What would you do to improve the FIRST experience?

[Richard Wallace]

Originally Posted by Zagar

I have to agree with the ability to have more teams work together in the build season.

This was my first season with FRC, and Metal Muscle 1506 is incredibly fortunate to have the FIRST Center at Kettering which we now share with 7 other teams. All of the teams located in the FIRST Center learned from each other, worked together and were able to lend a helping hand whenever needed.

I know building such a facility is no small endeavor, but it would be incredible if FIRST were able to have more of these facilities around the country and the world. I know they are building another one soon in Grand Rapids, but wouldn't it be great to have more of them scattered around? Even teams that are not part of the Center could come in and practice on the field, talk about the robots, awards, designs and collaborate on everything FIRST.

+1^

This idea is a much better application of major sponsor funding, contrasted with another round of unsustainable rookie grants.* Kettering's program is an example that other tech universities and corporate consortia should emulate.
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*Which go straight to HQ, funding neither team development nor local event improvement.