Texas Registration 2014

[jee7s]

Expanding on Karthik's 2003 numbers, the 11 remaining teams are: 57, 118, 148, 231, 418, 457, 499, 624, 647, 653, and 704. However, none of those were rookies that year.

Per TheBlueAlliance and FIRST's info, here are the rookie year breakdowns for surviving teams who had a rookie season prior to 2009:

2008: 2468, 2583, 2587, 2613
2007: 2158
2006: 1801, 1817
2005: 1642
2004: 1255, 1296, 1477
2003: <none>
2002: <none>
2001: 499, 624, 647, 659, 704
2000: 418, 457
1999: 231
1998: 57
1997: 118
...
1992: 148

The current team numbering scheme didn't go into effect until 1998, as I recall. So, that's why 57 has a lower team number than 118 even though 118 has been around a year longer.

Maybe that was too much detail, but I think it definitely shows the drought was longer than just the 2005-2009 stretch.

The 2009 jump probably has to do with the state grant program. I think it was a Texas Workforce Commission grant program that ran from 2009 to 2011. I was still with FRC 41 back in NJ for the 2009 season, so some locals might have to correct me on that. Anyway, that program started a whole bunch of teams because schools could get registration money quickly and easily. It's sad to see that so few survived.