Championship Location Rumor

[Raul]

The standing rumor is that the championship is not going to be at Epcot. The latest rumor is that it will be in a dome stadium and it is a dome that opens. And it will be in a city that already has a regional. That narrows it down to either Huston or Phoeniz. I will guess Phoeniz. We will know for sure within one week.

If this is true, we will soon find out which students are in FIRST for the right reasons and which are in it for a trip to Disney. I personally am tired of Disney and will welcome the change.

[Karthik]

I continue to hear Houston as a possibility.

If you look at the options that Raul mentioned, Houston and Phoenix, I think Houston has the lead for a few reasons.

- The hotel situation is marginally better in Houston
- Houston is a more central location
- There are more daily flights in and out of Houston's airport
- With NASA's connection to both the city of Houston and FIRST it seems natural

The latest rumor is that it will be in a dome stadium and it is a dome that opens.

If this is true there are a few more remote possibilities. Toronto's Skydome for one. I'm not sure if FIRST is ready to take nationals across the border, but a Torontonian can dream...

We'll see how all this plays out in the next few days. Although, for now I think Houston has become the front runner.

- Karthik

[Joe Matt]

We already have a thread about this lalalalalalala.

[Jeff Waegelin]

True, but this is a more focused point. It could go in the other thread, but it may not need to.

[Wayne C.]

assuming Houston is the choice- what off hour, accessible activities are there for large groups of students and how is the surface transportation?


what is the hotel situation near this "large domed stadium"- AKA the Astrodome?

Anybody have info to offer?

WC

[Karthik]

Check out this link for information on Hotels and other tourist issues in Houston.

http://www.houston-guide.com/press/tourism.htm

- Karthik (Hopes the cart isn't too far ahead of the horse)

[Andy Baker]

From what was posted above, here is my guess:

Reliant Complex in Houston


Andy B.

[WernerNYK]

Wow that place is really nice, I wouldnt mind going there :-)

[Kevin Sevcik]

argh! I told you people a year ago that Houston would be a great place to move nationals to. But nooo.... It's not Disney, and there's nothing to do, and what building in Houston could possibly be big enough to contain nationals?

Yeah, the Reliant Complex is cool. The new Reliant Convention Center is state-of-the-art and really huge. The only real problem is that the Rodeo is in town Feb. 25th to Mar. 16th. That could cause a few problems.... but on the plus side, its something fun for the kids to do.

Anywhos, I'm gonna laugh at you all if it is in Houston.

[Joe Matt]

Here's an idea!

WAIT FOR THE ANOUNCEMENT UNTILL YOU GLOAT!!!

So innoventive! So amazing!

[OneAngryDaisy]

Hmm...

I gotta admit that'd be phat... the only problem is the Texans built this stadium for them and themselves only- the turf in it is probably permanent... we could theoretically cover it all up.. but that'd be tough...

and what about pit areas? this place is about as big as 2 football fields- EPCOT was much bigger

[Madison]

Originally posted by Wayne C.
assuming Houston is the choice- what off hour, accessible activities are there for large groups of students and how is the surface transportation?


what is the hotel situation near this "large domed stadium"- AKA the Astrodome?

Anybody have info to offer?

WC

Six Flags Astroworld is across the 'street' (read: Interstate highway) from the Astrodome.
There is a bridge, so the surface transportation comes via Nike.

[Mike371]

Just curious, where did anyone hear Houston anyway, It just seems too small for the nationals. I think it will be back in epcot. It is one of the only places big enough to accomodate the nationals in the first place.

[Rob Colatutto]

my guess would be that the idea hosting area would be somewhere around michigan, they have a lot of hotels, and it is centralized better

[Kris Verdeyen]

Originally posted by Mike371
Just curious, where did anyone hear Houston anyway, It just seems too small for the nationals. I think it will be back in epcot. It is one of the only places big enough to accomodate the nationals in the first place.

Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States. Any NFL football stadium in the country would have more available space than what Epcot gave us, and the Astrodome/Reliant complex has two stadiums, an arena, and two huge exhibition halls.