[GeorgeTheEng]

Unfortunately, I think a lot of people are assuming that this is something FIRST can negotiate easily. I didn't take a hard look, but in my years in FIRST, I've noticed that free parking is more often then not provided at venues where there is more control over the entire event (i.e. colleges).

There are 2 issues that never seem to go away and can be very hard for a planning committee to deal with... Parking and Food. In for-profit venues both of those are usually contracted out by the venue owner. As part of those contracts they are provided certain things such as exclusivity rights (usually for food) or the automatic right to charge for parking. The regional committees can try to work with them. In the case of NJ, the regional committee managed a deal where they paid for the parking. But that can be depenedant on the area, the number of teams, and the level of sponsorship.

And given that a FIRST event provides no ticket revenue, explain to me how FIRST has a good leg to stand on trying to negotiate things like parking? For that matter, at most events we are dealing with Urban areas. In urban areas, at least on the East Coast, 99% of parking is pay parking.

I know from experience that parking and food are 2 issues that Regional committees always struggle with and the results do not always make everyone happy.