Last year all of the schools from counties where the schools were not in session had students at the Fair on and off throughout the week from the MD teams. This year it will be a little different since i know at least one of the counties is in school during the demo days. I also know some of Team 7's engineers are there in and out during the demo days since many work up the street from the fairgrounds.
Teams last year brought any number of people...but most brought the entire team.
500,000 people walked through the gates last year, Ch 11 (NBC) did a live broadcast of the event on one of their noon newscasts, and Ch 13 (CBS) did a story on Team 7. I assume that we will get some media coverage again this year.
All of the local teams last year that had people in and out picked up sponsors. I don't know how that will work for your team since you are farther away, but you never know.
We already have more teams than last year and I know 5 of the 16 won a regional event so it will be very competitive this year.
We tend to be a little more laid back because this is for fun. You will definantly get a chance to meet a lot of teams that are not in your area since we mix the pits up and most likely will get a chance to take a crack at 7 again
I think that answers all your questions
Steve