Addressing Chaos During Morning Entry at Champs

[apples000]

Originally Posted by Jon Stratis

Well, I guess I'll stop trying to change the general tone of negativity we've seen all season then. If you'll read my posts, you'll see that I have no issue with discussing the problem, posing solutions, or contacting first. Maybe i've become a little over-sensitized at this point, but for the past 3 months it seems like every time I come on CD there's another thread about how FIRST really screwed up, or how a Q&A is horrible, or how a team update screws up the game. It's been an overwhelming negative atmosphere all season, and not at all productive.

I really agree about the whole negative attitude. For some reason, it seems like CD is a nasty place this year, especially toward FIRST. We've gotten on a trend of saying stupid mean things (myself included), and it's continued throughout the whole season. We can be frustrated an upset, and we should let FIRST know our feelings, but posting in rage about how the field is screwing everybody and how the GDC and people who program the field software are a bunch of idiots is no way to solve a problem. I know that if I were in their position, I would quit after what people have been saying. All this being said, Cory's point is an extremely valid one that deals with the safety of students, mentors, and members of the public. It's kind of a safety issue.

I don't think Cory's post (possibly excluding the "FIRST fails to" portion of the title) is at all a negative or raging post. He is expressing, in a rational way, his concern about the safety of people involved in the entrance stampede, and explains a possible solution. We need to work on discussing problems, gathering and sharing information on problems, and working to solve problems, instead of just complaining about them.

My opinion is to just have everybody get in lines at the different entrances, then when the doors open, let people in slowly, and make sure to enforce a no running/super speed walking rule.

[DonRotolo]

+1 to Cory's original post.

This isn't Pamplona, and people are getting hurt. For an organization that emphasizes safety, I hope Frank reads this and just puts out a quick comment "Oh, and entry to the championships will be more orderly this year". Don't need the plan until I show up, but would be nice to know there IS a plan.

[Cory]

From an email blast to teams moments ago:

Team Entrances at CMP: This year, gates A and B will be open to allow easier access for teams entering the America’s Center. Gate A is located at the “Convention Plaza” street entrance and gate B is the “Broadway and Convention Plaza” entrance located near the Drury Hotel. Crowd control barriers will be in place, along with additional staff, to help guide teams safely through the doors, but we need your help! We ask that teams remain gracious when entering the venue

Glad to see they are addressing the issue. Hopefully it's good enough. The mad dash up the stairs/escalators and to the seats are still concerning, but this is a lot better than nothing.

[PayneTrain]

Originally Posted by Cory

From an email blast to teams moments ago:



Glad to see they are addressing the issue. Hopefully it's good enough. The mad dash up the stairs/escalators and to the seats are still concerning, but this is a lot better than nothing.

What is incredible is that controlling the mad dash would require maybe 1-2 volunteers to stand at the door and allow 40 students/1 team at a time to enter the door and make it up to the concourse before allowing the next group in. All it takes is one person to either make this safe, or one jerk to endanger a lot of people.

[Bryan Herbst]

I don't believe Jon is trying to say that he believes the situation was safe or acceptable last year, nor is he trying to say that you aren't allowed to complain before/during/after championships.

From what I read in his posts, his issue is that a lot of people are assuming that FIRST is doing nothing about it, despite the fact that Frank said in a blog post (which Cory linked to in his original post) that there would be changes for 2014.

No, FIRST has not provided any information on updated crowd control policies, and yes, Frank did say that the information would be provided at some point. However, I agree with Jon that it is too early to condemn FIRST for making the 2014 championship event unsafe before we know whether it is actually unsafe and whether any changes were made.


EDIT: It appears at least some of the plan has been announced now. See Cory's post above.

[cgmv123]

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...hreadid=128879

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by DonRotolo

This isn't Pamplona, and people are getting hurt. For an organization that emphasizes safety, I hope Frank reads this and just puts out a quick comment "Oh, and entry to the championships will be more orderly this year". Don't need the plan until I show up, but would be nice to know there IS a plan.

Woo Hoo! Frank must've read my post!

(Probably not. Blogs are likely written days before they are sent, with the inevitable tweaking in-between)

But I can dream, no?

THANK YOU FIRST for listening and acting. Together we'll continue to make it better every year.