[jwhite]

This seems like a novel idea to me, and I wonder if you couldn't extend it into both build season and competition season.

Having access to a real field, already setup, during build season would be worth a lot, even if you could only get a 30 minute slot on February 18th when everyone else wants it.

David's math around how many matches you could run when your field is available 24/7 is compelling.

Has there ever been talk of 'mini districts'? Taking districts one step further so that you can run them in a venue you can afford to rent? Perhaps even running them in a less formal way?

What if you got 25 teams that normally go to one regional to agree to instead take a year off and run in a 'mini district', in exchange for a lot more matches during competition season. Get another 25 teams to join the coop in exchange for the right to run their shadow.

Each team kicks in funding and agrees to provide at least two adult volunteers for some minimum number of time slots.

You run at least one event a week, perhaps more. Everyone gets 30 matches instead of just 8.

Those teams that run their main miss out on the big show and a chance at nationals. Perhaps you give some of those teams a shot at state so they have a chance at least at one big show. Maybe if they follow district bag/unbag rules, and FIRST is amenable, you have a district finals in a high school gym and send the winners on to Nationals.

It's a huge benefit to teams that access the field and run their shadow on it. In theory, you also gain another chunk of volunteers that are used to running (admittedly small) events.

It also seems like a possible path to building districts; you start small, build a pool of volunteers, and expand on it.

I guess you've got to find a non zero number of teams that would be interested; maybe I'll ping my fellow mentors and/or hub buddies and see if anyone would be intrigued.

Cheers,

Jeremy