[EricH]

Originally Posted by ASD20

I'd say it largely contains suggestions, which should be heeded to varying extents.

I think that it contains both requirements and suggestions. The hard part is knowing which is which!

For example, I would think it possible for an event to have pits and field on different levels--the catch is that said event would need a device to safely move the robots between levels (commonly known as either a ramp or an elevator, depending on vertical distance, and preferably a freight elevator with some speed to transport lots of robots at once).

On the other hand, the field space can't be compromised much without compromising safety and access. So that's more of a requirement. Pit space in total can't be compromised much either--but having it all together can be, to an extent. Power can be supplemented. Seating probably can't be fudged much without somebody complaining (loudly) about not being able to see their team compete--or the situation we had in IE '14, where the reminders to not sit in the aisles in the stands were constant but there wasn't much of anywhere else to sit!

Short version, you're right, but you have to know what the actual requirements are before you can fudge the given numbers.