[ToddF]

About the possibility of eligible teams skipping the concert and possibly missing out if they had won... Yes, some people who didn't win missed the event, but I'm willing to bet (don't know for sure) that the producers of the event probably dropped some pretty strong hints to the team that DID win that they should attend.

Lesson for next year: If you are eligible for an award and someone from FIRST lets you know that a previously unannounced event will have an awards ceremony, and asks if you are attending, say, "Yes."

My feeling about the event itself was positive. The kids loved it. It was one of the things that set the Championships apart from a Regional event. It felt like a reward for a season of hard work.

Comments about the tradeoff between the show and moving fields to the pits I'll post in the appropriate thread.