The ideal place for the FRC Championships?

[Koko Ed]

I never cared for the championship at Disney. The competition was spread out and disjointed and the kids were too hot and too distracted. It seemed to be about evryhting else but FIRST! And I love Disney and just not a good fit for the championship. I am perfectly happy with Atlanta.

[George1902]

I think Disney was the perfect venue for the FRC Championships. Atlanta is a decent placeholder in my mind, but I'm anxiously anticipating the day when FIRST returns to WDW.

[GeorgeTheEng]

How about at international home of FIRST. Dean's house. The Einstein matches could played in his helicopter hanger!

One of largest assembly lines on the planet... Get Boeing's Everett Washington Facility for a few days (where they assemble the 747s, 777s, and 767s). Or the Assembly building as Cape Canaveral.

Or for Media impact, what about using 4 studios at Television City in LA?

Or for nostalgia, how about at Menlo Park in Edison NJ where Edison's laboratory where he invented the lightbulb once stood?

[Erin Rapacki]

I like Atlanta too... the atmosphere of Atlanta (the restaurants, shops, & museums) invites the opportunity to hang out with FIRSTer people from all over the country. In WDW, it's nearly impossible to hang out with more than four people at a time... because everyone bickers and disagrees about what ride they want to go on, what overpriced restaurant they want to eat at, or they get lost in the crowds.

[dddriveman]

Atlanta Rocks. It is a perfect sized city, that really comes alive at night. So what that it is a ten hour drive from Dayton, OH it was worth every minute of it.

[Ali Ahmed]

I would like it to bein Las Vegas. For one reason is it would closer to the west coast for a change. Another reason is hotels galore and it could more than fit some 300 teams.

[Jessica Boucher]

Having not been to Nationals since 2002, I have yet to see the city format. But, I do think that the city that holds it needs the following criteria:

-Temperate climate. With an activity that requires so much outdoor work, it makes much more sense to be in a place that will have little finicky weather.

-Space. We're a decent conference size, and because of that we need to look at cities that are available and can handle our size in conference area as well as hotels. Even better would be to go to a place that has more than enough room to accomodate us so that a bidding war might start.

-Travel Costs. I also feel that it should also be decided by the area where the majority of the teams for them to travel to. We've had selective Championships now for long enough that a rough estimate can be made as to where the majority of teams are coming from to compete (especially the repeat visitors). If the minority of the people are coming from the west, then getting a place that's cheapest for them to travel to is key for strengthening that area.
That said, FIRST also needs to think of itself and how it will shuttle its employees there, since they are the ones handling the event. Doing a quick Orbitz search, it was significantly cheaper to fly to Orlando from Manch-vegas than it was to Houston or Atlanta.

-Support. The city and FIRST need to be excited to be together to make the best Championship they can, and it needs to be an area where ample volunteer support is available (seeing as that has been a problem in the past).

As for a specific city, that's not my call.

[jpsaul7usa]

If you like Disney but don't like Orlando, how about Anaheim? They have huge convention centers there right next to Disneyland, and the Angel's baseball stadium's not far either. I'd love to have another excuse to go to Disneyland. Hm... I think I'll start planning my next visit right now...

If not there, then Chicago. Soldier Field (where 'da Bears play) is right next door to 3 museums (Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, and the Adler Planetarium), a beautiful lake and skyline view, and the Hancock Convention Center. I think it would be the perfect location, and that has nothing to do with the fact I was born there. It just is, ya know, perfect. Downtown Chicago is also a whole lot nicer than downtown Atlanta. Navy Pier alone has more places to eat and shop than that crumby Underground Atlanta, and it also has a ferris wheel. Take that Atlanta. Who wouldn't want to have a robotics competition in the best city on Earth?

[Nathan Pell]

It is interesting to see so many people want it to come back to Central Florida. I can tell you that there is a lot of "buzz" here in Central florida to do just that. They (the powers that be) are working very hard to bring the championship back to Disney and Orlando. From what I am told it is coming from high up as the Governor's office. So who knows, the 2006 championships could be back in Sunny Florida. Besides, it is not that hot here in April. It is some of the best weather we have!

[Billfred]

Originally Posted by Nathan Pell

It is interesting to see so many people want it to come back to Central Florida. I can tell you that there is a lot of "buzz" here in Central florida to do just that. They (the powers that be) are working very hard to bring the championship back to Disney and Orlando. From what I am told it is coming from high up as the Governor's office. So who knows, the 2006 championships could be back in Sunny Florida. Besides, it is not that hot here in April. It is some of the best weather we have!

Actually, if FIRST were to go back to Florida, it'd start in 2007. Atlanta has a lock on things through 2006.

Not that it matters at this point or anything.

[tribotec_ca88]

I had also thought about las vegas...and i can tell from personal experience that vegas rocks!!! but also being u-21 i can say that it's not fun to watch those thirst-quenching adults play slots ... so it'd pretty much be a haven for mentors but what about the rest of us?? well theres the coasters but that's as fun as it gets...
i don't think the vegas community would appreciate FIRST activity too much...not many people involved in robotics & stuff...nor would we like drunk mentors showing up at the competition.

[Marc P.]

I'd argue 2 points for location of the Championship-

1) Travel- Plot the density of FIRST teams around the US, and pick a relatively centralized location relative to all the teams, so the majority of teams has the least distance to travel. This could mean midwestish, maybe even Ohio or Pennsylvania, or a bit farther south. I also don't like the idea of proximity to a relatively large tourist attraction, e.g. Disney, Six Flags, etc. Travel rates to more popular destinations tend to be a big higher, and lodging isn't cheap either, especially if we would be displacing otherwise regular customers for the 3 days we're there (most businesses don't like that). I also agree with Erin, it's much more difficult to hang out and meet new people at an amusement park. This past year in Atlanta I met a bunch of new people just hanging out, playing hacky-sack, and just wandering around a big open space full of FIRSTers.

2) Size- Disney is just plain too small for us now. I was at the championship in 2002, and it was a bit cramped. There are only so many teams you can fit into an air conditioned tent, and only so many people you can fit in the risers on each of the 3 (at the time) inside divisional fields, and it was very hot to sit in the crowd if your team was on Einstein. With something like the Georgia Dome, there's plenty of room for the crowd on each field, and plenty of room to grow in the future! If we needed to add 2 more divisions, the fields could be arranged to allow that to happen.

[Joe Ross]

My perfect place isn't just a city, it's a continent.

Antartica.

Not only do your robots have to play the game, they must transport you
and your team safetly to the competition site.

[Mike Ciance]

Hershey, Pennsylvania

this is a great town, hershey has several venues on their property, and a great park for FIRSTers to go to in their spare time. everybody can ride roller coasters, take the factory tour, and pick up a 1lb Krackel bar in the shop.

there are plenty of hotels in the area, so rooms shouldn't be a problem

o, and the weather in april is beautiful and comfortable

[Joe Matt]

Well, I really don't know a goo--- DISNEY WORLD. Ditch Epcot and use the Wide World of Sports. It can fit us, it has AC, it's close to the budget hotels, and it has Disney's parks. I know we won't see Disney for a long time, if ever, but man, I just want to get my whole team on Mission:Space just once....

AND DAVE SAYS THAT'S PIMP!!!