A Not So Gentle reminder to display Gracious Professionalism

[mixmasta321]

Hey all,
not to be a nag or anything about GP, but at the St. Louis regional FIRST itself corded off an entire section of seats including the aisle with caution tape for what i am guessing were the VIPs, there were only about 10 people max sitting there and at least 50 seats. This action blocked off our only easy exit to and from the field/pits, which was not advantageous for our scouting team. We had to go all the way up to the top of the arena and back down the stairs again just to get to the arena floor. I know that the VIPs and sponsors play a big part in this organization but it seemed like it would have been a hazard to anybody in an emergency situation. Oh well maybe im just nagging but I thank them for fixing this dilemma in the second day of competition.

[Rich Wong]

Originally Posted by thewizard16

Rich, you might be on to something. I think reserved seating could be a nice security blanket for teams that want to make sure they've got the seats they'll need, but I think it would ultimately have some major problems. There are two reasons.

One- People will complain a LOT about "the angle" they view from or that "they got there early and should have had the seats in the middle"... etc.
Two- Some teams are bound to reserve way more seats than they'll actually need, and then we'll be back where we started.

But, it could still be a good idea.

Agreed and good points.
With random assignments of the rows/blocks of seats made before the teams arrive on Thursday to minimumize bias for one team over another. If they get good or bad seat then it is just luck. This also eliminates team members rushing in on Thursday with a row of tape to hold seats.

The regional organizer will issue seating maps to the teams on Thursday registration. They will indicates the team's reserved seated. This may hopefully eliminate some of the problem seen at regionals with small seating capacity (like NYC).

[Cory]

If you *really* wanted to do something like that, tally up the total number of people on all the teams (As reported to FIRST through the TIMS) and find the average of that, then give that number of seats to every team. If a team wants the best seating, they show up earliest, and put their team name on the section of a sign that has a seating diagram, where they want to sit.

Cory

[mtaman02]

In some places hosting a regional competition. It can be cold or warm (depending where your at) Listen to the weather report hours b4 you leave for the cometition. Even if you live just a few blocks away from the site. Knowing what the weather will be like will avoid unnesscary clothing clutter other then Team Jackets.

The first come first serve idea could work as well. The teams that show up the earliest. Can mark where they would like to sit. However this could be done months in advance espicially if its the same venue from the past year.

Unfortunately NYC does not have the extra seating to host clothing (not like NJ anyway where Half of one side is Field / Team Sitting and the other half was the Pits and empty chairs.

Bring what you will need to the competition and not stuff that will clutter the entertainment. I see many team members who walk around with Game Boys. Your going to cheer your team on not to see who can save The princess in Mario Bros. I'm pretty certain that the Competition is exciting enough with out Tetris being played. However if you do bring some side entertainment label it and also put it in the suggested box above when not in use instead of leaving it in ure jacket which could be blocking seats. (Teams can't say they don't have a KOP box b/c A) Each team gets 2 per year B) If you don't have a KOP box I'm sure soem teams out there have the Stack Attack Bins from last year.

A basic kit of things to bring is one or two of the KOP boxes that way you can throw all your stuff in the boxes (plus its stackable). Which means if you stack it correctly they'll be some space saving going on.

Other then that I'm pretty cool with how the teams cheer on everyone. If someone were to jump up and make some sudden cheers i would keep my mouth quiet yes it disturbs me watching the game but i know i would do the same thing if i was sitting in their shoes. I'll edit this post if I find any other ideas

[EddieMcD]

Let's look at things from the other PoV: a loner (such as myself) looking for a place to sit. I myself will choose a place to sit for one of two reasons. Either I have friends on the team I am sitting with, or I want a place to get a nice view of the competition (although IMO the higher seats are better view points, but I digress). The first choice is really easy to get a seat with the team. The second is a little difficult. I always ask if I can sit in a team's section. And to this day, no one's said no to me. You can talk about the game with some new faces and get some nice camera shots without obstructing someone's view.

Anywho, the moral of the story: ask a team if you can nab one of their seats. I'm pretty sure most people will let you.

[tkwetzel]

I mostly agree with Mr. Wong's suggestion, but I have a few suggestions. Seating reservations could be done online before the event at first come first serve with a limited number of seats per team (no more than the number of people on your team attending and less for HUGE teams). If your team is huge...then you shouldn't really mind breaking up into 2 groups, because each group should still have plenty of people. There should also be some reserved VIP seating in the front and some non-reserved general sesating as well...for non-team associated spectators. Overall, I believe that this would solve many of the problems...and for people who would like a better view, you could move to another seat for your team's matches (like EddieMcD said, people usually let you sit with them if possible) or stand somewhere like down behind the drivers station or elsewhere out of the way of other people. Also, the seating could have pre-planned sections in the middle/front (not by number of people per team) that would be reserved for people in alliances for the finals. There is always a break between seeding matches and quarter-final matches...plenty of time for teams to switch seats to allow the only teams left competing to have better seats for the more entertaining finals. It would be like an extra reward for getting that far. This system probably still have many flaws, but it is just a suggestion waiting for improvements.

[Frank(Aflak)]

Originally Posted by skrussel

To teams who continue to save seats at competitions:
Puh-leeeze stop it!

There is room for everyone.

As 9 of my team members sat down in open seats to watch the matches at GLR, we were actually cursed at and told to leave by several members of another participating team who claimed the territory as their own. Parents on this team appeared to condone this behavior.

The offending team will be attending the National Championship, and I hope they calm down and learn to display decent behavior by then.

I know what you are talking about. At Stl, would take a break from working on the bot (when everything was OK, at least) to go watch some matches. I would go into the stands, find an EMPTY ROW, sit down, only to have some lady from THREE ROWS UP yell at me for sitting in her team's section!

There are no assigned team sections!

Am I against saving seats? YES! there are not enough seats for every single person there to have a personal reserved seat! there are enough seats for everyone who wants to sit to sit, but not enough seats that everyone who wants to sit can have one, and everyone working in the pits can have one, etc. etc.

please, stop saving seats. When I am looking for a seat to watch elimanation and there are nearly no open seats, to find an empty section (no jackets, etc.) only to be told not to sit there by some person who apparently thinks they own the building . . jeez! I wound up sitting behind the driver's station, where the view is blocked by the ball holder, only to watch those 'reserved' seats sit empty for the entire elimination rounds.

Argh. If I hadn't wanted to avoid a scene I would have told those designated 'seat-savers' to go **** themselves.

Putting a jacket over a chair is one thing, but putting an adult in the stands to tell non-team members not to sit in a section is downright wrong. Grrr.

About gracious proffessionalism. I was entering early in the morning on Saturday, and held the door for a couple guys pushing a tool cart. As they passed, they said something about that being GP. Is the world so wrong that holding a door for a couple guys pushing a cart is special? Isn't that supposed to be normal and ordinary and whatnot?