[dtengineering]

Geographical issues come into play not just for Hawaii teams, but for any team located more than a couple hour's drive from a potential competition site.

I think the Alaska and UK teams, in particular, might share this concern, but I also think of some of the teams from Montana and Idaho who make long drives through snowy mountain passes to reach either Portland or Seattle. Not to mention, of course, teams in Alberta, who are even further from FRC hotbeds than the Montana and Idaho teams.

Attending two district competitions for the entry fees equivalent to one regional competition, while a benefit for teams that do not face challenges in their travel budget, could be a real challenge for teams that are "inconveniently" located. In fact a district model with multiple competitions could actually make it more difficult for those teams to compete on an even footing than it already is.

I do, however, have faith in the people who run FRC, to think about these challenges and find a way to address them that works for everyone. The district model, after all, is an option... not a requirement... and I do get the sense that it will be implemented with a fair degree of flexibility and sensibility.

Jason