FRC Blogged - ‘Hockey State’? Not so fast….

[moogboy]

Note to self: Minnesota is a good place to consider living in if for nothing other than the presence of so many FIRST teams!

Y'all have snow, right?

[Jon Stratis]

For all those who were wondering about that last paragraph...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6F3AoGITxYQ

[Bryan Herbst]

Originally Posted by moogboy

Note to self: Minnesota is a good place to consider living in if for nothing other than the presence of so many FIRST teams!

Y'all have snow, right?

More than you could possibly want.

We've been getting a lot of great press up here this year for surpassing the number of boys varsity hockey teams. I was thrilled to see it on the blog too!

[ehochstein]

Originally Posted by moogboy

Note to self: Minnesota is a good place to consider living in if for nothing other than the presence of so many FIRST teams!

Y'all have snow, right?

Lots of snow. Team 3313 did a traVlog when they came to visit the regional, they give a brief overview of how much snow we got

[PayneTrain]

Does anyone mind sharing Minnesota's big secret to success? They are a middling state for population but off the top of my head I believe they are only behind California, Michigan, and Texas on team count.

[Mark Sheridan]

I can't believe how much minnesota has grown in FRC over the last few years. If California had the same team density (versus population), California would have over 1000 teams.

Congratulations minnesota on your success.


Now for the next goal: there are 447 high school football teams in minnesota.

[Jon Stratis]

Originally Posted by PayneTrain

Does anyone mind sharing Minnesota's big secret to success? They are a middling state for population but off the top of my head I believe they are only behind California, Michigan, and Texas on team count.

Actually, we're ahead of Texas... they're only at 142 teams

A large part of the reason we're doing so well is all the sponsors we have locally. There are a huge number of companies headquartered here, like Target, 3M, Best Buy, etc. We also have three of the largest medical device companies within a 5 mile radius, and well over 100 other medical products companies in the cities. Sponsorship from so many great companies certainly helps.

We also do everything we can to make sure teams return every year. If I counted correctly, we lost only 1 team this year, and they merged with another one. We have a great volunteer dedicated to finding teams money when they really need it... if you earn a spot at champs, he usually has found you some money (often from your primary sponsor) before you've left the building!

Also, we have great students, like this Dean's List Finalist from my team this year! She single-handedly got funding for our team and three others from a new-to-FIRST sponsor last year!

[Carol]

How much support do you get from the state government? I've seen a lot of growth is programs like FIRST when the government is behind it - and the opposite as well.

[Jon Stratis]

I don't personally know how much support we get from the state/local governments. We have congresspeople on video at each regional, but I think that's fairly normal, and I think we've gotten a robot or two into the local capital building for demonstrations. Last year we were also recognized by the The Minnesota State High School League, setting up our own state championship, which occurs after Champs in St. Louis... it can confuse some people at Champs when Minnesota teams are bagging up their robots before taking them home!

[Bryan Herbst]

Originally Posted by Carol

How much support do you get from the state government? I've seen a lot of growth is programs like FIRST when the government is behind it - and the opposite as well.

Monetarily, I don't believe the regionals get anything (I know teams don't). The elected officials often show up at events (live or via pre-recorded video) to show their support though. They are definitely aware of us and support us.

[Travis Hoffman]

Psssh. The first ever "double regional" "exhibition" of two separate field winners was the 2004 Canadian Regional Finals, and it wasn't an exhibition - it was real.

Eighth finals, baby!

[jvriezen]

Originally Posted by Carol

How much support do you get from the state government? I've seen a lot of growth is programs like FIRST when the government is behind it - and the opposite as well.

I have heard that the double regional on the U of M campus doesn't charge FIRST for the venues (as long as they are scheduled during U of M Spring break) and the U of M gets lots of State money.

Our school district doesn't give us money, but does give us the build space, insurance coverage, and teacher days away from school for regionals.

[JohnChristensen]

Originally Posted by jvriezen

I have heard that the double regional on the U of M campus doesn't charge FIRST for the venues (as long as they are scheduled during U of M Spring break) and the U of M gets lots of State money.

The last two years of FIRST events in the Twin Cities have not been during the UMN Spring Break. This years events are not over break either. Are you sure that the CSE Dean does not get them for free as long as they don't interfere with Hockey and Basketball Schedules?

[jvriezen]

Originally Posted by JohnChristensen

The last two years of FIRST events in the Twin Cities have not been during the UMN Spring Break. This years events are not over break either. Are you sure that the CSE Dean does not get them for free as long as they don't interfere with Hockey and Basketball Schedules?

You may be correct. Which is why they are often on Easter weekend, perhaps.

[Bryan Herbst]

Originally Posted by JohnChristensen

The last two years of FIRST events in the Twin Cities have not been during the UMN Spring Break. This years events are not over break either. Are you sure that the CSE Dean does not get them for free as long as they don't interfere with Hockey and Basketball Schedules?

I've never gotten a solid answer, but I believe the deal is actually that the regionals get the venues for the price that a UMN department would get them for (or close). I am fairly certain they are not free.