New Championship Layout 2015

[Tom Bottiglieri]

Originally Posted by Taylor

Sadly, I don't know that we would. That's a >$2,000 decision for our team, and we're comparatively small (30 members).

I'm not following. Assuming you have already booked travel and lodging, how does abstaining from attending the event (in lieu of, say, a baseball game or more city exploring) save you money?

[scooty199]

Originally Posted by popnbrown

The 10 minute walk to champs from my house would be fantasmic

Alas,

I agree.

So close to a McDome too, long live.

Also it'd be pretty friggin expensive and likely FIRST wouldn't like the price tag.

Well.. Chicago is a larger city than St. Louis. Larger travel hub too.

Costs would be ridiculous, including at the hotels.

[ezygmont708]

Originally Posted by Cory

Einstein is impossible in a convention center.

Not necessarily... It may be possible in the Philadelphia convention center, but it would be extremely expensive to do it! So cost prohibitive, but not impossible.

[popnbrown]

Originally Posted by scooty199

Well.. Chicago is a larger city than St. Louis. Larger travel hub too.

Ahh...hopefully one day this will become important. (Edit: because it'll be super international)


As for the expensiveness, looks like we need to infiltrate the machine.

I'm kidding Chicago, don't be mad.

[Taylor]

Originally Posted by Tom Bottiglieri

I'm not following. Assuming you have already booked travel and lodging, how does abstaining from attending the event (in lieu of, say, a baseball game or more city exploring) save you money?

I mean we'd go home. If we could save a night's worth of hotel rooms and a day's worth of charter bus (assuming the companies refund us), that's a lot of bank.

[Gregor]

Originally Posted by Taylor

I mean we'd go home. If we could save a night's worth of hotel rooms and a day's worth of charter bus (assuming the companies refund us), that's a lot of bank.

But you wouldn't know until around 7 or 8pm that night. Would you be able to change your travel plans on the fly like that?

[BrendanB]

Originally Posted by Gregor

But you wouldn't know until around 7 or 8pm that night. Would you be able to change your travel plans on the fly like that?

It would work for teams who take buses however I'm not sure if you can get your money back for your hotel.

[Citrus Dad]

Originally Posted by Tom Bottiglieri

I wonder if teams would even show up to the venue on Saturday if they were not picked on Friday.

I agree this could be a problem. However, many teams will have to book hotel rooms through Friday or Saturday night anyway, and will have unchangeable plane flights, so I don't think this will be a problem. I expect that most teams come to the Champs hoping that they will advance to elims. And many of the other teams are shooting for other awards that would be made on Saturday. So I don't think the attrition rate would be very high.

To be honest, playing Qs on Saturday AM followed by alliance selection has not been an issue for us. We prep the night before and look at different scenarios. (I'm sure 254 does the same.) Last year we had about a half dozen scenarios. This year we had 3.

From an educational standpoint, I think having this uncertainty and learning to plan for it is very important. This reflects the real world--you have to think ahead and prepare appropriately for different outcomes.

[Steven Donow]

Here are some "official details" about the new layout.

Included is the video shown at Champs this year

And this little blurb:

Here are a few new features to give you a sneak peak:

• Multiple new venues
• Olympic Village feel
• Entertainment options
• Dedicated transportation
• New media formats for participants onsite and at home
• And, best of all – more chances to see your friends and meet new ones from around the world

Bolded for hooray better streaming.

[Rosiebotboss]

For those of us not able to get YouTube from behind our work firewall, is there any mention of the number of teams from each program?

[MARS_James]

Originally Posted by Rosiebotboss

For those of us not able to get YouTube from behind our work firewall, is there any mention of the number of teams from each program?

No unfortunately, although one thing being overlooked is The Edward Jones Dome will apparently be hosting something called FIRST Family Celebration, take with that what you will.

[Steven Donow]

Originally Posted by MARS_James

No unfortunately, although one thing being overlooked is The Edward Jones Dome will apparently be hosting something called FIRST Family Celebration, take with that what you will.

I would assume that that is just some big "opening ceremony" type thing for the entire event

[cgmv123]

Originally Posted by Rosiebotboss

is there any mention of the number of teams from each program?

Frank said at Championship that they're looking at about 600 FRC teams, but it will depend on how they handle the divisions.

[Libby K]

Originally Posted by MARS_James

No unfortunately, although one thing being overlooked is The Edward Jones Dome will apparently be hosting something called FIRST Family Celebration, take with that what you will.

Originally Posted by Steven Donow

I would assume that that is just some big "opening ceremony" type thing for the entire event

Yep. This whole 'Olympic Village' feel means we need dedicated, all-program opening and closing ceremonies where the whole FIRST Family is together and celebrating the season. From an FRC perspective it shouldn't change much, but I think it'll make a world of a difference in making FLL and FTC feel included.

[James1902]

"New media formats for participants onsite and at home" sounds interesting.