Quote:
Originally Posted by FarmerJohn
Gonna be honest here, if a team is working out of a closet, I don't think a big flashy venue is gonna matter to them more than getting the robot they worked on for 6 weeks functioning, and it doesn't take a genius to know that more opportunities to play is gonna help you improve more than big event ambiance will. Do you really care about the experience of the teams that don't have much to work with? Give them more chances to get better and make something of their season. Big flashy lights don't help when you're 0-10 at your only event and your season just finished. That's why some teams go home early, and why others don't come back next year.
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Having spent hard time on one such previously hole-in-the-wall team, I wholeheartedly agree. The flash of the regional provides very little motivation--none to me as a student--especially given how short-lived it is. When we worked in a barn, anywhere was up in terms of location. The great part is getting play time with other teams and, eventually, hopefully succeeding at something that lasts (a record of playing Saturday or winning an award). This is much more likely at smaller districts events with more play time and smaller competitive fields. Having now played in districts, we've also found that those titles, e.g. "Innovation Award Winner" or "quarterfinalist", etc, are far more interesting to sponsors (and recruits, and us) than the flash of any event "we played" at. People don't probe about the size of the field when you show them a trophy. Moreover, having more events via districts has helped more potential funders and other outsiders show up at one.