a Boston Invitational... I WANT YOUR INPUT!!!

[Kyle Fenton]

Originally posted by Erin Rapacki
I was zoning out during physics the other day and I had an idea... since then I've spoken with a few of the "higher ups" and my idea seems very do-able, this is it:

A ROBOTICS INVITATIONAL IN BOSTON THAT WILL BE AS EXCITING AS ANY REGIONAL! (this will be no shin-dig in a gym, I promise you)

But I want your input...

- would your team be interested? (any team could easily make a weekend out of it, I'm a girl from a mid-suburban town who found out how much living in Boston ROCKS!)
- what time of the year would YOU perfer? (I'm thinking late september-early october, this way it wouldn't conflict with other invitationals and it would be a good introduction to FIRST to new team members)
- any ideas or advice? I'm only 18 yrs old so I will be soliciting a lot of help
- if you have any really cool suggestions, let me know... I want this to be YOUR event!

The event would be held at Northeastern University, a few blocks away from the Prudential Center so it's right in the city. Keep in mind, I've only conceived this idea 3 days ago so absolutely nothing has been done yet... nothing is official.

Right now I'm just spreading the idea around.

PLEASE POST!!!

A Northeastern Off-Season will be really cool. Boston is an excellent place to host it.

Since my sister attends Northeastern University I know the area pretty well, and it will be well suited for teams. The only thing I cam immediately think of that may be a problem is parking.

But be in mind hosting an off-season is not easy or cheep.

You must rent the field, Innovation First Controllers, and buy the carpet. That is about $5,000 or something like that.

You could however not use Innovation FIRST and build your own dongle timing system, like they did in the MD State Fair.

Talk to teams like 190, 140, 236, 95, 40, 131 they all hosted off-seasons, and they can tell you what you need to make a success.

Team 121 would be very interested in going, and hope that there is a Northeastern University Off-Season this year.

Since Rally in the Valley, Mayham on the Merrimack, Battlecry IV, and now River Rage is in the Spring. The October--November Timeline would be your best bet. Just don't make it early September meet, because a lot of schools are just starting and don't like to take trips that early.