I seriously doubt the people making the argument for some kind of Champs logistical change get on ChiefDelphi at all. I'm talking about TIMS contacts who give the FRC Teams email an earful (eyeful?) about cost/etc. I hear stories directly from local teams trying to solve the problem of getting to champs, and I know for a fact I've never seen their team # on CD. I'm sure they're emailing FIRST directly trying to get info, resources, tips, etc.
As-is FRC Champs is a logistical nightmare. Let's say the DC region went to districts, and district champs were this coming weekend. How are the district champs winners getting to St. Louis? Certainly not flying at $600 per ticket (that doesn't get us there until 3pm...). Everyone's on a bus for 15 hours at that point.
If that makes me an apologist in some eyes, well ok then. To me, the only thing we can do is take what we see/experience and make a logical, thought-out argument for/against something like this or for other similar changes.
It seems like splitting up Champs is a logical next step for FIRST in general. Personally I think it makes more sense to split up Champs by program rather than geographic location, but that's my FRC-centric 0.02.
If we go with a sports metaphor, this announcement is more like AFC/NFC Champs, and IRI is the Super Bowl. Now if only we could get ESPN covering IFI ( ::
ducks and covers :: ). Though I will really miss seeing the West Coast and MI powerhouses at the same event
. Given that vacation is already scarce, I doubt I could attend both events as a volunteer at one of them and a team at the other.