2006 Wisconsin Regional Feedback

[Sean Schuff]

The first FIRST Wisconsin Regional was a smashing success with only a few areas for improvement.

First, the positives...

Pit areas were great with plenty of room.

Staff was awesome - very helpful and frielndly - always reminding me about those darn safety glasses!

Load in - load out was smooth and painless.

Overall event site was good.

Great team social at the zoo! I finally got to see some of Copioli's ancestors in the Ape House! I believe they were spider monkeys!


Now the downside...

Bus parking - we paid dearly to park across the street. Option 2 - the Summerfest grounds - seemed unrealistic.
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Food - NO TAILGATING IN WISCONSIN??!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!! Is Milwaukee that far from the Frozen Tundra of Lambeau to not appreciate a hot brat and cold soda on a cool afternoon? We did it anyway but were told that it would not be allowed next year. With food prices the way they are at any competition venue (and I understand they need to make some money) and most restaurants downtown being either sports bars (not good for kids) or expensive (not good for kids), our best alternative was to tailgate. We've been doing it for years at all the events we go to and even did it on the sidewalk in Cleveland! It makes attending the competitions much more practical for our kids, all of whom have already shelled out enough money just to attend the competition.

All in all it was a good event and we're glad we attended.

A HUGE thanks to all of the teams who recommended us for the Johnson & Johnson Sportsmanship Award - what an honor! We're glad to help out anyone who stops by. As Terry Sherman (Plexus engineer) put it on Thursday night after a long day of helping other teams "We were doing FIRST".

Thanks for the good time!

Sean