Current Districts Map. Who is next?

[logank013]

Originally Posted by Jon Stratis

It does. We've had a State Championship each of the past 4 years, sponsored by the Minnesota State High School League, the same organization that runs all the football, hockey, soccer, etc across the state. It's the oldest high school league sponsored championship around.

One other thing that hasn't been mentioned is our existing relationships with certain organizations in the state... For example, the University of Minnesota, which makes our Minneapolis double regional possible. You really can't understate the value the U of M or MSHSL places on FIRST and our current level of interaction with them. Switching to districts would affect both those relationships, something that needs to be done very carefully. It wouldn't be good to tick off some of the biggest event sponsors we have...

I see what your saying about sponsors. I actually never thought for about how much sponsors affect the events. AndyMark being in Indiana helps by sponsoring I believe all of the district events. I bet that's why the Championship is in Kokomo since that's where they are located I believe. They make the district model work well. The only bad thing about switching to districts in Indiana sponsor wise is that there is now no event at Purdue and they sponsor 3 teams. I'm curious to see if those 3 teams still get sponsorships from Purdue.

[Peyton Yeung]

Originally Posted by logank013

...The only bad thing about switching to districts in Indiana sponsor wise is that there is now no event at Purdue and they sponsor 3 teams. I'm curious to see if those 3 teams still get sponsorships from Purdue.

There are four teams in the Lafayette/West Lafayette area sponsored by Purdue FIRST. The fact that we are not hosting a district event at Purdue this year does not affect the sponsorship to the teams.

[Knufire]

Originally Posted by logank013

I bet that's why the Championship is in Kokomo since that's where they are located I believe.

Like I mentioned in the Indiana thread, dates and locations for Indiana districts this year were mostly driven by venue availibility.

[jajabinx124]

Originally Posted by logank013

I'm curious to see if those 3 teams still get sponsorships from Purdue.

Purdue has a college organization for FIRST alumni that mentors FRC, FTC, and FLL teams around the Lafayette/West Lafayette area I believe (I found this out when I visited the Purdue University campus this summer, here is the link to their website).