[Keith Chester]

Should teams be allowed more than one regional?

Of course!

FIRST is about inspiration, and some of the most inspiring moments comes from seeing people from other regions, sometimes even other COUNTRIES, compete with the same ideals as you. Looking across the pits and seeing a crew of high schoolers from South Carolina that you would have never met in your life otherwise and seeing them studying their machine the same way you were seconds before. Being able to go up to them, completely comfortable in doing so, and ask them for aide, knowing that I'd recieve an affirmative. Asking them questions about their robot, knowing that a friendly conversation would ensue. Forgetting all about the warnings our parents gave about not trusting strangers at all. Or looking at the eyes of a fellow drive coach after a vicious match, where an opponent lay on the field damaged, and without words traded between either of you, knowing that you are both going to rush over to the aid of that wounded bot. Seeing more refreshing and widespread signs of good in this world.

Being able to travel to more than your home regional allows you to see that FIRST is truly working. It allows you to learn more about how the world works than within your own home state, which some of us won't get to leave until college, if that.

Or I could just be rambling. My apologies. It's late for me.

Also - you work for countless hours on your robot. Of COURSE you want to be able to compete with it multiple times. Unfortunately, yes, there is budget restrictions on some teams that disallow them from traveling to a second regional and even nationals. It is a sad but true part of life in FIRST. But for those that do have the money, why not?