pic: FIRST USA MAP

[logank013]

Originally Posted by EricH

I know. I also don't know of any plans to add one for 2016.

2017... is another story.

If CA were to lose a regional (fewer than 7 regionals), you can bet that there would be a bunch of VERY unhappy teams. CA gaining a regional means a bunch of happy teams.

Out of all states, why hasn't California gone to districts. They could have another big district like Michigan.

[GeeTwo]

Originally Posted by AGPapa

So would any future teams in Alaska have to join the PNW district? Doesn't that seem like a completely terrible idea? What schools would want to pay the costs for two trips to Washington/Oregon in a new program?

It is more than a three hour flight from Anchorage to Seattle!

As I understand it, there are a number of ferries that go from Seattle to various locations in Alaska. The time is obviously longer, but perhaps the cost is lower. It's been a while since I've been up that way. I took the USNS Silas Bent from Seattle to Kodiak in 1989 (was it really that long ago?), but I was surveying, not just a passenger.

[Jacob Bendicksen]

Originally Posted by logank013

Out of all states, why hasn't California gone to districts. They could have another big district like Michigan.

From what I've heard, it's partially to do with the length of the state. Most districts are (extremely roughly, don't quote me on this) square-shaped or circular, meaning that a DCMP somewhere in the middle makes travel time not too bad for most/all teams. However, since California's so long, even if the DCMP was in the Bay Area/Sacramento (aka roughly in the middle), driving time would still be horrible for a lot of teams.

Disclaimer: I'm not from California, but have some friends down there.

Originally Posted by GeeTwo

As I understand it, there are a number of ferries that go from Seattle to various locations in Alaska. The time is obviously longer, but perhaps the cost is lower. It's been a while since I've been up that way. I took the USNS Silas Bent from Seattle to Kodiak in 1989 (was it really that long ago?), but I was surveying, not just a passenger.

The ferries apparently take 4-5 days (source) and cost just as much/more than a plane ticket, so I don't think that this would be a better option for most teams. Also, with only one team currently competing in Alaska, there's nowhere near the necessary team density to make a district event happen.

That being said, we PNW teams miss our Alaskan friends, and look forward to competing alongside them in the future.

[logank013]

Originally Posted by Jacob Bendicksen

From what I've heard, it's partially to do with the length of the state. Most districts are (extremely roughly, don't quote me on this) square-shaped or circular, meaning that a DCMP somewhere in the middle makes travel time not too bad for most/all teams. However, since California's so long, even if the DCMP was in the Bay Area/Sacramento (aka roughly in the middle), driving time would still be horrible for a lot of teams.

Disclaimer: I'm not from California, but have some friends down there.

I wonder if they could split california into 2 districts. a south and a north district.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by logank013

Out of all states, why hasn't California gone to districts.

Let's just say that there is a really "interesting" mix of factors that is not exactly conducive to districts despite the massive interest from mid-top level teams.

Weather, for example, is one of the factors. Because our weather is so nice, our schools tend to have minimum-size gyms. No fieldhouses. No covered football stadiums. If you're lucky you get two connected gyms or a double gym. This kind of puts a crimp in venue hunting.

There's also the volunteer problem (not enough)--but that can be worked around.

We also have a LOT of single-event teams.

And, perhaps more to the point, there isn't one single overarching organization that can help cover. WRRF, LARobotics (SCRRF section), and San Diego's organization are the main players in northern CA, LA/Inland Empire, and San Diego, respectively, and if you go full-state, they've ALL got to work together (which can be done... it's just harder because WRRF has a pretty long commute to LARobotics, and longer to San Diego).


BTW, Jacob, a DCMP in Sacramento would NOT be in the middle by any stretch of the imagination. That's called "putting your DCMP at one end of your team concentration". Long story short, north of Sacramento there really isn't much, and especially not much FRC activity. Best bet for "in the middle" is the southern Central Valley: Bakersfield would be where my money would go in that case, as the most likely area to be a reasonable travel distance for the most teams AND the most likely to have a suitable venue.

[Ichlieberoboter]

Well I am quite proud that the number of Minnesota regionals is on par with Texas and New York. Ah! Great job #minnesotaFIRST! Only behind Cali!

[BSV]

Originally Posted by Anupam Goli

Interesting map. I wonder if in a couple of years some of the southern states will start to create a mega-size district or not.

Oklahoma had 58 teams last year, which is more than Indiana, right? Throw in Arkansas (30 teams) and have OKC / Tulsa / Little Rock district events with a championship someplace in there and you have a pretty good district. Especially since Texas is going to districts, soon.

[logank013]

Originally Posted by BSV

Oklahoma had 58 teams last year, which is more than Indiana, right? Throw in Arkansas (30 teams) and have OKC / Tulsa / Little Rock district events with a championship someplace in there and you have a pretty good district. Especially since Texas is going to districts, soon.

Yes. Indiana had the smallest district with 49 teams, 3 district events, and 32 teams were invited to the district championship.

[Gregor]

Originally Posted by Ichlieberoboter

Well I am quite proud that the number of Minnesota regionals is on par with Texas and New York. Ah! Great job #minnesotaFIRST! Only behind Cali!

Too bad you can only attend 2 of them, in specific weeks...

[cadandcookies]

Originally Posted by Gregor

Too bad you can only attend 2 of them, in specific weeks...

You get over it pretty quickly when you realize you're attending two of the biggest robotics events outside of champs-- seriously, come down and visit the Duluth regionals sometime and experience the Double DECCer yourself. I bet we can find room somewhere for you if you came down!

[Gregor]

Originally Posted by cadandcookies

You get over it pretty quickly when you realize you're attending two of the biggest robotics events outside of champs-- seriously, come down and visit the Duluth regionals sometime and experience the Double DECCer yourself. I bet we can find room somewhere for you if you came down!

Pretty much on a tangent now, but part of the reason I've had such a great experience with FRC was because I've been able to attend 9 regionals in the past 2 years, volunteering at 5 of them, since I'm lucky enough to have to many events in my province. 5 regionals in 6 weeks is absolutly a blast.

To each their own I suppose.

[Mr V]

Regarding it being easier to qualify for CMP from a DCMP that increased significantly with the expanded size of CMP. For example in the PNW we used to have 4 Regionals so we sent up to 24 teams, though it was often less before wild cards and was still less with the initial wild card system. For 2014 season we sent 24 teams and with the expanded CMP we were able to send 32 teams through qualification and through the lottery 2 other teams from the PNW area won a spot. Since at least one of those teams qualified at DCMP the CMP awards went deeper in the rankings. The other advantage to the District System is that if a team declines their spot at CMP it is handed down to the next spot on the list.

Regarding CA moving to the District System I can tell you that one of the RD's from CA did come to one of the PNW district events and toured the Washington FIRST Robotics Fieldhouse to see what a district event looks like and how we do things. Geography does play a factor in how the CA district would play out. Because of the N to S distance I think it would be likely that it would mainly play at the district event level as two separate districts until the DCMP.

[Clem1640]

Originally Posted by wilsonmw04

What this map shows is that making district boarders based on states isn't going to work much longer. We are going to need to look at forming districts based on common sense and ease of travel. For example, many teams outside of Metro DC would do better in the NC, WV, or TN area group than being attached to DC.

Which is why Pennsylvania is purple on the map. The Philadelphia side of PA fits logically into MAR without creating huge travel issues for teams. Western Pennsylvania on the other hand is served by the Pittsburgh Regional. Most PA teams are geographically clustered around these two cities.

[wilsonmw04]

Originally Posted by Clem1640

Which is why Pennsylvania is purple on the map. The Philadelphia side of PA fits logically into MAR without creating huge travel issues for teams. Western Pennsylvania on the other hand is served by the Pittsburgh Regional. Most PA teams are geographically clustered around these two cities.

I wish this common sense was more wide spread.

[GeeTwo]

Originally Posted by Clem1640

Which is why Pennsylvania is purple on the map. The Philadelphia side of PA fits logically into MAR without creating huge travel issues for teams. Western Pennsylvania on the other hand is served by the Pittsburgh Regional. Most PA teams are geographically clustered around these two cities.

Not surprising, given the population distribution: