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Originally Posted by bduddy
You're not making any sense... so you're saying that FIRST should focus exclusively on the areas that already have a lot of willing sponsors and engineering support? How is that causing any culture change?
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You need to play some strategy games! It's about resource management. You can't win every battle you enter. You need to focus you energy/resources/influence where it will net you the largest return. As your influence increases, and the culture changes, it's easier to win over areas that you could not win before.
And no, there's not just one factor. There are no "exclusives". Sponsors and engineering support are only part of the equation. If there were 25 teams in the area, Las Vegas would probably get more time and money from FIRST. They'd still probably get a deadline for being self sufficient. As it stands, 8 teams and continued lack of support puts the regional at risk. There are probably many more factors like volunteer support, strength of the planning organization, and venue.
I think the minimum number of local teams for a new regional is 12. So even picking up 3 more teams wouldn't qualify if it was a new regional trying to come online.
What's the actual formula? No idea. FIRST obviously has one. I doubt its arbitrary. The formula also changes over time. Otherwise, there never would have been a regional in Las Vegas to begin with. The bar is always moving.
Growing the number of local teams has got to help. Getting more financial support obviously helps. If they can't get the financial support the level that FIRST wants, is there a combination of other factors that will buy them another year? Probably.