[EStokely]

I almost think this should be re named "How can FIRST get bigger"

Lets break down what needs to happen at the Top.
-Design a new game every year.
-Control team registration
-National

Anything else?
I mean really.
"the kit of parts" I hear. How about a list of what things we are allowed to use along with a supplier list. We buy what we need. No kits, prehaps some vouchers to use at various venders. The vouchers could be in exchange for the Registration fee. Reg fees could be reduced if teams were responsible for getting their own kit of parts

"Regionals" are already pretty much run from the local level with FIRST oversite. Yea I will agree that if we need 200 regionals that they have to come down in cost. So less glitz, Maybe more on par with a High School sports final in a division.

"National" But FIRST can run a 250+ Team National already. (I am in the group that says we should qualify for nat's by winning at regionals)

What am I missing?

Whats the point of FIRST? I am fond of saying that my robotics team isn't about robots. I suspect that the same impact on students could be had with 3000+ teams using some of the ideas presented as we will have this year.

As for an ultimate number of FIRST teams?
Tell me how many HS football teams there are in the US. Thats my number for FIRST teams :-) (Of course we are international now...)