Serious Question about Championship Cost

[Collmandoman]

Our team was notified b4 our regional that our championship cost was taken care of.. so I'm not whining about not being able to pay. The champsionship event costs 5k, and I'm just wondering why? If all the judges/refs/everyone is a volunteer where is the money going? I can see renting the georgia dome being quite a bit of money but over a million.. I doubt it... but then I've never rented the georgia dome. Also the costs of a georgia dome crew - cleaning - electricity - shipping of various game elements - and such.. but I can't see these costs all together going over 500k. Does FIRST work at a deficit all year and make it up by the nats? I have no clue.. I highly doubt FIRST is ending up far in the black, so can somebody that knows more about this explain where the major costs are coming from. Thanks =)

[Brandon Martus]

I'm guessing there is a lot of hidden cost that the average competition-goer doesn't see. Many of the crew are paid FIRST staff. Then, think about all of the broadcast equipment (the screens, the sound equipment & staff, video crew, etc). Banners, trophies, medals for the award-winning teams. They feed the volunteers. Buy t-shirts for the staff & volunteer crew, so they are recognizable. There are signs everywhere pointing people in the right directions.

Who knows, for sure. I don't work for FIRST, and I'm betting 99% of the people here don't either, so who's to say..

[seanwitte]

Does it really matter?

<edited>
I jumped to a conclusion based on past experience. Most of the time when these threads are posted its because someone is upset about the cost of the program. If you're honestly just curious then I apologize, but the bottom line is that it is what it is.
</edited>

[Beth Sweet]

Originally Posted by seanwitte

Does it really matter?

He's just being curious, no harm in it. Curiosity gives way to the greatest of things. I'm sure FIRST has nothing to hide, but Collmandoman, I do agree with Brandon, I doubt you'll find any solid answer on here. Perhaps posting the question to the email you'll find at the FIRST website would be more effective.

[Collmandoman]

I thought I was just ignorant on the matter..
but there are quite a few people here high up in the FIRST community that probably know ALOT more than I do

[slickguy2007]

Don't forget the costs of insurance. Someone mentioned to me that part of the reason they added the safety award was to bring down the costs of insurance. This is a very expensive thing.

GO 1403!!!

[activemx]

IT does cost a lot of money, if you want to get more details please view the FIRST annual report http://www.usfirst.org/about/2004/annualreport2004.pdf
It breaks down the cost/income for FIRST and the events.

[Beth Sweet]

Originally Posted by activemx

IT does cost a lot of money, if you want to get more details please view the FIRST annual report http://www.usfirst.org/about/2004/annualreport2004.pdf
It breaks down the cost/income for FIRST and the events.

Yeah yeah, prove me wrong and tell him exactly where it goes... lol

[RoboMom]

Originally Posted by Collmandoman

I highly doubt FIRST is ending up far in the black, so can somebody that knows more about this explain where the major costs are coming from. Thanks =)

http://www.usfirst.org/about/2004/annualreport2004.pdf