Food at regionals?

[Team303Mom]

The NJ Regional food was as bad as the food in the Astrodome in Houston last year. When you attend an event at such arenas, you are usually there for one event. We spent three entire days at this event. First there was not any breakfast type foods or coffee and most of us got up very early. Charging $3.00 per bottle for water should be considered a crime especially when Disney provided us with water coolers; water is a basic necessity in life not an afforded luxury. The food selections were very unhealthy and at times not edible. Prior to the competition, I called the food concession folks to inquire about non-meat meals for some of our students. I was told that they had pizza, nachos, pretzels and PB & J sandwiches. If this was not acceptable, they could bring their lunch with them. I inquired about salads and other healthier sandwiches and the response was they do not get much of a calling for that type of food. Of course not for a 2-3 hour sporting event, but for 3 full days, all of our arteries are clogged now. FIRST should consider the welfare of the students when arranging the venues. If they are willing to provide food for the VIP folks then they should arrange for the rest of us to have a decent lunch. One last note - 2 of our students called out for pizza delivery on the advice/help from the security guards and then were chastized for it!

[AMS]

For those arguing that every major sports audience has to pay for the food too, but do the players themselves have to pay for it, do the coaches and the ball boys have to buy water from the concession stands, i didnt thnk so. Instead they all cater their food from outside places of thier choice...

So that argument is weak, and if anyone is arguing that no one can be denied bringing drinking water, well they will point to a water fountain...

Yes we always lose, but thats life

[Paradox1350]

The prices were ridiculus, but I didn't really eat anything for 3 days. I fed off of Robot. I only ate on the third day, when we were only watching the finals. But down in the pits there was free water for us (at BAE at least) so that was exceptionally nice.

[Adam Y.]

So that argument is weak, and if anyone is arguing that no one can be denied bringing drinking water, well they will point to a water fountain...

Actually by law in some states they do have to give you a cup of water if you ask for it. I forget which ones though. Then again why not bring an empty water bottle and fill it up with water.

[Bluesky55J]

Atleast at rutgers there was a resturant type place right next door. with actual food. it was like $6.00 for a burger at this place. thats stupid.

[RoboMom]

Forget food, we always need water! I wish we could just bring a cooler of water bottles. It's always amazing hot, everyone always gets dehydrated, thereby leading to all the headaches. In venues where we've brought the cooler we've gone through at least a case of water per day. I spent a lot of time going up and down those stairs at SBA, to fill my lone bottle at the one fountain.

[Alex Salomonsky]

At VCU, I was dead thristy the first day, but i wasn't going to pay $3.00 for a mountain dew, so the next two days i shoved some bottled water down my pants and they didn't check (understandably), so i had some bottles of water. It was funny when i pulled them out, and people were like i can't believe you did that.

[Stefan]

Lucklly right across the street for VCU was Ukropps which had food for uber cheapness. So people on our team got food for there instead. Well at least the people who could eat anyways. Yeh prics were crazy. Way more than what I expected.

[sciencegeek3]

At portland we were allowed to each bring in 1 water bottle... we could not just carry in a case of water for the team, each member had to carry their own. So that was at least a good thing.

[Kaelia]

At VCU on Saturday, teams were allowed to bring in water due to the Nova outbreak...

[Tuba4]

Just a quick question for those who attended regionals this past weekend. Did the overpriced bottled water have the FIRST logo on it? At one of the competitions I attended last year (Buckeye, Pittsburgh, Nationals) I remember that the bottled water had the FIRST logo on the label.

[Sscamatt]

Lots of teams that came from out of state on a coach bus ordered food out Friday and Saturday and had it delivered to the bus in the parking lot. Saved lots of money that way.

[Mongoose]

I skipped lunch on Friday and Saturday at the PNW regional. On Thursday they said that if they found a team member eating or drinking outside food or drinks, his or her team would be kicked out for the rest of the day; I ate a "premium Fletcher hot dog" which cost $4.00 which was a bun and a 5 inch sausage. I got water out of the drinking fountains, but they didn't provide much water. I remember previously (back when it was at UW) they didn't mention anything about outside food or drink and I don't think they even looked at us when we ate sandwiches in the stands.

[RoboMom]

Originally Posted by Sscamatt

Lots of teams that came from out of state on a coach bus ordered food out Friday and Saturday and had it delivered to the bus in the parking lot. Saved lots of money that way.

They were also making announcements saying that the parking lot was considered part of the Arena and saying that this was not allowed. But it was happening anyway.

[Carol]

Originally Posted by RoboMom007

They were also making announcements saying that the parking lot was considered part of the Arena and saying that this was not allowed. But it was happening anyway.

At NJ, we had pizza delivered to the parking lot on Thursday, which was eaten in the parking lot. Then there was an announcement that the parking lot is arena property and food is not allowed to be delivered there! Very petty on their part. On Friday and Sat. we sent someone out to get pizza which we then ate from the back of the car. No one objected to that, although we were discrete about it - as discrete as you can be wearing such bright-colored shirts. (And we lucked out that the rain stopped right when the pizzas arrived). The rules said you could have food in your car so it wasn't a direct violation.

I understand that food concessions are a big money maker for the arena and they are entitled to charge out what they wish, outrageous as it is. I also agree if you are there for a 2 hours event eating nachos or fried chicken is fine, but you can't keep that up for three days. And there really wasn't anywhere within walking distance to get food. Next year teams should be prepared for the food problem if the rules don't change.

As for the water, I saw many people bring in empty bottles that they then filled from the drinking fountains. The arena officials didn't seem to object to that.