[dtengineering]

I can honestly say that our team would pay a $7,000 entry fee, because, when our team got started in FIRST (and before we had the support of the very generous people at General Motors Canada) the entry fee for the first regional was just over $8,000.

Sure, it was only $5,000 USD, but that was a lot back in the days of the 62 cent Canadian dollar.

Last year a new team started up here in town and had to pay around $7000 for their first regional, as the dollar was at about 82 cents, as I recall.

Now we can hit two regionals for a little less than $10,000!

Weird fluctuations of exchange rates aside, I think that FIRST is well aware that they have to offer a good value at a price teams can afford, and that raising fees raises barriers for both new and established teams.... but if you really want to make budgeting fun, try factoring in exchange rates... our fees for two regionals this week are about $600 higher than they were last week!

Jason

P.S. The super shifters look quite promising, don't they?