Thoughts on Robot Wars?

[Jeff K.]

Originally Posted by Bill Beatty

A friend of mine has predicted that battling robots will continue to loose popularity, and will gradually fad away. Meanwhile, FIRST robotics will grow and continue for a long, long time.

Mr. Bill

They already took Battlebots off the air, and next is gonna go Robot Wars. Probably in a year or so when FIRST gets really famous, they're going to broadcast the regionals and the championship, and maybe even make an American Robot, like team 121 has been doing. http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...threadid=33082 It's awesome. So pretty much FIRST is gonna be the biggest robot thing soon.

[JoeXIII'007]

Originally Posted by Stonefan5271138

They already took Battlebots off the air, and next is gonna go Robot Wars. Probably in a year or so when FIRST gets really famous, they're going to broadcast the regionals and the championship, and maybe even make an American Robot, like team 121 has been doing. http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...threadid=33082 It's awesome. So pretty much FIRST is gonna be the biggest robot thing soon.

Gee, and with all the sponsorship, that not only FIRST gets, but all the teams, FIRST is going to a be a superpower of sorts.

It's going to be crazy.

[russell]

Has anyone seen any numbers on how much money goes into FIRST every year? It has to be tremendous. Most teams use up at least ten thousand worth of materials alone every year. Multiply that times 1500 teams and that is 15 million, then theres travel expenses, food, computers, and the cost of putting on regionals and such.

[Jeff K.]

Originally Posted by JoeXIII'007

Gee, and with all the sponsorship, that not only FIRST gets, but all the teams, FIRST is going to a be a superpower of sorts.

It's going to be crazy.

Well...just remember, gracious professionalism, they might donate the money towards a foundation or start more programs for younger kids so they get started in robotics. FIRST isn't a money hungry company.

[IA-Howitzer]

Well, of course they have tons of money. Personaly I would guess about 25-50 million per year. That might sound like it is a bit much, but they have tons of huge name brand sponsors. Coca Cola bought some air time at the National event and had their logo out on the screen for a while. On top of all the other costs, they have to have enough money to buy transporation for themselves (Segways)and tons of other expeses.

[Joe Matt]

Originally Posted by IA-Howitzer

Well, of course they have tons of money. Personaly I would guess about 25-50 million per year. That might sound like it is a bit much, but they have tons of huge name brand sponsors. Coca Cola bought some air time at the National event and had their logo out on the screen for a while. On top of all the other costs, they have to have enough money to buy transporation for themselves (Segways)and tons of other expeses.

May I suggest looking at the 2004 Annual Summary? (p. 21)

http://www.usfirst.org/about/2004/annualreport2004.pdf

BTW, the Segways are brought in by the judges themselves, FIRST did not buy them.