After seeing
this thread, I figured we could start some discussion about the Detroit venue hosting World Championship North starting in 2018.
According to the
official FIRST announcement, CMP-N will be held in the Cobo Center along the Detroit River as well as in Ford Field, which will be used for Opening and Closing Ceremonies. The two seem to be a little over
a mile and a half walk (~30 minutes) from one another, but there is
a people mover with a station at the Cobo Center that
can get people closer to Ford Field.
Based on that info, it sounds like all of FLL Jr., FLL, FTC, and FRC (including the fields) will be in the Cobo Center, which just finished up
a $279 million 5-year renovation. Included in this was the complete remodeling of the former 12,000 seat Cobo Arena.
Here's an animated tour of the renovation,
here are some photos, and
here are floor plans. Perhaps they'll work it out for that FLL Jr. - FTC will be in the Level 1 Exhibit Halls, with FRC being on Level 2?
Here is a photo of Ford Field, which should have ample space for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies.
Due to the distance between the two venues, I would guess that Einstein would be held in the Cobo Center (Possibly in the Grand Riverview Ballroom?)? I couldn't imagine
FIRST trying to move the teams and their equipment up to Ford Field
(though I've been wrong before). I would also assume that we're going back to bleacher seating for the fields as well?
For comparison,
here are floor plans of the Edward Jones Dome and the America's Center in St. Louis.