pic: Growth of FIRST in Michigan

[AGPapa]

Originally Posted by Joe Johnson

I said "subsidies where they can get them" Gov. Synder's support is awesome. But it is far from the full story.

FiM runs districts with the minimalist philosophy. They don't have much more than a field, a projector to show the scores, a PA system, and spartan pit set ups. Typical districts compete with afterglow competitions with respect to cost. That really helps FIRST in Mighigan keep the costs down for their teams.

Dr. Joe J.

I see how districts keep the cost down for FiM, but how do they keep them down for teams? Doesn't each team still have to pay the $5,000 registration fee? If Michigan teams are paying less, it's because the government is paying for them.

[IKE]

Originally Posted by AGPapa

I see how districts keep the cost down for FiM, but how do they keep them down for teams? Doesn't each team still have to pay the $5,000 registration fee? If Michigan teams are paying less, it's because the government is paying for them.

With so many events around the states, Most teams (not all, but most) have 2 events within a reasonable daily drive. This reduces hotel, bus, and food related travel fees for the team.
While not directly apples to apples, say you have 20 students staying 4 to a room Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night for an event at $100/room. This is 5 rooms x 4 nights or $2K just for the student rooms.

Having events within driving distance allows for teams to dramatically reduce that portion of their budget, and still have a 2 event season (minimum).

[AGPapa]

Originally Posted by IKE

With so many events around the states, Most teams (not all, but most) have 2 events within a reasonable daily drive. This reduces hotel, bus, and food related travel fees for the team.
While not directly apples to apples, say you have 20 students staying 4 to a room Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night for an event at $100/room. This is 5 rooms x 4 nights or $2K just for the student rooms.

Having events within driving distance allows for teams to dramatically reduce that portion of their budget, and still have a 2 event season (minimum).

That all makes sense, but I'm not sure how big of an effect it has.

Let's compare Michigan with other states.
http://i.imgur.com/hnUpuX2.png?1

As you can see California and Michigan were neck and neck until 2014, when the State grants kicked in. The growth spurt didn't begin in 2009 with the introduction of districts.
You can also see that this incredible growth didn't appear in NJ and PA, where districts were implemented in 2012.

[GaryVoshol]

I don't think the main point should be that Districts cause growth directly. Rather, Districts accommodate growth. Michigan could never have afforded enough Regional events to support the number of teams we have - that was the point back in 2009.

There is anecdotal evidence that at least some growth was caused by having Districts. Much of the growth came in the northern part of the state, where having access to an event was instrumental in getting teams going. I've probably told this story before, but at lunch at the first Traverse City District, I talked to a person who had driven about 60 miles to come see it because he had seen coverage on the news. While we were talking, it became apparent that whatever group he was involved with was not old enough and would not have the capability of entering FRC. But that was OK - we told him about FLL and he was very interested. I don't know if anything came of it or not. But having a District event in a location where it wouldn't be possible to support a Regional event at least made for the contact.

[Tom Line]

Originally Posted by AGPapa

I see how districts keep the cost down for FiM, but how do they keep them down for teams? Doesn't each team still have to pay the $5,000 registration fee? If Michigan teams are paying less, it's because the government is paying for them.

FiM had originally set up the budget so that states would be free to all qualifiers. FIRST nixed that because they wanted their income.

In addition, if you do the math on a per-match basis, FiM went to two competitions for the single entry fee so you got far more for your money.

In addition, FiM themselves have used the substantial cost savings to pay it forward, giving many first and second year teams lower cost entry fees and grants. The state grants are gravy on top of all of that - though GREATLY appreciated.

I've tried to create culture change like this where I work - I can't imagine the amount of convincing and arguing that went on for FiM to convince FIRST that this was a good idea.

[BenGuy]

Originally Posted by AGPapa

I see how districts keep the cost down for FiM, but how do they keep them down for teams? Doesn't each team still have to pay the $5,000 registration fee? If Michigan teams are paying less, it's because the government is paying for them.

The costs are kept down when making it to states and worlds. That's where the grants really kick in, they pay for both states and worlds registration fees, assuming you make it there.

[P.J.]

Originally Posted by BenGuy

The costs are kept down when making it to states and worlds. That's where the grants really kick in, they pay for both states and worlds registration fees, assuming you make it there.

*If the team comes from a public school.