Championship 2014 Proposal

[JohnSchneider]

Originally Posted by Lil' Lavery

Atlanta actually has a lower crime rate than St. Louis.
http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/ga/atlanta/crime/
http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/mo/st-louis/crime/

When Atlanta was home to championships it had the title of "Most dangerous city in america". As soon as we moved to St. Louis, the title transferred. Coincidence?

[JohnFogarty]

The Championship needs to move back to Atlanta. This all I'm going to say.

[BrendanB]

Originally Posted by animenerdjohn

When Atlanta was home to championships it had the title of "Most dangerous city in america". As soon as we moved to St. Louis, the title transferred. Coincidence?

All those crazy teenagers walking around Atlanta trying to "Save the world" looking like gang members with their attire.


That could do it!

[JohnFogarty]

Also, I've heard through the grapevine that FTC is going to expand to a Super Regional/District Level competition before championships because of how much larger the program is than FRC now.

[Siri]

Originally Posted by John_1102

Also, I've heard through the grapevine that FTC is going to expand to a Super Regional/District Level competition before championships because of how much larger the program is than FRC now.

FTC is actually smaller than FRC, with slightly fewer teams but less than half the number of students. It does have a few dozen more events; nothing overwhelming, but if the logistics and fees work out for them, the more play the better. Does that mean fewer FTC teams at championships, or will it be a FRC-district type "equivalent" qualification?

[Cory]

Originally Posted by Hallry

Has anyone encountered (or heard of other teams encountering) dangerous situations in St. Louis?

That would probably require them to actually encounter people in St Louis, which we have never really seen.

[Jonathan Norris]

Originally Posted by Cory

That would probably require them to actually encounter people in St Louis, which we have never really seen.

Yea thats the main thing that I've always been disappointed by St. Louis is how quiet and empty Downtown is during Championship, and how few good restaurants and amenities there are in the area. Its a clean city and I never felt in danger, but coming from a city like Toronto where people actually live downtown it's... well... different....

[dodar]

Originally Posted by animenerdjohn

When Atlanta was home to championships it had the title of "Most dangerous city in america". As soon as we moved to St. Louis, the title transferred. Coincidence?

Detroit is actually the Most Dangerous City in America. St. Louis is ranked 2nd and Atlanta is ranked 7th.

[Undertones]

In St. Louis last year, there were several times that I had to cross the street to avoid less then friendly individuals and was offered drugs on a few occasions. I was surprised at how little I saw St. Louis PD. I can handle myself and at no time did I feel in danger - but the possibility exists.

[Crazyboy]

Originally Posted by themagic8ball

I think 400 teams is the max we will ever see at championships. In fact, I can see FIRST implementing super regionals, and then having a much more intimate championship event only inviting the best of the best. Logistics become much easier, and just qualifying for championships becomes a prize in itself.

I don't like the sounds of that. Half the point of Worlds as it stands is getting all the teams together, the atmosphere. I agree on the max 400 teams, but "super regionals" is just another financial barrier between teams and a world title.

[Nemo]

Originally Posted by Siri

FTC is actually smaller than FRC, with slightly fewer teams but less than half the number of students. It does have a few dozen more events; nothing overwhelming, but if the logistics and fees work out for them, the more play the better. Does that mean fewer FTC teams at championships, or will it be a FRC-district type "equivalent" qualification?

One of the things to keep in mind is that FTC only gets 100 teams in two divisions at the Championship. That's one of the reasons that only the alliance *captain* of the winning alliance usually qualifies for the championship, which sucks. FTC should get 200 teams in four divisions. Their pits and fields don't take up as much room as FRC. Maybe that could be squeezed in.

[Alex2614]

Originally Posted by OZ_341

Our last year in Atlanta 2010, we were approached 3 times by different characters on the street. All 3 were dangerous situations. I grew up in Philly, so I know the difference.
The last incident happened about 5 blocks from the CNN Center, when two nuts with a Taser approached our group. We circled the wagons and silently stood our ground, so they got bored and left. I swore right then that we would never return to Atlanta as a team. I am ultimately responsible for ensuring the safety of my students.

You think any city is completely safe? Everybody has different experiences. We never had a problem in Atlanta, but the second we got to St. Louis (quite literally) in 2011 we felt completely insecure based on the number of "characters" that had approached the team.

Here in our little quaint city of Morgantown, I've had some very interesting and scary interactions, but does that mean that Morgantown is a bad place and completely unsafe? No, it doesn't.

The point is, ANY large city is going to have crime, and logistics in such cities as far as keeping the kids safe is going to be extremely difficult. Yes, some cities are better than others (I will never take a group of high school students to NYC, for example, not because of the crime, but other complications I have experienced).

Each and every one of us has had different experiences. Some of us have had problems in STL and not in ATL, and some have had exactly the opposite. If everybody had similar instances in the same city EVERY time they were there, that would be a different story.

[Siri]

Originally Posted by Nemo

One of the things to keep in mind is that FTC only gets 100 teams in two divisions at the Championship. That's one of the reasons that only the alliance *captain* of the winning alliance usually qualifies for the championship, which sucks. FTC should get 200 teams in four divisions. Their pits and fields don't take up as much room as FRC. Maybe that could be squeezed in.

I've always figured this as a more logical answer than another qualification level. FTC isn't larger the FRC by any means--it doesn't need to weed down the field further, it just needs the same Worlds bids that FRC gets. (200 teams seems like a lot for each division from an FRC standpoint, but I guess if it works for FTC so much the better.)


St. Louis definitely does pose risks, particularly if you have to walk to your hotel at night. I don't think Al disagrees with you, Alex. It's just a reminder for everyone to be safe. Don't people's fortunate experiences not having problems allow you to let your guard down. You might, you might not. This applies everywhere.

[Nemo]

Originally Posted by Siri

I've always figured this as a more logical answer than another qualification level. FTC isn't larger the FRC by any means--it doesn't need to weed down the field further, it just needs the same Worlds bids that FRC gets. (200 teams seems like a lot for each division from an FRC standpoint, but I guess if it works for FTC so much the better.)

FTC has 100 total teams: 50 teams each in two divisions. I'm suggesting four divisions of 50 each for 200 total.

I'm not sure it's necessary to equalize FRC bids with FTC bids; deciding what's equal would depend on whether you want to equalize space, percent of teams qualifying, total number of student members qualifying, etc. But I do feel that FTC's piece of the championship pie seems too small compared to the size of the program.

Edit: and I can only imagine how FLL teams feel...

[Iaquinto.Joe]

Originally Posted by dodar

Detroit is actually the Most Dangerous City in America. St. Louis is ranked 2nd and Atlanta is ranked 7th.

MSC is just too powerful.