Detroit

[GeeTwo]

Originally Posted by evanperryg

That, and for those of you who don't know, Detroit's infrastructure is a nightmare. It's reasonably well-maintained, sure, but there aren't left turns. You see, all those things that look like left turn lanes are actually u-turn lanes, so it's all rights and u-turns. I can't wait to see a few hundred trailers and buses driven by people who have never gotten the Detroit driving experience.

I learned to drive in New Orleans, which is also short on left turns. As we say down here "Two wrongs may not make a right, but three rights make a left."

[evanperryg]

Originally Posted by GeeTwo

I learned to drive in New Orleans, which is also short on left turns. As we say down here "Two wrongs may not make a right, but three rights make a left."

Okay, perhaps I exaggerated how bad the layout is. It might make traffic more efficient, but it's very disorienting the first time you go through it. As a whole, I think Detroit is a great, if dysfunctional city. It has its quirks, but it is certainly not the cesspool that it is often portrayed as.

[IKE]

Some neat things that may be in place by the time FRC World Championship arrives:

M1 Rail project. this is a streetcar system started last year that will offer streetcars north of Wayne State and DIA and... It is slated to be finsihed in 2016, which means there is a decent chance it might be done by April 2018

Many of us in the area hope this project will eventually connect Pontiac, Michigan to Detroit via a transit system, but that requires a significant amount of political and financial coordiantion...

There is a beautiful Firehouse across from Cobo being turned into a 100 room hotel that should be pretty neat.

There are a lot of neat projects underway that hopefully will continue to show dividends. I will say the change the last 5 years has been really impressive to me compared to the first 10 years I was in the Metro area.

Ironically, Cobo is close enough to Windsor that I would not be shocked if many people end up staying in a whole different country for the event... Taking a bus load of kids back and forth across the boarder 2 times a day might not be the easiest, but could actually be an option. I have worked with Canadians that commute daily into Detroit for many years.

Many teams will likely do what I will be doing, Commuting from Oakland or Macomb county. Both are part of the Detroit "urban sprawl", and a really nice places to live. I lived for 5 years at 9.5 Mile and Woodward (IE 1.5 miles from the infamous 8-Mile road...).

Biggest issue (IMO) with Detroit is that being the Motor City, you have to drive to pretty much anywhere you are going.

If I was a team, coming to see the sites. On my list would be:
Henry Ford Museum (a bit of a drive, but really cool for any budding engineer types)
Fox Theatre (gorgeous old theatre)
Comerica Park for a game
Possibly an Auto-Plant tour (it is truly amazing the first time you see one).

For individuals, there is a lot of other neat resteruants and very particular things like Old buildings/factories....

[3a11]

I'm from the Macomb area and for the past week (and next 4) I'm commuting to Detroit for an internship. Driving here may be somewhat stressful at times but as long as you pay attention to road signs and your surroundings there should be no issue. I mean teenagers are arguably the worst drivers so if I can do it then I have full confidence in the FIRST community. Just my two cents on the topic.

[ghesla]

So proud of Brazil, we are really good at this!

[Gregor]

Originally Posted by IKE

Ironically, Cobo is close enough to Windsor that I would not be shocked if many people end up staying in a whole different country for the event... Taking a bus load of kids back and forth across the boarder 2 times a day might not be the easiest, but could actually be an option. I have worked with Canadians that commute daily into Detroit for many years.

That's what a few Canadian teams are planning on doing, mostly because the exchange rate is pretty unforgiving.

[phurley67]

I love Detroit and given the density of Michigan teams, I think it was a good choice.

What I don't get is the opening ceremonies being held at Ford Field ~1 mile from the main event at Cobo. We really don't have a valid public transit system to move people from one to the other. If you pick the right route it's not a bad walk, pick the wrong one and it might be a little more educational.

I am also a little worried that Cobo while certainly large enough, does not really have an appropriate venue for the finals/Einstein matches -- after the renovation there is no "arena", so stadium seating will need to be installed?

[Jaywalker1711]

Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber

Then you know how Michiganders feel when people poke fun at Detroit.

Nah, we joke around about Detroit all the time

It should be noted that the jokes are exaggerated and not meant to be serious, and Detroit is really getting better (less crime, more money)

[dag0620]

Originally Posted by phurley67

I am also a little worried that Cobo while certainly large enough, does not really have an appropriate venue for the finals/Einstein matches -- after the renovation there is no "arena", so stadium seating will need to be installed?

Einstein may very well be held at Ford Field. Since closing ceremonies are already happening at Ford Field, and we're already moving everyone over there anyways, this would make a lot of sense. As long as FIRST plans out the logistics for getting the Einstein teams/equipment shuttled a mile well, this could be a viable strategy. (Note: Same can apply to Houston).

Finals for Divisions are certainly gonna be tight for both Detroit and Houston. With that said, if you get the right people, you can really transform any big convention space and make it work. I'd give that aspect a chance and see what happens.

[Siri]

Originally Posted by phurley67

What I don't get is the opening ceremonies being held at Ford Field ~1 mile from the main event at Cobo. We really don't have a valid public transit system to move people from one to the other. If you pick the right route it's not a bad walk, pick the wrong one and it might be a little more educational.

I'd guess that they're going to run shuttles, just based on the history of the multiple venues and extra social events in St. Louis. I'd also hope the path is clearly labeled for those of us who'll want to hoof it. FIRST is usually good about having greeters everywhere (airport, hotels, around the venues, etc).