2011 Minnesota Kick-Off Event?

[ehochstein]

So over the past few weeks I have been checking the FIRST website for updates on kick-off events waiting for the Minnesota Kick-off event to appear, but to this date there still isn't one My question is: does anyone know if there is going the be a MN kick-off event this year?

Also I checked mnfirstregional.org and found nothing there?

Any info would be helpful!

[Vikesrock]

I don't have any inside knowledge at this point, but I can pretty much guarantee there will be a Minnesota Kickoff. The question is not whether or not there will be one, but how many and what will the capacity of each be.

Mark Lawrence is likely hard at work figuring out which University of Minnesota facilities are available and what the capacity of the event there will be. There may also be an additional kickoff event somewhere in order to support the rapidly growing number of Minnesota teams.

[Steve G.]

I saw on the FIRST Robotics page the date for the Minnesota Kick-off Event is January 08 2011.

[ehochstein]

Originally Posted by Steve G.

I saw on the FIRST Robotics page the date for the Minnesota Kick-off Event is January 08 2011.

What page are you looking at? I am looking here:
http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr....aspx?id=10406

Originally Posted by Vikesrock

I don't have any inside knowledge at this point, but I can pretty much guarantee there will be a Minnesota Kickoff. The question is not whether or not there will be one, but how many and what will the capacity of each be.

Mark Lawrence is likely hard at work figuring out which University of Minnesota facilities are available and what the capacity of the event there will be. There may also be an additional kickoff event somewhere in order to support the rapidly growing number of Minnesota teams.

Thanks for the info Vikesrock!

[Vikesrock]

Originally Posted by Wiifi

Thanks for the info Vikesrock!

No problem. There are just too many teams for there not to be a kickoff in the area.

Like I said I don't have any recent inside info, but the last I heard a few months ago the plan was still an event at the University of MN with a very similar setup to this past year with a possible additional kickoff event somewhere else to accommodate the team growth. One likely possibility for a second kickoff would be the Duluth area to be closer to teams in the northern part of the state and coinciding with the new regional.

[ehochstein]

I think that sounds like a great idea for teams! I am glad we have such growth in Minnesota, that we keep needing to increase the size of our events to hold everyone! I think it would be really cool if the University of Minnesota in Duluth got involved more too.

[Bryan Herbst]

Originally Posted by Wiifi

I think that sounds like a great idea for teams! I am glad we have such growth in Minnesota, that we keep needing to increase the size of our events to hold everyone! I think it would be really cool if the University of Minnesota in Duluth got involved more too.

Like everyone else, I have no solid info. However, I believe they are exploring their hosting options. Anyone who was at last year's MN kickoff (and years prior) will know that Northrop isn't going to be able to sustain us much longer. They already had to split up KOP distribution and the telecast into to locations.

Additionally, Northrop will be undergoing construction beginning in January if the U gets funding. This would actually shrink the auditorium.

Hopefully Mark is working on finding a better location!

mnfirstregional.org has generally been slow to update, and I'm sure that the absence of any Minnesota regionals on the list is a typo or something.

I looked at the overall regional information and 10000 Lakes and Northstar were both listed. I think they just need to update it.


Thaine

[Jeff Pahl]

There will be at least one kickoff in MN, possibly more. Details are still being worked out. Construction at Northrop is indeed presenting some challenges, but I do know Mark Lawrence is working on kickoff planning. I'm sure there will be information forthcoming shortly. Don't panic and sign up to go to Milwaukee for kick off just yet

[Jeff Pahl]

From the email from Mark Lawrence to MN team contacts last night:

The Kickoff is moving to several venues this year because of the closing of Northrop Auditorium. Kickoff locations will be statewide utilizing Coffman Union, St. Cloud State Univ., Duluth East HS, and a couple of other locations (TBD). Details will follow soon and be online for event registration in the middle of the month. We’ll need your cooperation in attending a Kickoff close to your location. Kit of Parts will be shipped to the Kickoff location that you attend.

Thanks, Mark Lawrence
Chairman, MN FIRST Planning Committee