Cost of going to Championship

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Gregor

FIRST would not waive your entry fee, maybe a third party payed it for you.

As far as I know, waiving the Einstein team's entry fee was unprecedented.

What happened on Einstein last year was unprecedented.

[Gregor]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

What happened on Einstein last year was unprecedented.

Exactly. Future Einstein teams, don't expect free registration*.

*unless this is a new thing, that would be cool

[Libby K]

Originally Posted by Gregor

Exactly. Future Einstein teams, don't expect free registration*.

*unless this is a new thing, that would be cool

It would NOT be cool, because it would mean Einstein was sabotaged again.

The FIRST community is better than that.

Unless you mean Einstein-winning teams getting their registration paid.... They already get invited. I honestly don't think there's a reason to - as mentioned above me, the reason their registration is paid this year is because FIRST wasn't able to make it right any other way after-the-fact.

Knocking on wood, and crossing my fingers, and wishing, and believing that nothing like 2012 will ever happen again.

[Clinton Bolinger]

My understanding is that 548 was on the list to go to the Championship this year. Then some time during the season was removed from that list. I do not know why they were removed.

-Clinton-

[AlbatrossAgain]

Originally Posted by Clinton Bolinger

My understanding is that 548 was on the list to go to the Championship this year. Then some time during the season was removed from that list. I do not know why they were removed.

-Clinton-

That is too bad, maybe there was some issue with students missing school. I guess you have to consider that it means one more spot was opened up for another team, so in the end FIRST still wins.

Judging by some of the other responses here it seems like qualifying for the championship is a small part of the challenge compared to getting funding to go.

[woodk]

It cost us about $24,000 last year ... $5,000 registration, $10,000 coach and $9,000 hotel. This year we are saving a lot on hotel costs by staying further away, so it will be about $21,000.

[Chi Meson]

We have 20 students and 10 mentors going. Mentors are paying their own way, and students are paying $400 each. Our total air fare (mentors tickets included) is about $9500. Our hotel cost is $3500 (we're kind of packing ourselves into each room--not so much to save money, but because there were no more rooms!). Everyone is also responsible for their own food costs.

[Metalcrafters]

207 withdrew from the champs with much hesitation and entered Inland Empire all due to costs. We spent approx 25K+ last year. Worth every penny, this year we had the hard choice of looking to the future.
We are looking to step up next year and play two CA regionals and win a berth back to the champs as we gave up our berth this year.
Travel and lodging is the limiting factor. But the small costs add up such as shipping as we pack too much in our crate and have extra shipping costs replenishing pit supplies, upgrades/repairs, or just maintenance.

Champs = Big$$$ but well worth the effort.

[Jimmy Nichols]

Our costs last year were:

Charter bus = $5125
Hotel = $12724 - 9 Quads, 3 Triples, 5 Doubles, 1 Single at the Millenium for 4 nights.
Registration = $5000

Total = $22,849

This year, if qualified was going to cost:

Charter bus = $4500
Hotel = $9339 10 Quads, 2 Triples, 5 Doubles, 1 Single at Holiday Inn Express near the airport
Registration = $5000

Total = $18839

The students and mentors pay a travel fee to cover the bus and hotel as well as their own food expenses.