FRC Blog - Championship Move In Day

[cgmv123]

http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...ip-Move-In-Day

Today we have the first of two blogs focusing on the 2015 FIRST Championship from Toby Clarke, FRC Program Manager.

We can’t wait to see all the teams headed to St. Louis in just a few days. This blog is intended to help make your access to the facility as smooth and easy as possible.

If your team arrives in St. Louis early, please have a team representative go the America's Center lobby Registration starting at noon on Wednesday to retrieve your team’s registration material. Registration badges are required for all attendees beginning Thursday morning so please be sure to obtain the required badges for your team members and guests.

Team equipment move in to the Pits begins Wednesday at 2pm for up to five (5) team representatives. Unlike during Load-In at Regional or District events, these five representatives are encouraged to get started with all that needs to get done: pit setup, robot repairs, inspection, etc. Prior to this time, no equipment (tool boxes, pit supplies, etc) will be allowed in the America's Center. Your robot crate will be waiting for you at your assigned pit location. Starting at 2pm, access to the Pits will be available through the 9th Street doors and also the Plaza Entrance on Convention Boulevard. Please see the map below and follow the instructions of the FIRST staff wearing the yellow vests to help provide a smooth and safe load in.



The Pits open to all team members starting at 5pm on Wednesday. Prior to this time, beginning at 2pm, the seating areas in the Dome will be available for team members not helping with the load in.

The goal on Wednesday night is for your team to make sure it completes robot inspection, sends their drive team to the Drivers’ Meeting, and also participates in its assigned practice match on the your sub-division Dome field. Qualifying matches start first thing Thursday morning so getting this done is a priority for Wednesday night. There will be plenty of inspectors available to help with this important task.

Now what about access on Thursday through Saturday? This year we will have more doors open in the morning to make it easier for you. In addition to the Plaza Entrance and its nearby Dome A, we will also be using Dome B and Dome D entrances. From Dome D you can also easily access the Pits via the Annex ramp.

We wish you safe and uneventful travel to St. Louis and will see you soon for a great Championship event.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by cgmv123

http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...ip-Move-In-Day

My main concern is if I can gain access to the dome through C next to volunteer parking.

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

My main concern is if I can gain access to the dome through C next to volunteer parking.

D is close enough. Especially if you want to get to the dome floor itself.

[MikeE]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

My main concern is if I can gain access to the dome through C next to volunteer parking.

...because the last thing Ed is going to do is travel a bit further to volunteer!

[5reided]

On the left side of the area between the fields in the center of the dome, there is a giant FIRST logo and a bunch of rectangles. Does anybody know what that is? It wasn't in the map originally posted on the FRC Blog.

[Hallry]

Originally Posted by 5reided

On the left side of the area between the fields in the center of the dome, there is a giant FIRST logo and a bunch of rectangles. Does anybody know what that is? It wasn't in the map originally posted on the FRC Blog.

Is that the stage for the Finale?

[Jon Stratis]

Originally Posted by 5reided

On the left side of the area between the fields in the center of the dome, there is a giant FIRST logo and a bunch of rectangles. Does anybody know what that is? It wasn't in the map originally posted on the FRC Blog.

I would guess it's the awards/ceremonies stage, set behind the two fields that will become Einstein fields. Last year, the stage was off to the left of Einstein, but it can't really be to the side if we're using two fields - there just isn't enough room. Setting it behind them makes sense.

[JB987]

In Frank's Blog, March 9:

Following the conclusion of the sub-division playoffs, the Archimedes and Tesla fields will be transformed on Saturday afternoon to create two Einstein fields. This will provide the location where the winning alliances from each of the 8 sub-divisions will compete to determine the 4 team alliance that will be the 2015 FRC Champions. In arena maps posted recently, it shows a stage between the Tesla and Archimedes fields.

[5reided]

Originally Posted by Hallry

Is that the stage for the Finale?

That would make sense. I'm interested to see how that will work, because it is on the opposite side of the dome from, but seems to face, where teams will be seated to see the Einstein matches. Also, it uses up a large part of the center area, which I thought would already be cramped if it's used for team pit space during sub-division playoff matches. Maybe they'll set it up only after sub-division playoff matches conclude?

Originally Posted by Jon Stratis

I would guess it's the awards/ceremonies stage, set behind the two fields that will become Einstein fields. Last year, the stage was off to the left of Einstein, but it can't really be to the side if we're using two fields - there just isn't enough room. Setting it behind them makes sense.

I thought that at first as well, but the blog said that the Archimedes and Tesla fields would become the Einstein fields, and it appears that there is already a stage between them.

[Jon Stratis]

I knew it was two fields, but couldn't find the post that specified which two fields last night. So, if it's not for awards, then my money would be on the finale, like Hallry said. Being on the opposite side from Einstein gives FIRST time to break down the two fields in front of it to give plenty of floor space, in addition to the seats.

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by 5reided

On the left side of the area between the fields in the center of the dome, there is a giant FIRST logo and a bunch of rectangles. Does anybody know what that is?

I'm guessing it's storage space for the fields' road cases, and probably A/V support.

[bigbeezy]

Registration badges are required for all attendees beginning Thursday morning so please be sure to obtain the required badges for your team members and guests.

Does anyone have more info on the registration badges? Do we need to know how many guests will be attending? Because I have no idea other than "a lot," and coordinating getting people their badges if they cannot get into the venue will be fun to say the least... Maybe I'm misunderstanding this?

[Jon Stratis]

Originally Posted by bigbeezy

Does anyone have more info on the registration badges? Do we need to know how many guests will be attending? Because I have no idea other than "a lot," and coordinating getting people their badges if they cannot get into the venue will be fun to say the least... Maybe I'm misunderstanding this?

I believe the badges are only for participants - volunteers, teams, sponsors, etc - with the idea of helping to identify everyone and direct crowds better.

[sanddrag]

Originally Posted by bigbeezy

Does anyone have more info on the registration badges? Do we need to know how many guests will be attending? Because I have no idea other than "a lot," and coordinating getting people their badges if they cannot get into the venue will be fun to say the least... Maybe I'm misunderstanding this?

It seems to be a point of confusion. Some places it says all attendees will need to register, and provides a link to an Experient page which makes no sense. Elsewhere it says it is free and open to the public. I don't see any place for individuals attending without a team to register.