Montana Area Regional?
 

I live in Calgary, AB, Canada and we are trying to figure out which regional(s) we will visit next year, there are many in a ring about 14-20 hours from us, but nothing closer. I was wondering is there has been discussion of starting a regional in northern region 8 (Montana, Idaho, North & South Dakota and Nebraska)?

Thanks,

Lemiant

Re: Montana Area Regional?
 

Not to my knowledge. I think there's been discussion of a team in the Rapid City area, but there are currently:

--zero teams in Nebraska
--zero teams in South Dakota
--Three teams in North Dakota--attending the Minnesota regionals. One of the three may be interested in going west/southwest; maybe 2. The third is solidly in the eastern side of the state.
--Three teams in Wyoming (who would presumably also be interested in a regional in that area)--2 in the western part and 1 in the eastern
--6 teams in Montana, scattered around the state
--13 teams in Idaho

Best bet to get a regional discussion going there would be the Idaho/western Montana/western Wyoming teams, then reach for the eastern Montana/eastern Wyoming/western ND teams.

Re: Montana Area Regional?
 

An Idaho regional would be very convenient, but I just don't feel there's enough interest in the area to make it happen anytime soon. Salt Lake City has several teams very close by, and that regional isn't doing the greatest. I'd venture to say it was actually a good deal better last year, it's already going downhill from the feel of it this year.

edit: This post was way too harsh in retrospect, I apologize. I was mentally comparing it to well established, large regionals like Portland and Seattle. For year two, Utah is doing excellent. While it doesn't compare to the larger regionals in aspects due just to size, it has a certain atmosphere that distinguishes it, and there are a couple awesome teams I remember right off the top of my head. It has a very positive environment, and I definitely had a great time when I competed there last year :)

Re: Montana Area Regional?
 

No specifics, but this year we heard repeated rumours of a Spokane regional for next year. Suspect that would be closer to you than the other options.

Personally think that the Utah regional is an under appreciated gem of an event - though with the BioMechs, Zombots, and Eagle Robotics coming up to participate this year, the recognition of the great aspects of the regional are going to spread pretty quickly beyond Utah and Idaho.

Re: Montana Area Regional?
 

You say Spokane, I heard Cheney (30-45 minutes outside Spokane). While this isn't huge, it does mess with transportation and hotel issues if it's actually hosted at EWU instead of something like the Spokane Convention Center...wait and see I suppose...

Re: Montana Area Regional?
 

I was at a meeting last month were plans were being made to start a regional at Eastern Washington University. EWU is a few miles outside of Spokane and about thirty miles from the North Idaho border. This may be a good option.

Re: Montana Area Regional?
 

That would definitely be a good option. (4 hours close than the next alternative).

Re: Montana Area Regional?
 

There was talk of a potential Idaho regional next year, but I believe we need 3-5 more teams in the state to qualify. I guess we better start recruiting :D

Re: Montana Area Regional?
 

For anything in the Idaho area, you can count on one more (we plan on going to at least two regionals next year). Also, are these plans far enough along that we have an idea of the week?

Re: Montana Area Regional?
 

There are no definitive plans for an Idaho Regional (no matter how much we would want one). However, we just recently recieved the Utah regional, so it will be a couple years, unless unprecedented growth occurs.

Even if there is no regional in Idaho, there is a plan in the works for an offseason event in the Boise area. No definites yet, but we are working pretty hard on it.