2017 - New England District Event Schedule

[rwodonnell]

Here's a map of the events (posted in another thread before I realized this one was created.)

[Nathan Streeter]

Originally Posted by rwodonnell

Here's a map of the events (posted in another thread before I realized this one was created.)

Thank you for sharing!

This pretty much confirms three things:

1. CT teams are definitely getting the short end of the stick.
2. Greater Boston teams are definitely "winning out" with ~5-7 events within approximately a one hour drive.
3. There's still a gaping hole of events (and dramatically fewer teams) in VT. The Pine Tree event and concerted effort by individuals and teams in Maine (Jamee Luce, 2648, and others...) helped spark a ton of Maine growth over the last 4 or 5 years... Something similar would be great in Vermont... but that's not easily carried out at all!!!

[Ty Tremblay]

Originally Posted by Nathan Streeter

1. CT teams are definitely getting the short end of the stick.
2. Greater Boston teams are definitely "winning out" with ~5-7 events within approximately a one hour drive.
3. There's still a gaping hole of events (and dramatically fewer teams) in VT. The Pine Tree event and concerted effort by individuals and teams in Maine (Jamee Luce, 2648, and others...) helped spark a ton of Maine growth over the last 4 or 5 years... Something similar would be great in Vermont... but that's not easily carried out at all!!!

The map looks pretty well distributed for me. The locations of districts are entirely dependent on the locations of venues capable of hosting a district (within the price model of a district) and those venues almost entirely exist in areas populated enough to warrant one. It looks like the density of teams and the locations of the venues follow the population density of NE pretty closely. It would make sense that most of the teams and most of the events are within an 1-2 hours of Boston.

I wouldn't call the lack of an event in VT a "gaping" hole. There are 4 teams on that map in VT and there were definitely more than 4 ME teams (even if you adjust for state / population size) before the Pine Tree event started.

[jweston]

Originally Posted by rwodonnell

Here's a map of the events (posted in another thread before I realized this one was created.)

I have a hunch that Waterbury and Hartford will be filled with CT teams after 2nd event selection, given that there are nearly 50 CT teams and UMass Dartmouth was popular with CT teams (CT accounted for 10 of 32 teams last year at MANDA).

Am I correct in remembering that a district event is typically restricted to 40 teams? I can't find confirmation of any kind of limit but that's my recall. Having been to a couple of 40 team district events, I can't imagine making it work for much more.

[Hitchhiker 42]

I agree that most of the distribution looks fine, but CT definetly needs another event (maybe towards the shore - New Haven would be great). Anyway, satisfied for this year. Good job NE! #weAreNE

[BrendanB]

Originally Posted by jweston

I have a hunch that Waterbury and Hartford will be filled with CT teams after 2nd event selection, given that there are nearly 50 CT teams and UMass Dartmouth was popular with CT teams (CT accounted for 10 of 32 teams last year at MANDA).

Am I correct in remembering that a district event is typically restricted to 40 teams? I can't find confirmation of any kind of limit but that's my recall. Having been to a couple of 40 team district events, I can't imagine making it work for much more.

Correct. Districts are capped at 40.

While Connecticut is in need of another event near them their two districts are centrally located for most teams and spread apart so attending both has a three weekend gap.

With the rotating DCMP we'll see events like Springfield in 2015 and Bedford this year, step in for a season and then disappear. Bedford is nice for teams in VT/Northern NH because it puts a second event slightly closer to them.

[Connor McBride]

Originally Posted by Hitchhiker 42

On the other hand, it gives less prep time for travel to DCMPs, especially for teams that qualify only after week 5.

I'm a little torn on DCMP being a week 6.

1. With the lack of nearby hotels, finding one will be a pain.

2. With the extra week between DCMP and CMP, teams have more time to prep such as airfare (or bus), hotel arrangements, shipping the robot and their pit items (if they choose to do so).

[BrendanB]

Originally Posted by Connor McBride

I'm a little torn on DCMP being a week 6.

1. With the lack of nearby hotels, finding one will be a pain.

2. With the extra week between DCMP and CMP, teams have more time to prep such as airfare (or bus), hotel arrangements, shipping the robot and their pit items (if they choose to do so).

I think its a good move. Week 7 made it really difficult to arrange travel especially with airlines.

The benefit to having a short turn around for the DCMP is we are all familiar with New England and while finding close hotels isn't easy there are still plenty a little further away.

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by BrendanB

Correct. Districts are capped at 40.

While Connecticut is in need of another event near them their two districts are centrally located for most teams and spread apart so attending both has a three weekend gap.

With the rotating DCMP we'll see events like Springfield in 2015 and Bedford this year, step in for a season and then disappear. Bedford is nice for teams in VT/Northern NH because it puts a second event slightly closer to them.

Partially Correct - Districts may be capped lower if the venue has restrictions.

[plnyyanks]

Originally Posted by jweston

Am I correct in remembering that a district event is typically restricted to 40 teams? I can't find confirmation of any kind of limit but that's my recall. Having been to a couple of 40 team district events, I can't imagine making it work for much more.

It's more of a practical cap: district events are typically held in smaller venues, which means there isn't acres of pit space available like at bigger events. And the district system requires that teams get 12 matches, and the finite number of hours in the day limits the number of matches that can be scheduled. Typically, these factors lend themselves to about 40 teams being the maximum a district event can sustain.

[TD78]

Originally Posted by BrendanB

I think its a good move. Week 7 made it really difficult to arrange travel especially with airlines.

The benefit to having a short turn around for the DCMP is we are all familiar with New England and while finding close hotels isn't easy there are still plenty a little further away.

Week 7 next year is Easter weekend too...it was definitely a good move to make DCMP week 6.

[rwodonnell]

Originally Posted by Nathan Streeter

2. Greater Boston teams are definitely "winning out" with ~5-7 events within approximately a one hour drive.

We definitely feel fortunate to have 7 events within roughly an hour from Burlington! With the DCMP about 1hr 15min away, we will likely not spend on hotels for any district events, which is nice financially.

As some others have said, it would be great to see more Th-Sat events, and another one in CT would be nice too. I'm sure the committee did all they could to make a great slate of events - many thanks to those who put in so much effort!

[electroken]

Originally Posted by jweston

Am I correct in remembering that a district event is typically restricted to 40 teams?

If I'm remembering correctly, Waterbury is a 32-team event. UMASS Dartmouth may have been even smaller.

[NShep98]

Originally Posted by electroken

If I'm remembering correctly, Waterbury is a 32-team event. UMASS Dartmouth may have been even smaller.

In 2016 Waterbury had 38 teams, and Dartmouth had 32.

[katiyeh07]

Originally Posted by electroken

If I'm remembering correctly, Waterbury is a 32-team event. UMASS Dartmouth may have been even smaller.

2016 UMass Dartmouth expanded to 32 teams from 28 teams in 2015. The new venue for the SE Mass District will provide more space for more teams