Championships for dummies

[Conor Ryan]

Tournament structure:
Lets try to make this simple, if you want an analogy, use NCAA March Madness, 4 Divisions (Archimedes, Curie, Galileo, Newton) then the winners of each Division square off on Einstein. Vex and FLL play on the DaVinci field.

Get Orientated:
The first thing anyone should do is get to know where you are, take a look at some maps (GWCC has a nice Virtual Tour that covers the entire site), look for the quick ways to get from place to place. The Georgia Dome and World Congress Center is no small venue. The path to get your robot to the field is long, so if you have time make your cart a little easier to handle.

Foodage:
Breakfast- If you don't eat at your hotel (I'd advise you do this or make other arrangements) I believe, there is a Dunkin' Doughnuts in the CNN center food court.

Lunch- Don't like arena prices/food? Go to the CNN center, its a short walk, it'll be nice weather, the food court is massive. CNN center will cater to just about any taste you feel like.

Dinner- No CNN center? Talk to the concierge at your hotel, theres a good amount of places to go out to. Just remember there are some bad sections of Atlanta (that doesn't mean theres bad food though)

Transportation:
If TIMS says your hotel is within walking distance, walk it. It's a really neat thing watching a ton of teams pour into the streets of Atlanta. Take the MARTA out of the airport, and thats probably the only time you may need it, a team can be well supported within walking distance of the main hotels. Sneakers are recommended, you do a ton of walking in Atlanta.

Other:
Go in with the mentality that you'll have the time of your life, and you will. Nothing is like Atlanta, its a great experince.