FIRST Competition Entry Fee Increases for 2005

[Kevin Sevcik]

I'm mostly concerned with the impact this will have on rookie teams and FIRST's overall growth rate. $5000+ is already a large amount for a team to raise to start out with, and adding a extra K will hurt. I think what will hurt most though, will be the NASA grants. NASA gives out hundreds of 5K grants to rookie teams, but I don't think they could bear a straight 20% increase in the money they're putting out. Especially without it going to more teams. If NASA has to cut the number of teams they fund, the growth rate is going to take a sharp dive.

Also, I know all this is going to fund FIRST and such, but I'm questioning the logic of a team paying more money to go to one of the new streamlined regionals with no party and reduced AV....