[EricH]

You know, David, back in the day (before my time even), alliances were kept secret until 2 minutes or so before each match. FIRST event people knew, but teams just knew that teams W, X, Y, and Z needed to be at the field at time A. How about we go back to that? Oh, and there were only 2-team alliances, if you were wondering.

A year or so later, they went to the format we know and love today. Something about 2 minutes not being enough, or some such triviality.