Bills Blog- Yes, I’m already counting down to kickoff 2012

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Originally Posted by ouellet348

...Keep FRC on center stage where we belong, let FTC have their smaller stage as they are mini-FRC. Let FRC stay where it had for the past 19 years up until this one.

As someone who loves FIRST I understand wanting to show off FTC and make them feel special and integrated, but it can be done in safer better ways.

First I want to address your last comment, how is FTC in the dome not safe?
I think keeping FTC there side by side with FRC is a great thing. It allows FTC teams watch FRC teams compete while they are waiting in que or observing other matches while at their own world championship too. It gives them inspiration to see what else they can choose to achieve.

As for your first comment above, see my comments below, you may be surprised to see the fields were not separated from the pits until the move in 2003.
When I was in high school, the only "Main Event Field" that wasn't "in" the pits was the "TV Field". Back before 2003, before the event moved to the Astrodome in Houston, and consequently to Atlanta and now St. Louis, Championship fields were adjacent to the pits. I would say they were in the pits but some may argue they weren't. In EPCOT's parking lot, tents were erected to house the divisional fields and pits. These tents were adjacent to one another and the only thing separating the pits from the fields was a plastic drape wall. The main stage where opening, closing, and awards ceremonies were held was a couple football fields away from the "robot village" and surrounded by metal bleachers in the nice bright Florida sun. Before Florida [Pre 95], the competition was held as a single event per year in high school gyms. So to make a note on your comment, I would say this year FIRST did make a move towards what it had been in years previous for the Championship and I am excited to see some fields stay in the pits for years to come.

Also attached is the pit map from 2002, the red wording on the right, of the divisional names is where the fields were located. Notice Einstein was a division and Galileo had yet to exist.