[BrendanB]

I find the most competitive events aren't ones with the top tier of FRC in attendance.

For me you take a few perennial solid teams, mix in some teams playing to their strengths, and add in some final day breakouts and the eliminations are up for grabs by any alliance.

That's why I'd say opening events are the most competitive when the powerhouses aren't around. You aren't entirely sure how the game will be played out on the field come Saturday or Sunday so the options for a winning strategy aren't as defined seeing as you are playing the game first. Everyone is still working out some early season bugs so there are some hit or miss matches. It creates this suspense of who will hit their marks or who can try to remain consistent to keep their scores up?

Watching some of the Granite State District elimination matches over the years have been exciting for me. Its a taste to see how the game will play out and the crowd does get excited over the first big scores of the year even if it is just a simple Capture, tall capped stack, or three assist cycle.

When you look back it seems "weak" but in the moment it is extremely exciting and many alliances have pulled of a few upsets in the bracket.