Future First Championship News

[MysterE]

From: http://www.usfirst.org/aboutus/2017-...p-announcement

We are writing today with some truly exciting news!

More than 25 years ago, FIRST® became a game changer in the STEM world.

Over the years, we’ve built an incredible culture with our K-12 FIRST Progression of Programs that celebrates kids’ accomplishments through high-quality, inspiring, life-changing experiences, the culmination of which is our FIRST Championship.

Today, we are proud to announce that FIRST is about to change the game again, for the better! Beginning in 2017, we are expanding the FIRST Championship by bringing our Sport for the Mind™ to two FIRST Championship host cities.

Why are we so excited about this expansion? We all know how transformative the FIRST experience can be. We want more kids to feel the passion and power that comes with being a part of FIRST Championship events.

In addition, by hosting Championships in multiple cities, we seek to reduce the travel distances and associated travel expenses for a significant number of our teams.

We continue to witness substantial growth of interest in our mission, our programs, and our annual Championship. Far beyond what we can currently accommodate, a growing number of young people are eager to participate and compete in our iconic, international celebration; yet due to space limitations, and sometimes travel costs, only a small fraction of teams can participate in the FIRST Championship.

Therefore, in 2017, FIRST will host two Championship events on subsequent weekends, still celebrating our full Progression of Programs at each – one event in Houston at the George R. Brown Convention Center, the Toyota Center (home of the Houston Rockets) and Minute Maid Park (home of the Houston Astros) April 19-22, 2017, followed by a second event the following weekend (April 26-29, 2017) in St. Louis.

Beginning in 2018, our dual Championship will be celebrated in Houston, as described above, April 18-21, 2018 and on the second weekend in Detroit at the Cobo Center and Ford

Field (home of the Detroit Lions), April 25-28, 2018. This alignment will continue for 2019 and 2020.

FIRST is the oldest and largest student robotics program in the world, and now we can deliver the FIRST Championship experience to thousands more young people worldwide! This expansion increases the capacity of the FIRST Championship by more than 100 percent compared to 2014, allowing us to better align Championship capacity with on-going team growth. With two locations, many more teams will be able to access a Championship event without air travel.

We know there are lots of questions for us to answer. We will be working hard on many details in the months to come, and as that process takes place, we’ll share additional information, so please stay tuned.

As previously announced, between now and 2017, we will continue to hold an expanded, Olympic-style Championship throughout downtown St. Louis, and we look forward to seeing many of you there.

We cannot thank the city of St. Louis, the Volunteers, the Mayor, and the Governor of the state of Missouri enough for all that they have done for our organization since 2011. We look forward to hosting wonderful Championship events in this city for the next three years, and we know that the city and all of its FIRST participants will remain an important part of the FIRST family in the future.

Thank you for the critical role you play at FIRST. Thank you for helping us open the door to the next chapter in which FIRST can reach more students and change more lives around the world.