[IKE]

Its a good proposal. I would go as far as to say a really good proposal.

The exception I would have is that 30+ Championship slots would be going to a pool of 147 teams. If the Championship was by population I would thing that 147/2500(ish) *400=23.5 would be the reasonable number I would give NE. In other words I would give them 23 or 24 slots.

If 30 go to 147 teams, you have about a 1/5 chance. If 18/190 get to go, you have a worse than 1/10 chance...

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Personally if I was FIRST I would give NE 24 slots if it was up to me.
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If I was NE, I would submit for the full 30 slots and have FIRST talk me down. I don't think 30 is an unreasonable number to request from a District Championship (MAR and FiM included).