Will nationals ever be back in Disney?

[KTorak]

I've never been to nationals, but i'll be there this year. I heard Dallas was cool, and so is Atlanta, but I'd like to see it somewhere out west (San Fransisco is a nice place, or they could even put it in like Arizona). I think Disney is a little over rated period.

[MrToast]

Ya know, I could forsee the day when the nats are in Salt Lake City at the Delta Center there.... that would be kinda convenient for me.....

Dave

[Kevin Sevcik]

Originally Posted by KTorak

I've never been to nationals, but i'll be there this year. I heard Dallas was cool, and so is Atlanta, but I'd like to see it somewhere out west (San Fransisco is a nice place, or they could even put it in like Arizona). I think Disney is a little over rated period.

Ack! That was in Houston, not Dallas. They're only 200+ miles apart. I mean, I know that just next door down here in Texas, but still....

Originally Posted by Scott team 48

I take it you didn't go to nationals in Texas, if you did you would think that Atlanta's walk was nothing.

That was an unfortunate oversight by FIRST in the midst of moving nationals from EPCOT to Houston in the space of 6 months or so. So cut us a little slack for saving Nationals, wouldja?

*Pauses*

*Shakes fist at kids on his lawn*

[Not2B]

Been to EPCOT parking lot.
Been to the ATL, baby!

Atlanta was really nice. And the town, as far as I could tell, really went out of their way to be robot-friendly. The arena was great. Weather was nice. The olympic park was a great place to have a wrap-up party.

Disney gave too many distractions. Lots of people ran off to ride spaceship earth or go eat in China or America - and forgot to check out the robots, meet with other teams, and participate in the grand festival known as FIRST. Mainly because Disney IS really cool.

In Atlanta, FIRST is a big deal, not just people in the parking lot.

Thanks ATL, baby!! (And THANK YOU, Sir Charles, for adding ATL to my vocab.)

[Erin Rapacki]

I agree that Atlanta is a good choice. FIRST outgrew Disney three years before we left and I highly doubt we'll ever be back there. I don't miss the manufactured magic of Disney because Championships creates magic in itself; wherever the event may be held.

[Stephen Kowski]

man im tired of driving.....bring it to tampa....we got the ice palace (oops, now the st. Pete times forum)....beaches are less than an hour away....ybor city for all the adult mentors....come on do the right thing here and save me some gas $$

mainly im just tired of driving all over the southeast.....which includes orlando ($%#* I-4 what a terrible road)

[Ryan Albright]

Originally Posted by Stephen Kowski

man im tired of driving.....bring it to tampa....we got the ice palace (oops, now the st. Pete times forum)....beaches are less than an hour away....ybor city for all the adult mentors....come on do the right thing here and save me some gas $$

mainly im just tired of driving all over the southeast.....which includes orlando ($%#* I-4 what a terrible road)

No one likes a cry baby, plus the only thing good in tampa is the hard rock casino......wait on second thought BRING IT TO TAMPA

[Justin]

I think that Nationals at Disney were pretty cool. Maybe because I don't know anything else since I haven't been to any of the other nationals but most of the stories I've heard seem to indicate that logistically Nationals @ Disney worked out better. Frankly I'm not sure that we've ever heard the full story as to why FIRST and Disney parted ways and likely never will. All I know is I have some great memories from some of the Disney Nationals. I think I speak to everyone who ever attended nationals there when I say...say it with me...

"Please stand clear of the doors. Por Favor Metengan se alijados de las puertas." (sorry if I botched the Spanish spelling.)

Justin

[Donut]

I wasn't at Nationals in Disney, but it seems like Disney would be too big a distraction, especially for some of the kids on our team.

The Nationals in Atlanat was great, lots of close hotels and a pit area that wasn't really that crowded. My only question is why does it need to be there 3 times in a row (that's the current plan)? FIRST should try to work out a deal between two places for Nationals a good distance apart and alternate between them every year.

[KenWittlief]

Arnt we getting a little national-ecentric here? what about a championship in Toronto?

Tokyo?

London?

Singapore?

BTW, one great thing about the field being outdoors at WDW - The Xcats handed out buttons to people in the parks, inviting them to come see the FIRST matches

the buttons said

"There are 298 robots outside

and they want to SEE YOU!"

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by KenWittlief

Arnt we getting a little national-ecentric here? what about a championship in Toronto?

Tokyo?

London?

Singapore?

BTW, one great thing about the field being outdoors at WDW - The Xcats handed out buttons to people in the parks, inviting them to come see the FIRST matches

the buttons said

"There are 298 robots outside

and they want to SEE YOU!"

We still have some of those buttons.

[Rombus]

Originally Posted by KenWittlief

"There are 298 robots outside

and they want to SEE YOU!"

I think we need some serious national exposure! Think about having first televised on a major network? Heck, the current biggest craze on tv is watching people PLAY CARDS, Personally robots are much more intresting!

Im partial to Disney as a location since my parents are DVC memebers

[Cory]

Originally Posted by Rombus

I think we need some serious national exposure! Think about having first televised on a major network?

Kinda like when CNN was doing their reports to footage of nats in the dome last year?

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Rombus

I think we need some serious national exposure! Think about having first televised on a major network? Heck, the current biggest craze on tv is watching people PLAY CARDS, Personally robots are much more intresting!

Im partial to Disney as a location since my parents are DVC memebers

We have videos of ESPN coverage of the championship back in the mid 90's. It would be nice if FIRST got national coverage but it obviously would not get the full 8 hour coverage people crave so perhaps it's best we get the webcasts.

FIRST outgrew Disney....Disney really didn't want us there unless you wanted to pay some ridiculous costs (As we joked, "Disney Inflation")..it was time to move on.

The #1 reason (my opinion) that Atlanta was the choice is because Atlanta's primary airport is one of the busiest in the nation...ive seen flights through Orbitz to fly round trip from Indianapolis to Atlanta for $155. Flights are cheaper, hotels are cheaper (well depending on where you stay of course)....


Anyway, FIRST is under contract with the GA Dome 1 more year after this year...and who knows about an extension