Blog - You're going to want to look closely at the diagram
 

The most depressing thing about this speculation is the widespread pessimism about the the proceedings. I know that pessimists have more pleasant surprises, but optimists are generally happier for longer times before being disappointed.

For instance, here's a possibility for you spectators in the dome: the large center projected TV screen (over Einstein?) may have selected matches from the fields in the pits. See? Ain't optimism grand?

I'm sure you all can think of some other things that may actually be fun about the prospects of the announced setup without expending a whole lot of effort at it.

Re: Bills Blog - You're going to want to look closely at the diagram
 

...just to be sure this crazy optimism stuff doesn't get too out of hand -- I'd be pretty cranky if I'd flown all that way, spent all that money and *still* had to watch my team compete on TV.