[ChuckDickerson]

Another point to consider is trash. Food wrappers and containers generate a lot of it and the venues have to dispose of it and this cost the venue money. Part of the cost of renting a venue and the food they sell goes to cover this cost. If everyone brought in food from outside then they are also bringing in trash from outside. The venue would have to make up the cost of cleaning up and disposing of this trash somehow. Granted we are all responsible individuals in FIRST and would never think of leaving any trash in the isles or halls and always dispose of our trash in proper collection receptacles but this is often NOT the case at other events. When I was in high school one of the ways we raised money for different organizations was to clean up the trash left in the stadium after an even. Students = Free Labor. When we all leave a FIRST event there is probably a mountain of trash that must be collected and disposed of somehow. The price you pay for that event food also pays to get rid of the cup, the wrapper, the boxes, and the half of the piece of pizza you could stomach. I agree that the food at events tastes less than ideal and is expensive and I don't have a solution to that but I think there are lots of other issues like trash to consider. Since the events are free the event has to cover their costs somehow. Many other events have the same restrictions on bringing in outside food and drink for the same reasons. I've been to lots of events like NASCAR races where you can bring in a limited amount of food and drink but I have also always had to pay a hefty premium for the tickets to the event. If we all want to start paying for tickets to a FIRST event then I think we have more room to negotiate about the food at the events. Until then I don't see things changing all that much. As far as I know, FIRST doesn't have much control over the food at the events and certainly isn't trying to make a big profit selling junk food to a bunch crazy robot building people. If it is a big problem get a cooler or two, stock them with drinks and sandwich stuff, and keep then in a team vehicle in the parking lot. At lunch eat there and take your trash with you. If you have a medical need to eat at a certain time or eat special food then I'm sure that FIRST and the venue can make special arrangements.

That's my $02.