What to Expect at Nationals

[Sean Marks]

I know its early to be talking about it. But as a rookie team going to Nationals, i wanted to see what to expect.
Is it like Regionals?
Is it Completely different?
Any shared experiences will be greatly appreciated. Stories are fun to hear too.

P.S. I know how it runs with 4 divisions eventually ending in 1 Final. My question is more on what to expect.

Thanks in Advance,
Sean

[Alex Cormier]

Well i will start with the basics, the award gets you a spot in ATL, not a paid entrance.

It is like 4 huge regionals under 1 roof. The matches will be a little more aggressive as this is the last place for most teams to compete. It is always a great time and you will never forget it as a amazing rookie year. i remember our rookie year, we won Buckeye and went onto the champs, didn't do that well but it was a blast and i will never forget it.

Get a hotel near the dome and all in a walking distance, the social is a great time if your team can afford it as well. I reccomend using the MARTA system to and from the airport, saves money for everyone.

Strategy meetings on friday is very important even if your team is in the 20th spot! Just in case be prepared for everything.

im probably forgeting some things, but that's the good thing about the CD community, there is always someone thinking right and adds thier input.

[Steve W]

What are Nationals? I've heard of Regionals and Championships.

[KathieK]

Originally Posted by Steve W

What are Nationals? I've heard of Regionals and Championships.

Ah, yes, Steve is reminding us all that the FRC event in Atlanta is known as the FIRST Robotics Competition Championship ("nationals" is an incorrect term in that FIRST is a multinational organization).

In addition to the FRC event, held concurrently are the FIRST Vex Challenge World Championship, the FIRST LEGO League World Festival, the FIRST Robotics Conference (which I highly recommend rookie teams attend) and several other small unofficial events (including the Chief Delphi Web Hug, the NEMO Annual Meeting, a meeting for rookie teams is usually organized and the Robot Chicks Union also meets - I am sure there are others that I'm not aware of). Altogether over 500 robots will be competing on 6 fields. If you have some time while there, be sure to visit the FLL and FVC pits and competitions on Thursday and Friday... FRC is not the only game in town in Atlanta!

If you look through the threads in the Championship Event forum on CD you will find LOTS of information to help your team prepare for Atlanta.

[RoboMom]

It is a good 10 minute walk from the pits to the playing fields. There will be a lot of time waiting in line. There will only be 4 people allowed to make that walk. You need to have a plan for working on your robot, while standing in line.

It is an even longer walk from the pits to the stands, depending on the escalators and the number of people. You may have team members who end up never going to the Dome, but stay in the pit.

The scale of everything there is so much bigger, and teams need to plan a bit.

[Jack Jones]

Originally Posted by Steve W

What are Nationals? I've heard of Regionals and Championships.

Steve - I agree that with the growing number of international teams, people should stop calling the Championship the Nationals.

After all, isn't one of last year's Champions from Canada?

On the other hand, six teams from less than 30 miles from where I now sit have become Champions over the last five years. So, maybe we should start calling it the MoTown Invitational?

[BRosser314]

Originally Posted by Jack Jones

Steve - I agree that with the growing number of international teams, people should stop calling the Championship the Nationals.

After all, isn't one of last year's Champions from Canada?

On the other hand, six teams from less than 30 miles from where I now sit have become Champions over the last five years. So, maybe we should start calling it the MoTown Invitational?

As much as I would like to call it the MOTown Invitational, I think if that happened many teams would be very upset since there are other areas of the country that do produce a good amount of winners. But me being a michigander and a mentor of a MOTown team, Michigan and the detroit area do produce some very excellent robots, but there are teams tht go undefeated in a single year and sometimes 2 years, that never go to the Champinoship event. So i mean as much as MOTown Invitational sound cool, I like Championship better, sounds more prestigous

[BRosser314]

When I was there in 2004 for the first year of Nationals in Atlanta I was really overwhelmed as a Sophmore. Since I was a pit person I made that hike from the pits to the stands after every match, back then I remember being able to run or walk a t a very brisk pace. Also me and a few other found a secret way to get to the stand in about 10 minutes, our secret only, but we were very stealthy, and I think its blocked off now But going back this year as a Freshman at college and a mentor of a different team, I have so much expectations for FIRST and The properly name Championship event. I wish luck to all rookie teams that are going, and any student taht has not been to this event,

[Priyadarshy]

is there a fireworks show every year because it was just phenomenal?
i couldnt believe it was real!

[SPurekar]

Originally Posted by Priyadarshy

is there a fireworks show every year because it was just phenomenal?
i couldnt believe it was real!

Does anyone have a video of the fireworks? I know it won't look as great at the original, but it's better than nothing. My team had to go back to the hotel and we missed it... I really wish I'd seen it, now that everyone says it was soo good.

[Bongle]

I've lost the original and forget how much this was sped up (probably about 10x), but here is a video of how long the walk is to the fields along the shorter red-carpet route:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSjKVDgnWwY

[JackN]

-Be prepared to have fun, it is the most important part of the championship.

-Prepare your scout team to work super hard, there are a ton of teams to watch

-Get ready for the best matches you will see all year

-Meet new people

-Go to the webhug

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Bongle

I've lost the original and forget how much this was sped up (probably about 10x), but here is a video of how long the walk is to the fields along the shorter red-carpet route:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSjKVDgnWwY

Gah!
Just watching that eleveated my heartbeat and it wasn't because of excitement.
I thought Houston was bad....

[dangerousdave]

Originally Posted by SPurekar

Does anyone have a video of the fireworks? I know it won't look as great at the original, but it's better than nothing. My team had to go back to the hotel and we missed it... I really wish I'd seen it, now that everyone says it was soo good.

I have never been as close to fireworks as I was at the Saturday night party in Centennial Olympic park in April, 2006. Fireworks casings (very small) were literally falling on me and our table. It was not a problem for anyone as far as I know but unexpected. It was an incredible show however! It was well integrated with the group, Rhythm Extreme, performing on stage prior to the fireworks.

Originally Posted by BRosser314

When I was there in 2004 for the first year of Nationals in Atlanta I was really overwhelmed as a Sophmore. Since I was a pit person I made that hike from the pits to the stands after every match, back then I remember being able to run or walk a t a very brisk pace.

You may remember that in 2004 the pits were not in the closest GWCC building (C) to the Georgia Dome so your walk would have been much longer. That was corrected in 2005. Yes it is still quite a hike when compared to regionals.

Dave

[wolfj]

I know that winning an award gets you into the nationals, but which awards do it? Is it all awards, or just winners, Rookie All Star, and Chairman's Award? And, does it get you in for just that season, or just one season, whenever you want? (I don't think it makes sense for it to be used any season, but someone told me that.) That's a lot of questions, but whatever.