How big will FIRST ever get?

[GregTheGreat]

I have been keeping a close look at this tread, reluctant to reply with any comment, but like usual I have to throw my hat in the ring. I am mainly going to comment on the "sponsorship issue" What the majority of the posts have reflected is the cost involved to be in the FIRST robotics program. The cost I believe will start going down...

Know I know what you are thinking.... You are probably saying what is this guy talking about....prices going down...

Well Here is my logic behind it....
I think that the more teams that compete, the cheaper the fees will start to be for the team. For example: Schools that buy books for there classroom (every school in the world) pay companies that manufacture the books. If you buy 100 books it is a set price per book, lets say fifty dollars. Lets say the school id large and they buy a thousand books, the school will pay a cheaper price, somewhere around forty dollars a book. Now lets say they want to buy five books, they would probably pay seventy, eighty, or ninety dollars a book. So basically the more books that are bought the cheaper they are.

I am comparing this whole "book idea" to the FIRST society. I am saying that we are buying like "100 books" in the example, the more people involved the cheaper the cost will get. Thus creating a more economical program for everyone, and seeing many more teams joining FIRST and having more and more teams compete.

Another Way Costs Will Drop:
I believe we will see that television friendly game mentioned earlier on this topic. The question I think is not a matter of if, it is a matter of when. Once we get a game that if "TV friendly" we will see FIRST being broad-casted year round, and attracting more and more high schools to join FIRST. This in turn will lower the cost by FIRST receiving money for "selling" the competition to television stations, and getting large television corporation sponsors. I would not count it out that the cost of regionals will begin to drop in the next few years, as well as the cost of the robot kit.

Once we get team numbers up near 2,000 you will see financial support from the United States Government as well from other governments such as Canada's government. Personally I think that this is one of the best things that governments can do for the future of the country. It insures the future of the countries. The more learned the citizens, the more that country will strive. I would not be surprised to see government getting involved in the FIRST program, especially if it begins being televised on big television channels.

And another thing I would like to point out....
I do not believe that sponsors are not available. Just look at how many rookies we are having this year. The numbers show that interest and money is out there. I know personally that many teams that are underfunded, often by over ten thousand dollars do every possible thing to get that money. One team I remember talking to at a regional last year did fund raisers every weekend at a local business, as well as a year round fundraiser at there school. (In addition to their local sponsorship and school sponsorship) Overall I believe they made money in the neighborhood of eight thousand dollars off of fundraisers. If the interest is there the teams will find a way to keep the team moving financially.

So In Summary (I know many of you have lives and don't want to read through my long post)

-First Will Become cheaper the more teams that we have
-Television Stations become more involved in FIRST
-Government Systems Will Become More Involved
-Sponsors of teams are still available even in our current economy.

-Greg The Great


Just as a general statement, my opinions do not reflect Team Hammond or any of its sponsors.