FRC Blogged-Something New--Early Release of Event Dates

[kmusa]

Originally Posted by Taylor

*some say anything south of I-80 is Southern Illinois

Not as bad as New York, where anything north of the city is considered "Upstate".

If it is held in Champaign, there's always the Black Dog Smoke & Ale House. Yum!

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by EricH

Good to see that out-of-normal-area teams can opt into the district system.

If this is the case in some regions but not others, I think that's absolutely outrageous. We're looking to spend more money and travel more in a year because FIRST said we couldn't join the district members of our area have competed in for over two decades, but there are different rules for PNW?

What I think is more likely, sadly, is that local organizers are pushing for this rule but haven't heard a rejection of the idea from FIRST yet.

Originally Posted by safiq10

I say the most interesting event is going to be the FIRST TECH VALLEY its a mini CMP. You got the best from the Palmetto, Wisconsin, Pittsburgh, and Hub city. its the battle of the cardinal directions

I'm definitely super excited for a strong small regional to develop not two blocks from my house. I've heard of interest from Palmetto and Pittsburgh teams, as well as a small number looking to come from MAR or FINE. I hope they all have a chance to come, but I'm curious - who's coming from Wisconsin? I'd be thrilled to see a Wisconsin team all the way out here, but it's quite the drive (easily 12 hours minimum) so I don't have great expectations.

Originally Posted by Gregor

Why would people want to make the treck to northern New York?

It's not really "northern" New York - it's kinda more like east central NY, but it is "upstate" in that it's not part of the NYC metropolitan area I guess.

[Mark McLeod]

Originally Posted by kmusa

If it is held in Champaign, there's always the Black Dog Smoke & Ale House. Yum!

I just had dinner there last night!

[Navid Shafa]

Originally Posted by Andrew Lawrence

Pacific Northwest district? Interesting. Seems like it's only Oregon + Washington, though I wouldn't think there is enough team density in those areas to get a district to themselves.

Washington and Oregon had 156 active teams in 2013 and is projecting growth to 185-200 teams in the 2014 season.

Originally Posted by sst.thad

Also even if I took away my bias from living in portland im glad the championship is here. Ive been to many of the venues that have held NW events over the years, and i've always felt the Coliseum was a better venue in terms of both seating and pit locations and mappings.

I may not be the farthest team from the Coliseum, but it's still a drive. Even so, I couldn't think of a better venue to host it.

Originally Posted by khanh111

PNW will many more tough teams from now on. 1983 won't be alone in the top rankings at World!

After simulating the district rankings for this year, It certainly is apparent that there are many teams who would be strong competitors at champs. I'm really excited to see how PNW Champs play out!

Originally Posted by omsahmad

But you're right, Idaho has some top notch teams too. Team Tators (2122) and Alpha+ (2130) for example always perform outstandingly.

Originally Posted by Karthik

Would teams from Alberta be able to opt in? Right now with PNW going to districts, it's quite the trek for an Alberta team to find a second regional. (Even the PNW events are pretty far.)

It is a bit of a bummer, I’m definitely going to miss 2122 and 2130. I also really enjoyed getting to meet 4334 in Seattle this year.

Originally Posted by Chris is me

If this is the case in some regions but not others, I think that's absolutely outrageous. We're looking to spend more money and travel more in a year because FIRST said we couldn't join the district members of our area have competed in for over two decades, but there are different rules for PNW?
What I think is more likely, sadly, is that local organizers are pushing for this rule but haven't heard a rejection of the idea from FIRST yet.

So you would have wished that others couldn't have the opportunity, just because you weren't able to...?

I understand where FIRST is coming from, but I especially feel bad for our close friends in Idaho. I hope that FIRST is able to come up with a solution to district borders soon, seeing how restrictive it is becoming.

On a less discouraging note, I am super excited to see several new events pop up in close proximity to my house! It's astounding to think how fast Washington (and Oregon) have grown!

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by Navid Shafa

So you would have wished that others couldn't have the opportunity, just because you weren't able to...?

Not exactly - if one region allowed it I would be petitioning FIRST to make the rules consistent across all regions. I wouldn't want to actively deny anyone something they had just because my team doesn't have that opportunity. I also doubted that special permission for particular teams was going to happen at all based on statements from and about FIRST HQ's position on the matter.

[Navid Shafa]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

Not exactly - if one region allowed it I would be petitioning FIRST to make the rules consistent across all regions. I wouldn't want to actively deny anyone something they had just because my team doesn't have that opportunity. I also doubted that special permission for particular teams was going to happen at all based on statements from and about FIRST HQ's position on the matter.

I am all for the unification of district policy and play, I was just hoping that PNW FIRST might be able to make changes for the better, even if it was unlikely FIRST HQ would approve.

[dodar]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

Not exactly - if one region allowed it I would be petitioning FIRST to make the rules consistent across all regions. I wouldn't want to actively deny anyone something they had just because my team doesn't have that opportunity. I also doubted that special permission for particular teams was going to happen at all based on statements from and about FIRST HQ's position on the matter.

Then that reasoning could be used for every team not in a District System. Why do some teams get a district advantage and others don't?

This is a devil's advocate post not a literal gripe post.

[BJC]

Originally Posted by dodar

Then that reasoning could be used for every team not in a District System. Why do some teams get a district advantage and others don't?

This is a devil's advocate post not a literal gripe post.

...because sometimes life's not fair. Frank blogged that they would have a solution to this for 2015. As irritating as it may be for some teams, this upcoming season will be the last time it's an issue. These last few transition years have been tricky in several ways with FIRST making gradual changes each year towards the district system. Thankfully, these changes will make FIRST far more stable and cost efficient as it continues to grow.

[Akash Rastogi]

Originally Posted by Navid Shafa

So you would have wished that others couldn't have the opportunity, just because you weren't able to...?

Chris did not say this at all.

The Idaho/Montana/etc teams would feel the same way if they heard similar rumors about the Mid-Atlantic and New England districts.

[mwibbels]

We have had a great time playing with the PNW teams over the last 6 years and look forward to the opportunity to do it again soon.

Of the teams in the mountain west - those close to Boise don't seem to be as challenged by the district boundary rules as 2130 and 4334. Personally think that it should be possible to develop and publish a hardship criteria based on travel distance/cost (in the short term) that would allow teams to compete within a district that are outside of the boundary.

For now, it looks likely we will be revisiting friends in California or making new ones in Nevada or Colorado.

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

To clarify some earlier discussion in this thread - today's blog confirms that no teams located outside of a district will be able to "opt-in" to any district. Not unexpected, but this clears up some of the confusion with the PNW region.

Precisely why I originally questioned the term "opt-in". I simply couldn't imagine it being so.

Originally Posted by dodar

Then that reasoning could be used for every team not in a District System. Why do some teams get a district advantage and others don't?

This is a devil's advocate post not a literal gripe post.

Really, it comes down to the volunteer base. IF folks want to get the "district advantage"* they have to work for it. Win friends and influence people and all that.

* Just 2 years ago districts were seen as an awful horrible fate to be avoided at all costs. Now see where we are...