Finale--is it worth it?

[Grim Tuesday]

So our team qualified for Champs through EI last week at FLR, and we accepted the invitation. Now, we just need to find a way to bring and lodge the team! We've looked into the Steele reserved hotels, and it appears that we can get a better deal (by almost $2000 for a team our size) if we don't book through them, and go to a different hotel. However, we would be missing out on the Finale party. I know that last year was Will.i.am, which is very exciting, but this year doesn't look to be terribly intriguing. Will we be missing out on something fun if we choose to save the money?

[KrazyCarl92]

Last year, Will.I.Am was not part of the finale party, but rather a separate performance on Friday night at the Edward Jones Dome. I must say, if it is your kids first time going to St. Louis (I bet it is for most of them), they will not want to miss the arch! If you end up not going to the finale, definitely make time as a team to go. We left last years finale early because we as a team didn't find it very enjoyable. The one's in Atlanta were really fun, and I hope the one in St. Louis this year will compare. It sounds better than last year to me (a room with grinding high schoolers and another with not enough carnival and arcade games...). Also, I must say the Science Center in St. Louis is lots of fun and cool to see!

[leeivyca]

Our team has been to two Championships in Atlanta and last year's in St. Louis, after going to one Finale we have never heard great things about them. If you can save $2000, that is a lot of money, I suggest you take the savings, you won't be missing much. But if they have another special secret concert on Friday like last year's, don't miss it. (Someone should lobby Steele to offer better deals!)

[waialua359]

We went once in Atlanta. By the time we got there, food ran out and the entertainment was hard to participate in with limited space and too much people.
Not worth the high price/person in my opinion.
Hopefully, its better this time around.

[Grim Tuesday]

Does anyone remember when the concert was announced last year? Was it contingent upon people buying tickets through Steele?

[BigJ]

It was a secretive affair -- scheduled as "a special show with will.i.am and friends". When we received our Chairman's wristbands for the floor in our registration packet the lady wouldn't even tell us what they were for. Just for "tonight". And that we "wouldn't want to miss it for anything" (I'm pretty sure the second half pertained to the announcing of the Chairman's winner at the concert/filming).

edit: I will say that each Finale I've been too didn't seem worth it, but I'm a bit of a party pooper, especially when I'm tired...

[dodar]

The only reason it seemed, to me atleast, that our team went to it was for the $100,000+ fireworks show at the end. To date, those fireworks shows are the best I've seen anywhere.

[293spike]

Is there anything actually describing the finale so far? When I click the link all I see is the banner that says Finale Party, but it seems others have more information.

[Grim Tuesday]

Originally Posted by 293spike

Is there anything actually describing the finale so far? When I click the link all I see is the banner that says Finale Party, but it seems others have more information.

That's odd, it was there yesterday. I don't remember the whole thing, but you have three options: Some sort of talent show, a visit to the Big Arch, and a trip to the St. Louis Science Museum.

[Tommy F.]

Originally Posted by Grim Tuesday

That's odd, it was there yesterday. I don't remember the whole thing, but you have three options: Some sort of talent show, a visit to the Big Arch, and a trip to the St. Louis Science Museum.

There was also an option of going to the City Museum.

Since I live here in St. Louis, I must say that the Finale Party this year seems like a lot of fun, but I don't see it as a necessary thing to go to if you're trying to save $2000. You can always come back to St. Louis and enjoy the Gateway Arch, St. Louis Science Center and the City Museum.

[Jim Wilks]

We've been to the last 3 finale parties. The 2 in Atlanta were great and all of the team enjoyed it immensely. The one last year in St. Louis was a joke and we were all quite disappointed.

[akoscielski3]

Originally Posted by dodar

The only reason it seemed, to me atleast, that our team went to it was for the $100,000+ fireworks show at the end. To date, those fireworks shows are the best I've seen anywhere.

Nothing when you compare them to the ones on the Detroit river for Canada Day and The 4th of July. Literally the biggest firework show in the world. Nice when the river is just down the street from your house lol


I enjoyed the finale when i went in 2010. The food was good, and the games and stuff after was enjoyable. I would definitely go again. But I heard that last years Finale couldnt compare to the ones held in Atlanta.

[Doc Wu]

Originally Posted by Grim Tuesday

So our team qualified for Champs through EI last week at FLR, and we accepted the invitation. Now, we just need to find a way to bring and lodge the team! We've looked into the Steele reserved hotels, and it appears that we can get a better deal (by almost $2000 for a team our size) if we don't book through them, and go to a different hotel. However, we would be missing out on the Finale party. I know that last year was Will.i.am, which is very exciting, but this year doesn't look to be terribly intriguing. Will we be missing out on something fun if we choose to save the money?

We're having the same difficulties. We found hotels that offered rooms at $80 a night, but couldn't give them to us because they were all committed to Steele, who wanted $180. If you booked the room for four people, they wanted over $400 where usually a hotel only adds $10-20 per person, if anything.

Since we are coming in a coach bus, we are widening our search and will probably be driving in from a distance each day because of it.

It seems to us that the whole Steele Meetings thing is a way to gouge teams for extra money.

As for the after party, out team has never gone to them and spent the money on a team dinner somewhere. It's worked out really well.

[George A.]

I haven't like the finale's since '03 when FIRST rented out Six Flags (although the EPCOT finales leave them all in the dust)

I've always sent the kids in, with one or two mentors that volunteered to stay behind and be contacts for the kids, as well as escort them back to the hotel. Then the other mentors (3-4 of us) would find a nice restaurant and have a quiet dinner together congratulating each other on a good season, and just unwinding from 3 days of competition.

[engunneer]

Epcot finales certainly were awesome. Free rides with no lines, and if there was a line, it was all robotics people

I liked the Atlanta party in '09, and haven't been to CMP since then.