2014 Virginia Regional

[brrian27]

Team 2383, the Ninjineers, are excited to be traveling all the way from sunny South Florida!!

This is our first out-of-state regional, and we are ready!

Are there any tips or things we should know about the Regional?

[kjohnson]

Originally Posted by brrian27

Are there any tips or things we should know about the Regional?

The biggest this is that no outside food is allowed in the venue. Prepare to have your bags checked for food/drinks by venue security. Equipment entering pits through the loading dock has been checked in the past as well.

Speaking of the loading dock, it's actually a steep ramp. Make sure anyone rolling equipment down has a partner.

[liviamarrs]

Team 422 is excited to be one of the six teams celebrating its 15th anniversary with VirginiaFIRST this weekend at the Virginia Regional! It's wonderful to think that some of our team members have been alive for less time than VirginiaFIRST and our team have been working on spreading STEM and conveying the message of FIRST!

[PayneTrain]

Originally Posted by nukemknight

The biggest this is that no outside food is allowed in the venue. Prepare to have your bags checked for food/drinks by venue security. Equipment entering pits through the loading dock has been checked in the past as well.

Speaking of the loading dock, it's actually a steep ramp. Make sure anyone rolling equipment down has a partner.

To recap...

Things you can bring into the Siegel Center: knives, scissors, drills, powered saws

Things you can't bring into the Siegel Center: Bottled water, Sugar Shack Donuts (located on the opposite corner of Lombardy and Leigh as Maggie Walker, just a few blocks away. They're awesome)

[pyroslev]

Originally Posted by brrian27

Are there any tips or things we should know about the Regional?

The Kroger Parking Lot next door may seem like a great place to park for free but I discourage it. They are not FIRST friendly so be sure of your parking arrangements.

And do not exclaim "Robot!" in the process of moving your robot as a request. Something more apropos is a person in front of the cart clearing a path. "Excuse me." works far better. Just a request.

[wilsonmw04]

Originally Posted by pyroslev

The Kroger Parking Lot next door may seem like a great place to park for free but I discourage it. They are not FIRST friendly so be sure of your parking arrangements.

And do not exclaim "Robot!" in the process of moving your robot as a request. Something more apropos is a person in front of the cart clearing a path. "Excuse me." works far better. Just a request.

Parking is a total pain. +1 on the non yelling of "robot." We have a great crew of teams in VA. If you have any questions, look for the folks in the blue shirts and the cheese heads. They should be able to help ya out

Lots of food options within walking distance. Big plus there.

[Maldridge422]

Originally Posted by wilsonmw04

Lots of food options within walking distance. Big plus there.

GreatWraps, BoDillaz, Exreme Pizza, Subway, Panera, Chipotle, Qdoba, and Five Guys are all in the area. As PayneTrain said, local favorite Sugar Shack Donuts is also within walking distance.

Supplies for robots are available at a nearby Lowe's and there's a Pleasant's hardware store about 6 blocks away.

[ToddF]

Originally Posted by PayneTrain

To recap...

Things you can bring into the Siegel Center: knives, scissors, drills, powered saws

Things you can't bring into the Siegel Center: Bottled water, Sugar Shack Donuts (located on the opposite corner of Lombardy and Leigh as Maggie Walker, just a few blocks away. They're awesome)

Oh, don't get me started on the bag checkers. Last year they made me throw away an EMPTY bottle on Saturday morning, even though I had purchased the bottle full of water inside the day before.

[wilsonmw04]

Originally Posted by ToddF

Oh, don't get me started on the bag checkers. Last year they made me throw away an EMPTY bottle on Saturday morning, even though I had purchased the bottle full of water inside the day before.

If there was one thing I would change it would be the stupid bag checks.

[dellagd]

So how is the seating at the event? Is it hard to get ~7 good seats for scouts?

[Phyrxes]

Seating is your usual College Field House set up, the field sits on the basketball court with pits set up behind the black curtain. At least that is what I assume it will be as its been that way all the years we have been to the event.

I want to second that load in ramp is a nightmare, especially if you have heavy tool boxes or carts going down it. If Richmond is getting anything like the snow we have in NOVA right now it would be awesome for sledding.

[pyroslev]

Originally Posted by dellagd

So how is the seating at the event? Is it hard to get ~7 good seats for scouts?

Seven Seats ought to not be a problem. Only thing I'll ask/recommend is don't save entire rows or blocks of seats. Section 4.14 of the Admin portion of the manual prohibits this. 65ish teams and all the people, space won't be tight until Saturday. Remember to be GP on that front.

Leave the air horns/vu vu zellas behind too. I personally find them just as grating as the food check or "Robot!" yelling.

on the Ramp front, a warm front will thaw it out I hope. Otherwise the field crew will be sledding on lunch breaks.

[PayneTrain]

Originally Posted by pyroslev

Seven Seats ought to not be a problem. Only thing I'll ask/recommend is don't save entire rows or blocks of seats. Section 4.14 of the Admin portion of the manual prohibits this. 65ish teams and all the people, space won't be tight until Saturday. Remember to be GP on that front.

Leave the air horns/vu vu zellas behind too. I personally find them just as grating as the food check or "Robot!" yelling.

on the Ramp front, a warm front will thaw it out I hope. Otherwise the field crew will be sledding on lunch breaks.

All of these things are also covered in the "Site Info" by VirginiaFIRST. They will be enforcing these things.

[mrmummert]

I'm trying to think of anything anyone missed..Hmmmm....Food and Drinks at VCU are a bit pricey....its a better deal to go to one of the places across the street, but keep in mind with the teams there they all will be busy. If you can stagger lunch times for students and mentors that might work better.

The music is LOUD....so if you have students with sensitive ears bring ear plugs.
A plus though is we have some great announcers and Jeff Seaton is our MC.

The team social should be....as its has been the last ten years or so at the Va. Science Museum....
Unless they change it this year...the food isn't so great
(i think it was better 10 years ago...my opinion) but the museum is a neat venue
and there is lots to see and do while there.

The Va. First folks are a great bunch of folks and know their stuff...Most of the Einstein crew
from CMP last year were the Va. folks. The head ref has
already reffed at two other regionals so she knows her stuff.
Queuing...They like to try and stay "on time" and they do announce matches often...
but keep on your toes for match times sometimes its hard the hear
the match announcements.

Load in and out can be a pain...but you can load in early on Wednesday night until 8pm i think...
there is more information on the Va. First site.

[mrmummert]

And yes Dan.....John is a cool guy.