[Pendulum^-1]

Originally Posted by Kims Robot

If an event was able to provide:
1. A dedicated scouting section with power & a good view for scouters with laptops/cameras.

Evidently, this is doable; another poster cites it being done already at a regional. Key here is small, simple, only 2 per team, with power. Larger scouting contingents would have figure out alternatives.

Originally Posted by Kims Robot

2. A Floor level section for teams in the current match to come down and watch "up close" and dance/cheer/etc.

I put up some details in another post on how this could be done. Key here is self-regulation, and cheering section occupants following the Golden Rule of no standing and no signs. In other words, DOWN IN FRONT! Loud, ok, obstructive, not ok.

Originally Posted by Kims Robot

3. A Couple of very clearly marked Spectator Seating Areas (maybe 100-200 seats depending on the event?)

Doable. Needs to be policed a bit, to keep teams proper out of this area.

Originally Posted by Kims Robot

4. A storage room for extra bags/boxes/coats that don't fit in the pits or in the stands (maybe manned by a volunteer but not really a "bag check", more of a "leave at you own risk")

Interesting, doable, extremely useful. Key here would be for teams to bring their own lock up boxes to put into the room, clearly labeled with their team's number. No stray jackets/purses, etc. Another key would be for a local team to take it upon themselves to organize it, so that the regional does not have to organize it. In a district, this could work well, if you had one room/hallway/team trailer for this purpose. Bring team lock box(es) in by 9 am, lock it up; unlock for teams to retrieve lock box(es) after playoffs and/or awards.

The rest of the suggestions get really tough to do.

Originally Posted by Kims Robot

5. A lottery that gave each team a block of 40 seats. These seats would be together, but would be "assigned". The lottery would be random and would determine what section you got.

6. A "Craigs List" where teams could post extra seats, trade sections, etc.

7. A "Special Request" form ahead of the lottery for teams that might be interested in sitting together - think mentor/mentee team, sister teams, same sponsor teams, teams from the same school.

For 5,6,7: Ugh. Useful, good ideas, but tough to do. Some venues don't have numbered seats, which would be required to generate the lottery system. This would have to be done by a team or group of teams, to volunteer to do it. How would this be enforced? How would it be sanctioned? Probably a bridge too far.

Items 5,6,7 are doable, but FIRSTers would have to take these on themselves. The event organizers have enough to do without assigning all the seats in the arena.

Also, items 5,6,7 are probably best left as items to group together. Once you assign seats, people will not be satisfied, so trading, special requests, will help the situation out.

Items 1,2,3,4 are probably best implemented as separate items. Event organizers could pick and choose. Test and see, over several events over several years. Indeed, item 2 alone (cheering section) could significantly lessen the need/pressure for the Grand Scheme: assigned seating for all.

I for one do not like the current free for all environment in the stands. As a pit denizen, I would like to see my team play, but without a vanguard of a large team to reserve decent seats, I typically opt to not watch matches, and just clean up our pit.