Where is gonna be located the 2014-2015 Championship?

[ehochstein]

Originally Posted by pntbll1313

MN would be a bad choice at the moment. Target Field is outdoors and for those that don't know it snowed here yesterday. I wouldn't want my robot to be covered with snow... They are in the process of tearing down and building a new stadium where the Metrodome is. I think that will be done 2016 so maybe we'll be back in the discussion after that.

We have multiple venues that could hold parts of the championship event but they are all too far apart.

Minneapolis Convention Center (no stadium)

River Centre (Hockey arena is too small)

Metrodome (No space for pits)

I simply do not see a space for champs in Minneapolis, unless the new stadium is within range of the Minneapolis Convention Center.

[Boe]

Originally Posted by Wiifi

We have multiple venues that could hold parts of the championship event but they are all too far apart.

Minneapolis Convention Center (no stadium)

River Centre (Hockey arena is too small)

Metrodome (No space for pits)

I simply do not see a space for champs in Minneapolis, unless the new stadium is within range of the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Unfortunatly i think your right
it would be awesome if champs came to MN but i dont see the space in the twin cities. If anyone does please tell me where.

actually on second thought what about duluth at the DECC. The space is massive, if FIRST could use ALL of the halls there i bet champs could fit. hech there were two regonals there this year and they ddnt use at least two or three of the halls (where all of the curling stuff is) plus the piits were very spaced out if arranged as tightly as st louis it could probably work.

My vote goes for Duluth Champs 2015

[ehochstein]

Originally Posted by Boe

actually on second thought what about duluth at the DECC. The space is massive, if FIRST could use ALL of the halls there i bet champs could fit. hech there were two regonals there this year and they ddnt use at least two or three of the halls (where all of the curling stuff is) plus the piits were very spaced out if arranged as tightly as st louis it could probably work.

My vote goes for Duluth Champs 2015

No seating space 6,742 seats for a 30k person event

[Racer26]

Originally Posted by marandola316

I think open air Championships in a stadium with a retractable roof would be amazing. Unless it is raining of course.

You mean like the Rogers Center (#SkyDomeForever!) and MTCC combination in Toronto, ON?

[jessss]

Originally Posted by Boe

actually on second thought what about duluth at the DECC. The space is massive, if FIRST could use ALL of the halls there i bet champs could fit. hech there were two regonals there this year and they ddnt use at least two or three of the halls (where all of the curling stuff is) plus the piits were very spaced out if arranged as tightly as st louis it could probably work.

My vote goes for Duluth Champs 2015

The difficult thing about Duluth is it's so far out of the way. MSP is about 2 hours away from Duluth I don't think people want to drive from Minneapolis to Duluth, or take another plane to Duluth. Transportation would be very difficult to Duluth, if it was in the cities it would be easier.

Sadly I don't think anywhere else in Minnesota would host the Championship Event. It would be cool though with the 180 Minnesota teams.

[Batterink]

Originally Posted by Racer26

You mean like the Rogers Center (#SkyDomeForever!) and MTCC combination in Toronto, ON?

That would be awesome. I'm not sure on how feasible it would be to get robots from the MTCC to the SkyDome though.

[Patrick Flynn]

Originally Posted by IndySam

Indianapolis host the annual FFA convention which makes the championship look small. We know how to get people downtown.

Would you be able to comment on how the convention center is connected to Lucas Oil stadium?
On their website it says, "Now, we’ve connected that stadium to the expanded Indiana Convention Center—doubling its size and creating one of the nation’s largest convention centers."

Would it be possible for robots to traverse this connection in a reasonable amount of time?

[Racer26]

Originally Posted by Batterink

That would be awesome. I'm not sure on how feasible it would be to get robots from the MTCC to the SkyDome though.

About as feasible as getting people from MTCC to SkyDome during Autoshow. Its not THAT bad.

[MrTechCenter]

I think that eventually FIRST will make Champs harder to qualify for, making space less of a problem.

[sgreco]

Originally Posted by Racer26

You mean like the Rogers Center (#SkyDomeForever!) and MTCC combination in Toronto, ON?

It would be cool to have it in Canada, but I'm not sure how well that would works seeing as the Blue Jays schedule would have to be arranged around it. No chance the MLB rearranges it's schedule to accommodate the FIRST Championships.

[IndySam]

Originally Posted by Patrick Flynn

Would you be able to comment on how the convention center is connected to Lucas Oil stadium?
On their website it says, "Now, we’ve connected that stadium to the expanded Indiana Convention Center—doubling its size and creating one of the nation’s largest convention centers."

Would it be possible for robots to traverse this connection in a reasonable amount of time?

The problem is they are not on the same level. Stairs or an elevator would be involved. I do not know their plan to overcome this obstacle.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Racer26

You mean like the Rogers Center (#SkyDomeForever!) and MTCC combination in Toronto, ON?

I don't think the Blue Jays would feel very inclinded to share their field with us at this time of year.

[Lil' Lavery]

Originally Posted by Aiyash

Cobo Hall and the Joe Louis Arena? Go Detroit!

The Red Wings tend to be using the Joe in late April.

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

I don't think the Blue Jays would feel very inclinded to share their field with us at this time of year.

Far more likely than all the NHL/NBA arenas (given the playoff time frame). You can easily schedule a road trip in the regular season. We'd occupy the space for just under a week, or basically two series on the road. Hardly even a road trip worth mentioning.

[Jonathan Norris]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

I don't think the Blue Jays would feel very inclinded to share their field with us at this time of year.

Yea the MTCC/SkyDome would be a great location for championship in terms of Transit/Hotels/Restaurants/Attractions in the area. But there really isn't a connection between MTCC and Skydome that would work for moving people/robots. Also the majority of MTCC's floor space is a couple levels underground... moving robots in elevators wouldn't be fun. There is also that whole passport issue

Its my understanding that the MTCC is going to go under a massive renovation in the next 5 years (It desperately needs it).

For me St. Louis/Indy/Houston/Atlanta are the front runners.

[neshera]

Let's have CMP at Lawrence North! But seriously:
If I recall correctly, every year at IRI there is a city council member/alderman, who has explained that he feels Indianapolis wants, and has the facilities, for Champs - Lucas stadium and the convention center. He makes a compelling argument.
Although geographically central for the continental US, (and very convenient for our team!), I think Indianapolis is not geographically central for FIRST teams. If I understand correctly, our geographic center is a bit farther North.

So here's a project for someone with time on their hands: set up a map/algorithm that shows all FRC teams, and calculates their "center of gravity".