Registration 2017

[Brandon Holley]

Originally Posted by Mark McLeod

South Florida gained the most teams (9) at noon open registration-onto the roster at least. Scattered gains elsewhere.

Excited and relieved to contribute to this!

125 is stoked to be heading back down to Florida.

-Brando

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by Brandon Holley

Excited and relieved to contribute to this!

125 is stoked to be heading back down to Florida.

-Brando

And 79 is excited to compete with you in Florida again

[MARS_James]

Originally Posted by Brandon Holley

Excited and relieved to contribute to this!

125 is stoked to be heading back down to Florida.

-Brando

Here's hoping we don't have the same unfortunate elimination mishap as we did in 2015

[Owen Busler]

303 got waitlisted to Hudson valley regional. Hope we get in!

[Mark McLeod]

8 to 16 split on pre-qualified teams signed up for Houston vs St Louis Champs.

[Alpha Beta]

Originally Posted by Mark McLeod

8 to 16 split on pre-qualified teams signed up for Houston vs St Louis Champs.

Hmmm... It was 10 to 16 a little earlier today. Did 2 teams unregister for Houston? Thought I saw 254 in the Houston Pool at one point.

[Mark McLeod]

Here are the events still showing inviting open slots, although many other events have hidden room to pull from waitlists:

22 ---- Western Canada Regional
17 ---- ONT District - Windsor Essex Great Lakes Event
13 ---- Idaho Regional
13 ---- NE District - Greater Boston Event
13 ---- ONT District - Nipissing University Event
10 ---- PNW District - West Valley Event
10 ---- PNW District - Mount Vernon Event
8 ----- Arkansas Rock City Regional
8 ----- ONT District - Victoria Park Collegiate Event
6 ----- Arizona North Regional
4 ----- ONT District - Western University, Engineering Event
3 ----- Lone Star North Regional
2 ----- Bayou Regional
2 ----- PNW District - Central Washington University Event
2 ----- PNW District - Lake Oswego Event
2 ----- PNW District - Auburn Event
1 ----- Rocket City Regional
1 ----- NC District - UNC Asheville Event


Another way to look at it is the events that don't have enough teams yet for a full playoff schedule:
18 ----- FIM District - Kettering University Event #2
22 ----- Idaho Regional
22 ----- NE District - Greater Boston Event
22 ----- ONT District - Victoria Park Collegiate Event
22 ----- Laguna Regional
23 ----- ONT District - Nipissing University Event
23 ----- Lone Star North Regional

[Thayer McCollum]

I was wondering at what point does an event (regionals specifically) become too large an get split into two smaller events? What is the biggest regional this year, in terms of attendance? What are the criteria for splitting a regional? I'm wondering because the Denver regional has it's typical 50ish teams registered, which seems to me like a lot compared to other regionals, but it has had this number of attendees for 5+ years. I was just wondering what it might take to create Northern and Southern Colorado Regionals. IMO Colorado would need to produce another 5-10 teams for the 2018 season to potentially have two regionals in 2019 but I am by no means an expert.

[alectronic]

Originally Posted by Thayer McCollum

I was wondering at what point does an event (regionals specifically) become too large an get split into two smaller events? What is the biggest regional this year, in terms of attendance?

It's usually somewhere in the 60-64 range (assuming the venue can handle that size) maximum. Beyond that, if the venue can handle more they can do a double event (2 fields, 2 separate events, 1 venue) or do two un-related events, etc.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Thayer McCollum

I was wondering at what point does an event (regionals specifically) become too large an get split into two smaller events? What is the biggest regional this year, in terms of attendance? What are the criteria for splitting a regional? I'm wondering because the Denver regional has it's typical 50ish teams registered, which seems to me like a lot compared to other regionals, but it has had this number of attendees for 5+ years. I was just wondering what it might take to create Northern and Southern Colorado Regionals. IMO Colorado would need to produce another 5-10 teams for the 2018 season to potentially have two regionals in 2019 but I am by no means an expert.

The typical cap is 66 teams--last year, L.A. and San Diego (and SVR, I think) all had that cap, and only the Week 1 in that bunch didn't fill it. That isn't a hard-and-fast cap, but it seems to be "what works the best" in the case of regionals that everybody wants to attend. More teams--even if there's space--will result in even fewer plays (a 66-team event generally runs about 8-9 plays/team in quals), so that's kind of frowned upon. (And some folks make a big deal about how 60+ is too many.)

I would say that the criteria for splitting a regional are essentially the same as the criteria for starting a new regional, which your Regional Director will know a little bit better than me--but I'll try anyways. By the way, start now--it can take a year or two to get a regional running.

You'll need a Regional Planning Committee, which will then be responsible for filling in other important details like suitable venues, volunteers, food, power if needed, internet connection for the field... pretty much everything the regional needs.

You'll also need to have a need for said new regional. Your FSMs and RDs will be able to see that a little bit better, but basically you'd need enough teams within a reasonable range to support both. I ran some quick numbers, and I'd suspect that the North regional in event of a split would have a much easier time attracting teams than the South (other than the continual pressure from CA on regionals located in adjacent states...), but with enough double-play teams (playing at both events) I think it could work out.


Short version: You're probably at the point to start thinking about another event, and discussing it with the Senior Mentors and the Regional Directors, but without some growth that also needs to happen, and the organizing body, it'll be quite a while.

[Jon Stratis]

Originally Posted by Thayer McCollum

I was wondering at what point does an event (regionals specifically) become too large an get split into two smaller events? What is the biggest regional this year, in terms of attendance? What are the criteria for splitting a regional? I'm wondering because the Denver regional has it's typical 50ish teams registered, which seems to me like a lot compared to other regionals, but it has had this number of attendees for 5+ years. I was just wondering what it might take to create Northern and Southern Colorado Regionals. IMO Colorado would need to produce another 5-10 teams for the 2018 season to potentially have two regionals in 2019 but I am by no means an expert.

North Star/10K Lakes are across the street from each other, at the same time, and hold 60/63 teams, respectively. And have done so for many years. In Duluth, Northern Lights and Lake Superior are in the same building (pits are in conference halls across from each other, fields are back to back in an attached hockey arena) and hold 60/63 teams, and have done so for many years.

Looking at last year's regionals, I see sizes: 64, 60, 63, 60, 41, 63, 49, 52, 66, 63, 59, 49, 53, 50, 52, 66, 66, 52, 40, 56, 36, 58, 36... and that's just through week 3. So really, 50 isn't on the bigger size - the median size for the first 3 weeks of regionals (plus week .5) is 56.

If you want to get the regionals to split, get the demand for them up over 65, preferably more like 80... then you'll have enough to justify two regionals.

Keep in mind adding another regional means that much more work for volunteers, recruiting more volunteers, finding a location, additional sponsorship to fund the regional... it's a big endeavor adding a new regional!

[tjwolter]

Something of a Registration question. When I try to sign up for Kickoff event I get a message that says my data has been Saved, not that it has been Sent.
Another FIRST website glitch? I will probably give them a call on this and a few assorted matters (they are also not showing our payment as received) but curious as to whether this is a general problem. TW

[Mark McLeod]

Originally Posted by tjwolter

Something of a Registration question. When I try to sign up for Kickoff event I get a message that says my data has been Saved, not that it has been Sent.
Another FIRST website glitch? I will probably give them a call on this and a few assorted matters (they are also not showing our payment as received) but curious as to whether this is a general problem. TW

That's what I get too, but the information is all there after I hit "Submit" when I later go back so I think that's the way it works.
If you talk to FIRST HQ and find out different please let us all know.

[Francis-134]

Mark, thank you once again for doing all the data collection, analysis and reporting. It's always a blast to see it all in one place!

How does the growth chart look this year? Last time you posted it, it appeared we were on track for a smaller than normal increase of teams.

[Mark McLeod]

I'm at an off-season so the next chart update will be delayed.