Important Houston Things

[Ken Loyd]

I just finished reading 44 replies to the Championship announcement and no one spoke about what I feel are the important things. Since we will be in a football stadium:

1. How many playing fields will there be

2. How far away will the pits be?

3. Will you be able to see the fields from the stands?

4. What happens if our robot does not make it from LA the week before?

5. Will the Championships be open to all teams?

6. Will there be four divisions?

7. Is there still Astro Turf in the Astro Dome?

More questions coming.

Ken Loyd
Team 64

[Kevin Sevcik]

I don't know that we'll necessarily be competing in the Stadium the entire time. The announcement specifically said the action packed elimination rounds. Perhaps only the finals will happen in the Stadium? Something like this would make more sense to me, as pit space, field location, etc, seems like it would be problematic in the Stadium.

As for the surface, the Astrodome has Astroturf over a concrete floor. The new Reliant Stadium has some sort of new, engineered grass or fake grass (not sure which) that can be picked up in large sections to reveal concrete underneath. So either way, we'd be playing on concrete.

[Mike Schroeder]

Thank you Ken, We have NJ the week before aswell and i am wondering if our team shows up and the bot doesnt

[Ashley Weed]

Originally posted by "Big Mike"
Thank you Ken, We have NJ the week before aswell and i am wondering if our team shows up and the bot doesnt

I am more worried that the robot will show up but I won't be there in time to drive it.

[Wayne C.]

It makes no sense to worry about these things which are out of our control. I too am concerned that our machine won't get to Houston in time from the regional the weekend before but apparently FIRST must have a plan or they wouldn't have allowed the date. And they never give the layout of the venue until much closer to the event time.

I doubt they are going to open the field to all teams right away. They still have 238 teams posted on the event list for the Championships. That is less than the Nationals for the past few years. That kind of contradicts Dean's radio interview which stated that "we outgrew the Disney venue". So your guess is as good as mine. I'd like to see 500+. More robots to take on!!!

I bet we will see the fields better in this venue than we did at Disney. A professional stadium is made for that and the seating should be more organized. And maybe the press can work from an aerial position rather than as an impenetrable wall right in front of the crowd like they always did at Archimedes!!!

Houston = good!! We go have good time and play robot games!!
And if Weedie cant drive we can lend a drive team if needed-

WC

[Jnadke]

Originally posted by Ken Loyd
3. Will you be able to see the fields from the stands?

I call 'dibs Skybox!


I wonder if we get to use the JumboTron


In reality, much of the seating in Reliant Stadium is on the 1st level... that is, if the competition is even in the Stadium. I'm sure you'll easily be able to see the field (s).

[RBrandy]

Im sure FIRST has thought of all these things. If they havent we would have a date, and location yet...

[ChrisH]

Originally posted by Ken Loyd


4. What happens if our robot does not make it from LA the week before?

I'm not particularly concerned about this. For the past two years we have had back to back regionals. They have always had a special truck for robots that were going to the next event and four days is plenty of time to go from LA to Houston. I'd be more concerned if we were going from Houston to NH. At least this way weather isn't much of a factor.

[Mark Pierce]

Originally posted by ChrisH


At least this way weather isn't much of a factor.

Those of us coming from Grand Rapids aren't quite that lucky, but this is April, so weather usually shouldn't be an issue.

I don't think only a week apart will be a problem in transporting equipment. After all, most of the fields are shipped to a different location every week. Even with the blizzard two years ago, the West Michigan Regional went off with out a hitch. As I've said before, FIRST will work very hard to see that things go great.



West Michigan 2001

[Elgin Clock]

So if they had Mandy Moore on the bill last year at Disney, just think who they could have play in a place like Houston!!

I want to see ZZ-Top play!!!!!!!
That's about as "country" as I can take!!!

JUMBOTRON HERE WE COME!!!

[Robert B]

I would like to predict that the pits and playing fields will all be on the floor of the Astrodome. The pits in the center and the playing fields placed near the edges by the seats.