[DampRobot]

I think the number one way to grow FRC's standing in the community and participation is to televise completions like Championships like a sporting event. Robotics will simply be "another club" without it becoming a serious spectator event. Yes, I know that matches for many regional are live streamed online, but it just doesn't get the same diverse viewership that television would.

In the past, there have been small features on morning TV about regionals, but those tend to be simply documenting their existence, not the gameplay. Serious sports coverage would help attract new sponsors and new teams. And it's not like watching matches would be boring, especially with only the best ones being broadcast. FIRST already designs them to be spectator friendly, it just doesn't seem to do a very good job of getting people not involved in robotics to watch them.