[Mark McLeod]

Long after this thread was done I decided to look at the average cost per team under the different systems in place, and that's only possible after the fact.

This doesn't look at number of matches played or anything like that. It's only focused on how much it cost teams playing under different Regional and District systems. The question was driven by practical considerations that new teams have in planning for a starting budget.

This doesn't take into account sources of funding, e.g., NASA grants, FIRST Rookie or Hardship grants, state funding, schools, sponsors, etc. All of which changes the actual impact on individual teams.
The interesting part was for the most part the average cost per team in each area was comparable, but in some areas it was rather higher.

------------------------
So, for the past 2016 season:

Total registration fees amounted to: $24,644,988

Area/Type --------------------- Total Cost ----- Avg cost per team ------- Number of events

Regional Rookies -------------- $1,946,000 --- Avg/team = $7,371 ----- 241=1 event, 23=2 events, 54=CMP
Regional Vets ----------------- $12,753,000 --- Avg/team = $7,519 ----- 1035=1 event, 610=2 events, 51=3 events, 285=CMP
FIM-MAR Rookies ---------------- $585,500 --- Avg/team = $7,411 ----- 78=2 events, 1=3 events, 14=DCMP, 11=CMP
FIM-MAR Vets ------------------ $3,493,500 --- Avg/team = $7,712 ----- 1=1 district, 415=2 districts, 37=3 districts, 108=CMP, 148=DCMP, 18=Regionals, 6=Inter-District
PNW ----------------------------- $1,902,988 ---- Avg/team = $12,044 ---- 148=2 districts, 10=3 Districts, 2=1 Regional, 64=DCMP, 35=CMP
NC-PCH-NE-IN-CHS Rookies --- $374,000 ---- Avg/team = $8,698 ------ 43=2 districts, 19=DCMP, 8=CMP
NC-PCH-NE-IN-CHS Vets ----- $3,590,000 ---- Avg/team = $8,215 ------ 9=1 district,391=2 districts, 36=3 districts, 1=4 districts, 205=DCMP, 99=CMP, 13=Regionals, 2=Inter-District