Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Corsetto
Very fair concerns.
In a quick count, I tallied ~7 SoCal teams at CVR, out of 49. It is definitely a primarily NorCal event ( confirmed by team distribution map from 2014)
I think SoCal will depend on Vegas/Arizona regardless until Districts happen. And, luckily, both of these areas appear to be strong and/or growing (I've been particularly impressed with AZ in the past few years).
Once Districts are established, the state will likely be split in half anyway, with only a few teams traveling for inter-district play. It is the natural progression to the model of a High School sport.
Why could this roll-out be beneficial to both regions? I hear so much doubt and misinformation surrounding districts in CA. It's almost like 1/2 of FRC hasn't made the switch already and disproved many of the concerns that get recycled almost daily.  If half the state can go to districts in 2018, then maybe that opens the door for the other half to come in as soon as the following year. Showing what is possible is part of garnering support of people that would be hesitant to embrace change otherwise.
From my perspective, it could very well be a win-win. Believe me, I am pushing for this because I want all FRC teams, particularly in CA, to be more sustainable, more successful, and more inspirational.
Maybe it is less of a "Goodbye" and more of a "See you on the other side"? 
-Mike |
While I agree historically CVR is more NoCal teams, if I remember CVR was on the same weekend as the Long Beach Regional this year, and I think the week before in 2015. So you may have missed out on a lot of potential So.Cal teams these year just due to scheduling issues. Typically on my team we are not a fan of back to back events as its a burden on iteration plus it is hard for our students to take consecutive weeks off.
294 attended CVR in 2013 as it was on an advantageous weekend. We found that its really was not a hard drive or trip. The venue we thought was great and we would most definitely be willing to go back. In our regional trade space CVR is always in there just as long as we have enough separation from our "home" event of Los Angeles.
Without speaking for all the rest of them mentors on my team. I can see lots of pros/cons for Districts. We regularly compete in Long Beach so seeing 60+ teams is very normal to us. Holding the event in the arena can be a very special memory for most students on not only our team but also teams that have never gone to Champs. Keeping the regionals to have a "larger" feel can not only have tremendous inspirational effects but it also puts on a "great show" for our local sponsors. Often times when we invite our sponsors having them see an arena filled up usually gets them realizing the scope of the program that I am afraid may not be seen at the district event level.
I am not saying the district event cannot have the same effect, its just one of the things having regionals has going for it.
For me, Districts has to be the way to go for the future. We are already playing half of our Regionals in High school Gyms. From Inland Empire, to OC to CVR our 2nd regional is essentially a district event. So not only do we get limited to 8 matches at a 60+ regional but we also are paying a regional fee for essentially a district event. Man the worst $/match out there!
The crews who have put on I.E. OC and the other smaller regionals have all done a fantastic job and we have always enjoyed playing at those venues. The Orange county regional this year was a smashing success and we really look forward to coming back. Its just just a bummer to be spending the same amount for essentially what the rest of FRC would call a district event.
I have only quickly scanned the document but is very well written. I did notice that the South Bay (LA) area is an ideal location as well for a district. It looks like EricH mentioned that his team had looked at the venues. At 294 some of the mentors have talked(mainly whispered) that there has to be a school around here that has a chance. We would need to explore the requirements more carefully so thanks for helping us outline what is needed. But most important would be getting school buy-in and understanding how the gyms get booked. Our schools are so sports dominated that typically the gyms are constantly being used from girls volleyball to deep CIF boys/girls basketball championship runs.