All local regionals the same weekend?

[Rangel]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

We can't keep up the two system model for much longer. Every event needs to become a "district" qualifying event, or this will continue to happen forever.

Here's a half baked, useless proposal based on absolutely no experience that probably won't work: The regions of the country will be divided into "District Regions" and "Transition Regions". District Regions have a DCMP and a high density of events. Transition Regions will eventually have a DCMP and high density of events, but for now they don't. The purpose of these Transition Regions is to allocate Championship slots based on geographic area while the DCMP structure is being set up.

Any team can go to any district qualifying event and get points. Teams in District Regions need to go to two events (maybe at least one in-district), qualify based on points for their local DCMP, and otherwise follow the same model they have been following. Transition Regions lack a DCMP, and they qualify teams for the World Championship based on the points earned at the first two events the team competes at alone. They just tally up the points once every team from a Transition Region is done and send the top X teams there. If a team competes at a single event, their points are doubled. At Transition Events, award based qualifiers just get to advance to CMP from the events directly. Regional Winners do not automatically but they probably qualify on points anyway.

This system has some fairness problems. A team could snipe weak events to get points in. A team could drop after a perfect first event to guarantee a WCMP bid. Everyone qualifies pretty late. These are real problems, but we just have to live with them, because it's a lot worse than the prospect right now where hundreds of teams will be unable to do two events, and hundreds more will be forced into back-to-back weeks, in a way that only gets worse. We can't force every region into districts immediately, so this way preserves the existing event density and structure while allowing freedom to cross district borders and allowing a more controlled Championship qualification structure.

Wow this is a really great idea. I feel like it would work really well for the western side of the United states at least(not familiar enough with other regions to speak on them). I would like to someday see Arizona or even Arizona and surrounding states become a district but between the current team density and large area per state, it seems we are very far away from that happening anytime soon. I feel like Arizona and the surrounding regions are pretty okay right now but I could see problems arising down the road as nearby big states start becoming districts like Texas and California. Having this transitional region applied to us though would give teams the ability to still go to events in California and Texas.

I echo Mike's statements about relaxing the requirements of regional events in order to drive down costs for regional teams. However, I also agree that I don't see FIRST lowering that second or third regional event income that they get from regional teams.

[Michael Corsetto]

Originally Posted by Larry Lewis

I think the major issue is the venue availability. I know that for Finger Lakes Regional the event is held on a date the corresponds with RIT's spring break. My guess is that Tech Valley scheduled theirs because that was a time that works best for RPI.
Unfortunately, the only way I see to get around this would be to change venues.

Agreed.

Seems to me like RPC's are very hesitant to take the step to try different venues out. I understand it's hard to replace a 60 team venue, but if we are talking 40-45 team Regionals, a lot of High Schools will do the trick and could be more flexible than a college/university.

Based upon this thread, poor scheduling can impact teams significantly, so finding some flexibility in venues seems like an important aspect that RPC's should consider.

-Mike

[Hitchhiker 42]

Just an idea, but a typical problem with large, spread-out states as districts is the ability to travel to two events, and also possibly a DCMP. Could we try out 1-play districts (vs. the 2-play everywhere else), with the DCMP for qualified teams? This would get teams going to CMPs the same number of plays (2 events - 1 district, 1 DCMP) as 2 regionals, albeit a little fewer matches than typical district teams.

Just an idea to discuss.

[ollien]

Man, reading this thread removes some hope. I was hoping the new Hudson Valley regional wouldn't conflict with NYC but it seems that might not be the case. Hopefully SBPLI won't conflict, either. That way we have a backup plan.

[Kevin Leonard]

Why does the districts/regionals solution have to be complicated?

Regional teams not being able to attend an open district is a weird restriction, considering district teams can go to completely different districts to compete for no potential points- why can't regional teams do that?

Team 20, for example, historically always competed with New England Teams, so why can't 20 go to TVR, and then maybe 1 or 2 New England District events if they have spots?

5254 has been to off-seasons is MAR, but we can't take open spots at MAR events?

Just give regional teams the option to attend districts the same way other district teams from out of the region do. That's a decent short term solution IMO

[Jay O'Donnell]

Originally Posted by Kevin Leonard

Why does the districts/regionals solution have to be complicated?

Regional teams not being able to attend an open district is a weird restriction, considering district teams can go to completely different districts to compete for no potential points- why can't regional teams do that?

Team 20, for example, historically always competed with New England Teams, so why can't 20 go to TVR, and then maybe 1 or 2 New England District events if they have spots?

5254 has been to off-seasons is MAR, but we can't take open spots at MAR events?

Just give regional teams the option to attend districts the same way other district teams from out of the region do. That's a decent short term solution IMO

As much as I'm all for getting regional teams the ability to play in district areas, I think in all reality very few teams will pay the money to go to an event where they can't qualify for champs in any way.

[Brian Maher]

Originally Posted by Jay O'Donnell

As much as I'm all for getting regional teams the ability to play in district areas, I think in all reality very few teams will pay the money to go to an event where they can't qualify for champs in any way.

I think the big question here is: how much money?

If district events cost regional teams $1000 (same price as inter-district play), I can see many of them jumping on it. Is a chance of qualifying for champs worth $3000? Answers will vary on that.

If it costs $4000 (same price as second regional), not so much.