What do you think your registration fees are for?

[Doug G]

Originally Posted by Steve W

The fees do cover the KOP. They do pay for shipping. They do pay for staff. They do pay for promotional items. They do pay for fields. they do pay for development of games and field engineering. They pay for web space and development. They cover scoring systems. They help some regionals stay afloat.

They do not pay for venues (some for Championship). They don't pay for team parties. They don't pay for volunteer food at events. They don't pay for any regional costs, eg video, audio.

Well said, I attended the Sac Reg Planning Committee last year, and was shocked that the fees do not cover Regional Competition expenses (venue, A/V, Parties, etc..) It takes anywhere from $150,000 - $250,000 (for the west coast ones I've heard of) to hold a regional. Most successful regionals are generously sponsored by local companies / corporations. FIRST helps out some of the regionals if they are in a bind, but it is their goal for the regionals to be self-sufficient after 3 years or so. I understand this why the Pacific Northwest Regional moved a few years ago from Seattle to Portland. It was having trouble sustaining itself in Seattle.