[Roger]

Might have been an even earlier time that they booked those dates. Remember that they had finished a bid process for a multi-year hosting of FIRST (or maybe it had finished a couple years ago?) -- part of the deal might have been a "give us these dates" or "better rates for more years you pick now". I have enough time finding a calendar six months in advance -- I can't imagine planning three or five year ahead! Talk about time shifting....