[FRC Blog] Frank Answers Fridays: June 7, 2013

[Kevin Leonard]

Originally Posted by Tetraman

I actually think having some districts in the CNY areas will greatly help FIRST in NY. There are toooonnnns of school just waiting for FIRST teams, but don't have the support that Rochester/NYC/Albany have.

I'm guessing: 2 in Rochester, 1 in Buffalo, 2 in/around Albany, 2 in/around NYC, 1 in Ithica, 2 in/around up north and the champs at the Carrier Dome at Syracuse University. (wishful thinking at least.)

Syracuse IS nicely situated between Albany and Rochester. ANd for most of the state, it's rather centrally located. However, it's a hike for NYC teams. I also know that many NYC teams don't have much funding, and going to three events (2 districts and the state champs) might be a lot for them.
The same can be said as an argument FOR districts, though- reducing the cost of doing events.
As it is, Long Island has a regional, and so does NYC. Replacing 2 regionals with 2 districts doesn't really work. I'd expect 4 or 5 districts there, 1/2 in/around Albany, 2 in Rochester, then one or two elsewhere in the state (Ithaca/Oneonta maybe?)


I don't know what's best for New York FIRST, but the way it is right now doesn't seem conducive to district play. The population center of NY First is still in the city, but having teams from Rochester travel to the city for the state championship wouldn't make sense. Traveling from the city up to Syracuse wouldn't make too much sense either. I suspect (and dread) that NY will be left out of districts for a number of years, and when they finally do come, either NY will have a greater FRC population density, or we'll be split into two districts- Upstate NY and Downstate NY. Downstate would include the city, long island, and the surrounding areas, and upstate would include the rest of the state.

Anyway, that's just my opinion.