[EricH]

Once again, time. You have no idea how far FIRST already runs over their own time bounds. Consider: In 2007, the last year I attended, the event was scheduled, by FIRST, to end at 5:00 or so. Key words: Supposed to. If teams didn't duck out and miss the finals on Einstein, they missed a fair portion of the wrap party, which started at 6:00, as I recall. The finals weren't done until about 6:30-7:00, IIRC. And then you had the last couple awards and such like. Then, they had a video after the awards.

Before FIRST goes to extra divisions or extra teams in the eliminations, they REALLY need to make sure they can stay close to on schedule. Allowances can be made for divisions running slightly behind. But when you start late by, say, half an hour and end even later, say, by about another hour, there is a serious problem.

Bye round or no bye round, you can't add more alliances without taking more time. Sorry, it's not possible.

If FIRST does go to extra eliminations, I might suggest that alliance selection be held last thing Friday night or first thing Saturday morning, with eliminations starting in the next scheduled match slot, just to stay close to the official ending time.