(Lack of) Value in the Regional Model

[waialua359]

Originally Posted by Sunshine

Really Kevin? Had you played one more match the experience would have been that much better? Really? Why don't you count practice matches? I know our team was on the field on Thursday 6 times. Enjoyed that experience.

I for one do not like the idea of playing in a HS gym. Playing in a large arena is an experience most of our students and their families will never get otherwise.

As mentioned before, be careful what you ask for. The district model is more expensive for those who move on.

I for one do not like playing only with my neighbors. I like meeting and competing with teams from around the country and world. That's why we do Midwest, for the international feel.

I've always felt the Wisconsin Regional was very well run. I like the venue floor, the seating and the downtown atmosphere.

Please FIRST, keep both models and let people choose. As a consumer I like choices. I will not choose attending the high school gym. Hate the bleacher environment, FIRST is better than that.

IMO, more matches mean the experience is greater and you pay less per match per cost of the regional.
Being in a district model doesnt mean you only play with your neighbors. If that was the case, how did Team 27 play in Duluth and win the RCA there in 2014, eventually winning the CCA? You can still play at a regional.

At IE this year, that was a regular regional, yet we played in a high school gym. Why did that have a cost of $5,000 to participate?

Personally, I dont care if I sit in a high school gym or a stadium....my focus is the experience students and adults get participating in the event.

Overall, I think Kevin is spot on. And while FIRST is still transitioning to moving to more and more district models, they certainly dont have to take forever in immediately changing the price model to make it more uniformly cost effective for ALL that participate.
Furthermore, as a member of a FIRST regional planning committee, I have known about the $250,000 cost for planning committees to come up with to pay FIRST. So can anyone explain how much the IE folks really paid given that the event was held at a high school?

The system is not perfect, I get it. But as the lead director of Team 359 for many many years, I can assure you that I have to be as transparent as possible, explaining to students, parents, and our stakeholders why we charge and spend what we do. Eyes are watching always and people have the right to ensure a fair experience based on goals and objectives, one of which is cost.