California Districts

[smurfgirl]

Does anyone know whether California is planning on switching to the district system in 2016? I have heard mixed feedback but I haven't heard any official communications either way.

[Bmarshall645]

I heard most areas are. There is not really much confirmation on what areas though.

[smurfgirl]

I've heard the goal was to get most areas to districts by 2017. With no official announcement out (that I know of), it seems like it's a little too late for California to switch to districts in 2016, but I can see 2017 happening.

[MikLast]

If California went to districts in 2016, i would push for our team to go to one of those, see some of the teams we usually wouldn't see

[EricH]

From what I've heard... let's just say that "anything can happen". This includes Districts.

However, that might take HQ applying certain implements that are banned in civilized countries.

[MrTechCenter]

The main problem with running districts in California I believe is volunteers. A lot of key volunteers fill their respective roles at multiple regionals and there wouldn't be enough people to fill those roles at all of the district events. However, a lot of new people have been stepping up this season to learn those roles and be able to do them in the future.

Also, where would the DCMP be?

As far as the whole plan goes, I'd say 2016 is out of the question but 2017 is a possibility.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by MrTechCenter

Also, where would the DCMP be?

Where's a venue that can handle 60+ teams? (I'd go with L.A.'s venue; at 66 teams the only thing that's crowded is the stands and individual pits...but that's just me.)

[MrTechCenter]

Originally Posted by EricH

Where's a venue that can handle 60+ teams? (I'd go with L.A.'s venue; at 66 teams the only thing that's crowded is the stands and individual pits...but that's just me.)

I agree. LA's venue would be the best option and there's plenty of hotel space nearby, but that forces all of us up here in Northern California to drive 6 hours + LA traffic to get there. I never thought of this actually: Who has a higher concentration of teams, SoCal or NorCal? I believe it's SoCal but it would be interesting to see the numbers.

There would be a NorCal/SoCal district split for California to go to a district system. The details of the split has been announced already by regional director Jim Beck at the CalGames offseason competition in the fall of 2014.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by MrTechCenter

I agree. LA's venue would be the best option and there's plenty of hotel space nearby, but that forces all of us up here in Northern California to drive 6 hours + LA traffic to get there. I never thought of this actually: Who has a higher concentration of teams, SoCal or NorCal? I believe it's SoCal but it would be interesting to see the numbers.

I think we're going to need to start by defining SoCal and NorCal.

That being said, I put it as SoCal has L.A., San Diego, Inland Empire, and Ventura--give or take 200 play slots, though quite a few of those are 2-event teams--versus SVR, Sacramento, and CVR in NorCal, not sure on slot numbers there. I'm pretty sure there aren't all that many teams in the far north area of the state, so that would kind of kill the concentration numbers up there.

And I would tend to lean towards a mid-state solution myself--too far north and the San Diego area teams have to travel really, really far (add in about 2 hours + LA traffic to the LA team travel distance); too far south and the NorCal teams are having that drive. Anybody know any good venues in, oh, Bakersfield?

[MrTechCenter]

Originally Posted by Andrew Lawrence

There would be a NorCal/SoCal district split for California to go to a district system. The details of the split has been announced already by regional director Jim Beck at the CalGames offseason competition in the fall of 2014.

Really? I was there and I don't remember hearing this. He did also say that we'd have districts in 2016 and that seems unlikely, and usually before an area goes to districts they get some input from various different mentors, volunteers, and active members which I don't believe they have as of yet. Also, they probably would have been talking to prospective venues by now and I don't believe that has happened yet either. (If somebody has more information, feel free to correct me on this).

[billbo911]

Originally Posted by Andrew Lawrence

There would be a NorCal/SoCal district split for California to go to a district system. The details of the split has been announced already by regional director Jim Beck at the CalGames offseason competition in the fall of 2014.

Originally Posted by MrTechCenter

Really... (If somebody has more information, feel free to correct me on this).

Several conversations I have had this year about the Districts in California all point the same way:

Not going to happen in 2016, though that was the original goal.
NCal/SCal Championships held separately. No "official" State Champion, though an unofficial head to head may be held after Worlds, just for bragging rights

The rumor I heard is what would have been the Silicon Valley Regional would become the NCAL CMP, and San Diego would be the SCAL CMP.

Again, none of this is official, it is just what I have gathered in conversations this year.

[steelerborn]

How about a Central Valley District Championship

Originally Posted by steelerborn

How about a Central Valley District Championship

You're more than welcome to attend it. Madtown Throwdown happens every year in early November.

[Mr V]

The PNW did have one of the CA RDs come up see what an event looks like and check out our Fieldhouse the center of PNW FRC operations. So they are exploring what it would look like but 2016 sounds unlikely because things need to start happening now to have everything in place in time.

Personally with the number of teams I'd say that CA should really be two separate districts as trying to start up with that many would be a huge amount of work. Yes FiM has a similar amount of teams but the worked up to that level over a number of years.