[Zebra_Fact_Man]

Originally Posted by ASD20

I think if FIRST/the districts really wanted to encourage inter-district play, they should at least open up registration the same time as 3rd plays.

This a thousand times. As long as in-state teams register for 3rd-events before out-of-state teams, it will continue to be infinitely difficult to district out-of-state. I'd wager that is the primary reason so few teams do out of state district events; they can't get in!

Originally Posted by Tom Line

Last time I checked, a third district in Michigan for a Michigan team was $500. Unless the prices in Michigan have changed and I missed it, it's no wonder Michigan teams stay at Michigan events and there are rarely openings. Why would FIRST actively discourage inter-district play by making it more expensive on TOP of the travel costs a team will incur if they want to go play with nearby friends?

I thought in the past out-of-state 3rd districts cost whatever an in-state 3rd district would have cost. Am I mistaken?