Choosing between Richmond, VA and Palmetto, SC Regionals

[Electronica1]

This should effectively decide this argument for the original post. According to this, the NC regional and the VA regional are at the same time. So if you still are trying to go to the NC regional, go to palmetto as your additional regional.

[pyroslev]

The only downside I have for Virginia is they are communist and won't let you bring in outside food unless it's a medical requirement. Other than that, Virginia would be my choice. A fair few North Carolina teams still come up this way. Not to mention we've got a pretty great crew that runs the event.

[1629GaCo]

Originally Posted by notmattlythgoe

Did you guys not enjoy yourselves at Virginia this year? Any particular reasons for suggesting Palmetto over Virginia?

We enjoy ourselves at any regional we go to, and we have fun competing against everyone, old friends and new ones made along the way. We had issues with the hotels suggested by FIRST, moving us to a new hotel about 10 miles from the event at the last minute. There are alot of Virginia teams that attend this event, and that is awesome, but if you are not from Virginia, you don't feel real welcomed. There are a few teams that we enjoyed meeting/competing with (2363, 1610, 623) and seemed very receptive of us, but the majority treated us as outsiders. Again, this is my own perception or opinion.

[Lil' Lavery]

Originally Posted by pyroslev

The only downside I have for Virginia is they are communist and won't let you bring in outside food unless it's a medical requirement.

First off, how is that even remotely "communist?" If anything, that's decidedly capitalist.

Secondly, that's a pretty common rule of most venues that serve food (and even some that don't).

[wilsonmw04]

Originally Posted by 1629GaCo

There are a few teams that we enjoyed meeting/competing with (2363, 1610, 623) and seemed very receptive of us, but the majority treated us as outsiders. Again, this is my own perception or opinion.

I think you are getting Chesapeake and VA confused. 623 wasn't at VCU this year.

[mrmummert]

Judging by what First recently put out for the schedules.....another
option although a bit far would be the Pittsburgh regional. Its a couple weeks after Palmetto and a couple weeks before VCU. Palmetto is about 300 miles from us and Pittsburgh is about 390 or so miles away. Its probably about the same more or less for you guys.

[PayneTrain]

Originally Posted by mrmummert

Judging by what First recently put out for the schedules.....another
option although a bit far would be the Pittsburgh regional. Its a couple weeks after Palmetto and a couple weeks before VCU. Palmetto is about 300 miles from us and Pittsburgh is about 390 or so miles away. Its probably about the same more or less for you guys.

It's important to keep in mind initial capacities. With initial capacities of 49 (The RDs seem to be holding over 11 spots instead of 10) Virginia and Palmetto will almost certainly not close during first round of registration, while smaller regionals like Pittsburgh and DC will likely close within 48 hours or less of it opening.

[Qbot2640]

Originally Posted by PayneTrain

It's important to keep in mind initial capacities. With initial capacities of 49 (The RDs seem to be holding over 11 spots instead of 10) Virginia and Palmetto will almost certainly not close during first round of registration, while smaller regionals like Pittsburgh and DC will likely close within 48 hours or less of it opening.

If memory serves...this was not the case last year.
Smoky Mountains, Palmetto, Peachtree, Chesapeake, Greater DC, and Pittsburgh were all in our "second choice" possibilities last year (after NC). By the time second event registration came around, only Pittsburgh and DC still had openings (well, two openings at Peachtree filled before I could click "enter".)

[wilsonmw04]

Originally Posted by Qbot2640

If memory serves...this was not the case last year.
Smoky Mountains, Palmetto, Peachtree, Chesapeake, Greater DC, and Pittsburgh were all in our "second choice" possibilities last year (after NC). By the time second event registration came around, only Pittsburgh and DC still had openings (well, two openings at Peachtree filled before I could click "enter".)

That might be true, but certain events on that list were begging teams to come to fill out their rosters as the event got closer. This is after out of state teams were told to look somewhere else rather than sit on the wait list.

[Gary Dillard]

Originally Posted by Billfred

As someone who has attended all eleven Palmetto Regionals and none of the Virginia events, here's my pitch:

Palmetto Regional Pro: Billfred is there

Palmetto Regional Con: Billfred is there

[Monochron]

Originally Posted by Electronica1

This should effectively decide this argument for the original post. According to this, the NC regional and the VA regional are at the same time. So if you still are trying to go to the NC regional, go to palmetto as your additional regional.

Hhm, thanks for pointing that out. If that is accurate they are moving the NC regional up by one week next year. FIRST's site still doesn't have the NC regional listed, though. It could just be a place-holder date . . . but considering how tight that schedule is, I'm more inclined to think it is permanent.

[Wetzel]

Originally Posted by Monochron

Hhm, thanks for pointing that out. If that is accurate they are moving the NC regional up by one week next year. FIRST's site still doesn't have the NC regional listed, though. It could just be a place-holder date . . . but considering how tight that schedule is, I'm more inclined to think it is permanent.

Regionals have often shown up on venue calendars before they show up with FIRST.

[Monochron]

Originally Posted by mrmummert

Judging by what First recently put out for the schedules.....another
option although a bit far would be the Pittsburgh regional. Its a couple weeks after Palmetto and a couple weeks before VCU. Palmetto is about 300 miles from us and Pittsburgh is about 390 or so miles away. Its probably about the same more or less for you guys.

That is 7.5 hours vs 2.5 hours. We are in Raleigh, NC so I don't think that far is quite within our means.