[GaryVoshol]

Michigan is in a great situation to try this as a pilot program. If it works in Michigan it can work in a lot of other areas - IL/IN/MO, CA, New England, NY/NJ/PA, maybe DE/MD/VA, etc. Pick any reasonably sized region with about 100 teams, and although you wouldn't be able to call it a State Championship, you could hold several districts advancing to Regional championships. Right now it would NOT work in a lot of other areas - the Northwest, Plains, most of the Southeast - because there isn't a high enough density of teams. Michigan will provide a little experience for teams from sparser regions of the country - even though there are two districts in the Upper Peninsula there are currently only 3 teams in the UP. (Two of the 16 geographical district, which I presume is to allow for eventual expansion - there will only be 7 district events the first year). Those teams plus a few more from the northern Lower Peninsula will be able to provide some input as to how this would work in an area where one district might be nearby, but the other would involve a bit of travel.

The Kettering Rookie District last year was a "real" event, tempered somewhat by the fact that all the teams were rookies and thus it didn't necessarily have the same amount of spirit and traditions that you might find at established regionals. There was a screen, there was sound and a DJ, an MC and announcer. There was a full referee crew, although about only about half were certified. There was a smallish panel of judges and, as a rookie-only event, an appropriate number of awards. There was a full-spec competition field (although that doesn't guarantee anything, the 3+ hour delay proves that!)

I think the biggest question in this is one that has been voiced, what about teams that like to travel to a distant regional? This year they can still do that, subject to time and money. It will be interesting to see what would happen if more regions adopt the district concept - would teams be able to "share" points earned at a district away from your region?

As I understand it, there are two primary goals to be met - lower cost and managing growth. Michigan has a very ambitious goal of having a FRC program in 50% of high schools - some schools would have joint programs. Even now, with 3 regular regionals, there was very little room for any expansion. Detroit Regional filled up within hours of registration opening. (And at only 33 teams capacity, it serves as the model for the district events. Many HS or community college fieldhouses would be at least as large as Wayne State's.) Lower cost comes about by being able to compete in two district competitions for the same cost as one regional, nearer to home than having to travel to an away regional. Plus the district events will be Friday-Saturday only, so teams that do have to travel won't have as high of lodging expenses and students will miss less school.

To address the lack of a practice day: At Kettering there was a block of practice Friday morning. I believe it was a first-come-first-served line. Given that the goal is to have about 12 rounds of play, the teams will get a lot of driving and will improve over the course of the event. And then they get 12 more games at their next event! Scouting will be different, I'm not sure to say more difficult or not, but there will be less teams overall to scout.

I am very excited to see how this concept will pan out.