Quote:
Originally Posted by DonShaw
I am going to make a statement here about what I perceive districts should be. The events should be smaller than what we currently do in GA. The events should be no more than 24 teams, is the concept of district smaller events with more of them? Look at Michigan, they hold them in High Schools and can do that due to the smaller size.
We all heard more plays per dollar by going to district and I did not see that come about, for many teams the chance to qualify for Worlds is higher. I would like to see some other teams show there cost per play from last year. Personally I believe there are teams that can afford the registration that includes two events but the travel cost only allows them to participate in one
I do believe some of the holdbacks to having more events is the cost to GAFirst for fields and equipment and not to mention the limited number of volunteers they pull from.
If the state DOE ever got on board then the high school avenue may come to play but without their support I do not see it happening.
Oh, and please refer to my post last year about the district model and cost and locations of events. Like it or hate it, it is a reality of the dollar ruling life. We go where the dollar comes from via sponsor and support.
Not happy about the travel/cost but have to live with it until another viable solution presents itself.
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The minimum number of teams that we have in the PNW events is 28 and I believe that is something that was handed down from FIRST. This is done so that there are enough teams for the finals and a back up or two. The potential for a robot not to be functioning at the end of 12 matches is non-trival. Also 12 qualifying matches is the mandate from FIRST. So depending on the number of matches at the regional the team traditionally attended 1 district event gives you more qualifying matches and better chance at a couple of finals matches.
The number of fields certainly does limit the number of events as with the new split champs the goal is to have all the district events in weeks 1-5 and DCMP week 6. The field and all of the rest of the supporting equipment is not cheap so it doesn't make sense to go to a second field until you have 90 plus teams.
HS sizing does play a role in the number of teams you can have at an event. There are a couple in the PNW that have had caps lower than 40 teams in the past because there just wasn't enough pit space.
Selecting the locations is a lot of work. You do have to work around the other things the locations may have scheduled, the desire to spread them around the area and to try and have week 2 not next door to weeks 1 and 3 ect so that hopefully it is a reasonable possibility that teams don't have to do back to back events if they choose the two closest events. For example in the PNW we have two events in the same town/school district. One is traditionally week 1 and the other has been week 6 or 5.
Then of course are the amenities at the school are their 2 20a circiuts in the gym to run the FMS and the AV so they can run on separate circuits. What about the pits you need 1 20a circuit per 4~6 teams and another for inspection, pit admin. If you don't have that then you need a generator and power distribution system which adds to the cost. In the PNW we did spend the money for two power distribution systems and we have a great partner in a rental company that gives us reduced rates for generators and fork lifts.
TL/DR; Selecting locations for district events is not easy with a number of things that have to be considered and all come together with the other locations as well. It is not an easy task and takes a lot of person power.