[EricH]

Proposal:

Teams can register for "Conference Only" Champs spots as soon as registration opens. This offer would be extended to all teams (yes, I said ALL teams can register). Naturally, this would be a greatly reduced registration fee, say in the $100-$500 range/team at an early guess (teams pay travel and lodging). Teams that qualify for Champs or otherwise make it would get that fee applied to their Champs registration; I would also propose that any WFFA or Deans' list winners whose teams are attending get their fee refunded OR applied to airfare or lodging (AKA, free attendance), by FIRST. Other fee refunds/waivers/application to travel may, of course, be awarded at HQ's discretion.

For this fee, teams get: X mentors and Y students are given badges that allow them in the pits and stands and conference sessions and basically anywhere they want to go except down on the field (and maybe even that! HQ's call.) Conference sessions as noted above: professional development, leadership, student development, as well as the "standard" fare that's offered currently. Ideally, lunch would be supplied as well. And naturally, teams could bring more than their allotment, for an extra fee (say, a per-person cost of $50).


I could be way off on the pricing, but the main reason for having this be a paid thing at all is to 1) make sure attendees are serious about showing up, 2) give them a stake in their own development, and 3) help assist conference presenters with travel. (And, also, I recall hearing that a perception of "limited supply" or "good value" can also entice more people to show up--any marketing folks want to chime in?) Of course, I would anticipate that the scheduling allow for plenty of match-watching and pit-crawling, for some added inspiration; why not have one or more sessions on "design field trip"