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Originally Posted by M. Krass
Walt Disney World is undoubtedly more expensive than any other venue FIRST could probably find, save perhaps for New York City, Las Vegas or Los Angeles. As I've stated time and again, though, it is worth the cost. FIRST is not an organization that should be settling for or in search of the cheapest options, but demanding the best facilities the world has to offer.
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Maddie, while I agree for the most part with what you've said, I feel every paragraph should have the clause
'to an extent' after it.
Fees just to participate in one regional have been raised, and many teams have felt the heat. Look at this year's controversial congratulatory NASA Grant thread - instead of 'yay, the teams who needed money got it' it turned into a vicious, rumor-driven thread of 'why did someone else get money, when xxx team really needs it?'. There are teams who come into existence and simply can't last for more than a year or two. While it's true that FIRST is continually growing at a rather rapid rate, many of us have agreed that maintenance of current teams is just as key as new growth.
Of course there are teams who do have the money, and would love to see the event return to Disney. If it went back, and there was a significant price increase, how many teams would really feel the pressure? Why shouldn't FIRST be looking for the cheapest facilities? Aren't we, as customers, entitled to getting our money's worth? I really like Disney. I haven't been back since 2002. But I really like being able to afford going to the championships every year, and not having an arm and a leg ripped off just to pay for my hotel room. Robotics aside, Disney is not a cheap place as it is. How many of this year's Championship teams could afford Atlanta, but not Disney?
I don't think it's FIRST responsibility to find a venue with all the bells and whistles that it could possibly have. It is, however, FIRST's responsibility to create a fun championship event, and do everything possible to make it worth the money we pay to them for these events. I did not attend Houston, but I have been to Atlanta the past two years, and I can say that FIRST made it well worth the money to attend (or else, why would I go?). Does it have to be Disney to be a great event? No. It would be fun, but it's not imperative we move it back there.
To have a great robotics event, Disney would need FIRST. But FIRST doens't need Disney.