Overview: Nationals

[Kit Gerhart]

Originally Posted by Bcahn836

We are not bashing houston in fact the starting post reads "I just wanted to know what you thought about this years championship, what you liked, disliked or both. And how it compared to years past."
I didn't say limited to houston. Just wanted to clear that up.

I have another post on this thread, but since you want to know what we thought of this year compared to past championships, this is my opinion, based on my having attended nine years of championships:

1) Overall, I like Epcot. The atmosphere is fantastic. The food is decent. If your team stays on-property, you are probably the best place in the world for turning 15,000 teenagers free to have fun without getting into trouble. It is not that great for watching matches on the "big stage," but otherwise, from the competition standpoint, it is pretty good.

2) Atlanta, overall, is much better than Houston. There were hotels close to the competition site. The food was somewhat better. It was much easier for the drive teams to get from the pits to the playing fields. It was a little better for the spectators to get from the pits to the playing fields, and the "wrap" party was very good. The party was, to me, better than the ones at Epcot.

If I had my choice, we'd still be at Epcot, but overall, this years championship was a very good event, and with lessons learned, should be even better next year.

[DougHogg]

Definitely better than Houston.

However there needs to be 4 practice fields, 1 for each division. They don't have to have all the electronics, just a field where teams can work on their autonomous code.

We added a small lexan arm on the Thursday to hit the 10 pt ball and it was impossible to get enough practice time.

The walk for the robot was a big improvement but we burned up a lot of valuable time going to the stands and back.

[Pin Man]

Originally Posted by Kit Gerhart

I have another post on this thread, but since you want to know what we thought of this year compared to past championships, this is my opinion, based on my having attended nine years of championships:

1) Overall, I like Epcot. The atmosphere is fantastic. The food is decent. If your team stays on-property, you are probably the best place in the world for turning 15,000 teenagers free to have fun without getting into trouble. It is not that great for watching matches on the "big stage," but otherwise, from the competition standpoint, it is pretty good.

2) Atlanta, overall, is much better than Houston. There were hotels close to the competition site. The food was somewhat better. It was much easier for the drive teams to get from the pits to the playing fields. It was a little better for the spectators to get from the pits to the playing fields, and the "wrap" party was very good. The party was, to me, better than the ones at Epcot.

If I had my choice, we'd still be at Epcot, but overall, this years championship was a very good event, and with lessons learned, should be even better next year.

You have no idea on how much I agree with you...

[George A.]

I can't reall add all that much, due to the fact that everything is covered by previous posts. Anyway, overall EPCOT was my favorite by far, I went once as a freshman for the competition and once as a sophmore as part of Lego League. I also agree that Disney is the worlds best babysitter, but you also have to realize that turing thousands of teens loose on a park, can lead to inciedent regardless of their belief in GP. From what I heard one of the factors of the Nationals moving out of Disney is the fact that the employees of Disney spent weeks removing stickers and logos, and whatnot from their rides that were place there by FIRST team members. Granted there had to have been other reasons behind the decision but that was one of the contributing factors. Just figured i'd throw in my $0.02

[Pin Man]

Originally Posted by M.O.R.T.

I can't reall add all that much, due to the fact that everything is covered by previous posts. Anyway, overall EPCOT was my favorite by far, I went once as a freshman for the competition and once as a sophmore as part of Lego League. I also agree that Disney is the worlds best babysitter, but you also have to realize that turing thousands of teens loose on a park, can lead to inciedent regardless of their belief in GP. From what I heard one of the factors of the Nationals moving out of Disney is the fact that the employees of Disney spent weeks removing stickers and logos, and whatnot from their rides that were place there by FIRST team members. Granted there had to have been other reasons behind the decision but that was one of the contributing factors. Just figured i'd throw in my $0.02

I agree... The stickers and stuff did over do it... hahaha We did that but didn't have stickers... We put up signs and put buttons everywhere... It was awesome... I went in my freshman year and it was unbelievable... I would do anything to go back there...

[Andy Baker]

No one seems to be talking about the cost of these different locations.

Money is a huge factor. Comparing WDW and Epcot to Atlanta, our team saved $15,000 by going to Atlanta.

Our team loved WDW. We like the security of the grounds and the "play time" especially. Is it worth $15k? Good question.

Andy B.

[Joe Matt]

Our team didn't save anything between Epcot and Houston (we spent more at Houston), but I think they would save just a little bit more money by going to Atlanta, this including airfair, and we took a bus. I think it's up to the teams if the extra 15k is worth it. If kids get excided about technology and more people want to join FIRST since it's held at Disney, then it's worth the extra $15k.

[Pin Man]

Originally Posted by JosephM

Our team didn't save anything between Epcot and Houston (we spent more at Houston), but I think they would save just a little bit more money by going to Atlanta, this including airfair, and we took a bus. I think it's up to the teams if the extra 15k is worth it. If kids get excided about technology and more people want to join FIRST since it's held at Disney, then it's worth the extra $15k.

Very very true... I agree... I loved having it at Epcot... They told us we would not be buying the hopper passes unless we fund raised that for ourselves and you better believe within a week we had enough money... It was an unbelievable experience and I would do anything to get back there...

[Kit Gerhart]

Originally Posted by Andy Baker

No one seems to be talking about the cost of these different locations.

Money is a huge factor. Comparing WDW and Epcot to Atlanta, our team saved $15,000 by going to Atlanta.

Our team loved WDW. We like the security of the grounds and the "play time" especially. Is it worth $15k? Good question.

Andy B.

Cost is, indeed a factor for many, if not most teams. With the usual number of TechnoKats during the years I was with Team 45, that $15K would be maybe $350 a person, but that is for a one or two day longer trip, flying rather than driving, and with at least one full "play day" at Disney before or after the competition. Is it worth it? I guess that depends on how much you like the "play time," how good your team is at fund raising, how willing team members are to pay more money "out of pocket" and various other factors. Also, by having the championship somewhere other than WDW, you tend to get team members more interested in the competition, and less for a "fun vacation." That can certainly be argued to be a good thing.

[Pin Man]

Originally Posted by Kit Gerhart

Cost is, indeed a factor for many, if not most teams. With the usual number of TechnoKats during the years I was with Team 45, that $15K would be maybe $350 a person, but that is for a one or two day longer trip, flying rather than driving, and with at least one full "play day" at Disney before or after the competition. Is it worth it? I guess that depends on how much you like the "play time," how good your team is at fund raising, how willing team members are to pay more money "out of pocket" and various other factors. Also, by having the championship somewhere other than WDW, you tend to get team members more interested in the competition, and less for a "fun vacation." That can certainly be argued to be a good thing.

Well of coarse it would be 15K for a big team like his... For 45 (which is a smaller team) it of coarse would be less... I don't know... You're right I guess... Money is a factor for most teams...