Championships location from 07 and onwards

[Tomasz Bania]

Originally Posted by 379Robocat

This seems to be one of these never ending threads. For now and until 2008 or 2009 we are stuck with Atlanta. People are going to have to accept this and have to deal with this until then. And Epcot will probably never happen again. If it would why would FIRST leave in the first place? Right now looking at all the possibilities Atlanta is a good choice. If it wasn't, would FIRST have resigned a contract? Also if these places are what everyone says they are don't you think FIRST has already looked at those possibilities? Until then this is what they have to deal with. Who knows maybe they know some place that's expanding and will be able to host a Championship in a few years. But every year FIRST keeps growing bigger and bigger and places to hold it are getting smaller and smaller. I'm not trying to bash this thread I'm not, but the Championships are going to be in Atlanta for 2-3 more years. Everyone is bashing Atlanta. This is a good spot, think about it. I know I haven't been in FIRST as long as some people have but in my 6 years I have seen 3 different places for the championship. Atlanta is convenient with the dome for the competition and the congress center for the pits and centennial park for the party. Hotels to accommodate 10,000+ students withing walking distance, restaurants within walking distance, MARTA cheap, reliable and convenient transportation. This is a low maintenance facility unlike EPCOT where the fields had to be constructed under tents, Einstein field and the main seating for the main field to be in bleachers outside. The pits were constructed in a tent outside so when it rained the pits flooded and you had to pick up all the power supplies off the ground. If it rained when you were watching Einstein, opening/closing ceremonies you were screwed unless you remembered your umbrella. All of this for EPCOT was constructed in their parking lot just to hold a championship. I admit the team parties were fun but FIRST grew too big with FLL and Vex to be accommodated at EPCOT. Now in Houston the astrodome has been demolished if I remember correctly so there are the pits. It's nice to think about it but there are a few more years to get through first. The past is gone and we need to look on the future. The past is nice to dwell on but that's why they call it the past. Now your ideas are great for places to hold it don't get me wrong but you have to consider the event location and surrounding area. Pits, Party, Food, Transportation, Lodging, Recreation, Facilities, Maintenance, all those things. To me I think the Championship will be in Atlanta until at least 2012. I'm sorry if I offended anyone that wasn't the intention of my post. My intention is to show that Atlanta is a great spot for the championships. It's convenient with the surrounding areas and everyone seems to have fun there. They are welcoming us with signs around town and in buildings, trying to accommodate our needs by adding easier transportation to newer different places like the aquarium so teams don't have to see the same boring things every year, year after year. FIRST=Championships in Atlanta for years to come. Keep up your thoughts and ideas but keep in mind what I had mentioned.

You're right, but by about 2010 cities like Detroit will have no problems hosting it (for example: Cobo Expansion) but till we know for sure, let's just wait and see.

[preussrobotics]

I second the vote for somewhere in the west. Not only would the western teams receive a welcome reprieve from the high cost of traveling east, but it would help in recruitment effots out here!

Originally Posted by sanddrag

I would hope for somewhere more west. Every year except Houston in 2003 the western teams always have more distance to travel (and perhaps more $ to pay).

[OZ_341]

I really like Atlanta as an alternative until........ WE CAN GO BACK TO DISNEY!!!!

One of my favorite parts was when we would all assemble outdoors on a beautiful, clear Saturday morning on the Einstein field. We would hear eloquent speeches about FIRST from such wonderful speakers as Sally Ride. Teams would throw prize after prize into the stands. Disney just put everyone in a great mood. Everyone greeted each other. You felt that you were somewhere special and so did your kids. Anyone that has been there knows that the disadvantages are just overwhelmed by the pure MAGIC of Disney!!

Were the tents crowded and the finals out in the blazing sun? Absolutely.
But we know what the problems are and can therefore fix them.

I would sacrifice almost anything for a return to Disney.

[David Brinza]

Originally Posted by preussrobotics

I second the vote for somewhere in the west. Not only would the western teams receive a welcome reprieve from the high cost of traveling east, but it would help in recruitment effots out here!

Our "Bluebearded" friend from the Bionic Bulldogs (Team 60) mentioned to me that Phoenix is building a new indoor football stadium for the Arizona Cardinals. It's amazing that Los Angeles doesn't have a facility that could accommodate the FIRST Championships, but it's true. Until I had heard about the new Cardinals Stadium, I was advocating St. Louis as a potential future site.

[KTorak]

I have to say I don't know if I, or my team will be willing spend the money to go to Altanta again unless we win a regional/award to qualify. It just isn't that fun of a place to go for 4 years in a row and I think a break would be nice. I don't know how many other people feel the same way, but I'm sure some do.

[Sgraff_SRHS06]

Originally Posted by KTorak

I have to say I don't know if I, or my team will be willing spend the money to go to Altanta again unless we win a regional/award to qualify. It just isn't that fun of a place to go for 4 years in a row and I think a break would be nice. I don't know how many other people feel the same way, but I'm sure some do.

Be lucky that you guys have the money. I know that there are many teams that don't, and others that fold soon after they go to Atlanta (namely 53) because it can be such a financial problem. (We had the money this year, but we had to cover for 888, 1629, and others at the Historic Electronics Museum, and Das Goat (165) has not been willing to do it yet.) To make it easier, someone should subsidize the championship and/or make it 100% free for regional winners, rookie inspiration, rookie all-star, chairman's winners, and engineering inspiration winners to go.

[379Robocat]

Originally Posted by KTorak

I have to say I don't know if I, or my team will be willing spend the money to go to Altanta again unless we win a regional/award to qualify. It just isn't that fun of a place to go for 4 years in a row and I think a break would be nice. I don't know how many other people feel the same way, but I'm sure some do.

That's how our team feels. Our last trip of the season was to go to the Philly regional. It was a close place that we wouldn't need to fly and we spent as much money to go there as we would have for Nationals. But in Detroit we won the Engineering Inspiration award and would have liked to go to Atlanta because we thought we might have a shot. We tried to cancel Philly for Atlanta but we were unable to go there financially. Then one day about two weeks before Atlanta we got a call from our state congressman that said he would find the money somewhere to send our team to Atlanta since we were doing such a fine job this year. I think that the only way we will go back is if we win a regional, a regional chairmans award or something like that.

[KTorak]

Originally Posted by 379Robocat

That's how our team feels. Our last trip of the season was to go to the Philly regional. It was a close place that we wouldn't need to fly and we spent as much money to go there as we would have for Nationals. But in Detroit we won the Engineering Inspiration award and would have liked to go to Atlanta because we thought we might have a shot. We tried to cancel Philly for Atlanta but we were unable to go there financially. Then one day about two weeks before Atlanta we got a call from our state congressman that said he would find the money somewhere to send our team to Atlanta since we were doing such a fine job this year. I think that the only way we will go back is if we win a regional, a regional chairmans award or something like that.

We're thinking about going to the Chicago regional (overnight, 4 hour drive) instead of Atlanta unless we qualify. A change of pace would be nice.

[Donut]

Originally Posted by David Brinza

Our "Bluebearded" friend from the Bionic Bulldogs (Team 60) mentioned to me that Phoenix is building a new indoor football stadium for the Arizona Cardinals. It's amazing that Los Angeles doesn't have a facility that could accommodate the FIRST Championships, but it's true. Until I had heard about the new Cardinals Stadium, I was advocating St. Louis as a potential future site.

That is correct, and it will be hosting football games this year, meaning it will be totally finished before September of this year. We've always thought it would be an actual possibility since the Cardinal's stadium could hold the fields like Atlanta's stadium does now, and the Glendale Arena (where the Phoenix Coyotes play, literally 2 minutes on foot from the Cardinals stadium since they share the same parking lot) could hold the pits. Most hotels are still at least 15 minutes away right now, but that will change quickly since they will be building new ones to accomidate the Superbowl in 2008 (there's lots of open space around the arena with buildings already going up for this). The only current problem would be how to get robots across the parking lot when it is potentially 100 degrees, but a covered walkway could probably do the trick since it isn't very far. And though it may be close to 100 degrees (more likely 90), you can almost certainly count on it being sunny.

Anway, Atlanta is fine right now. I actually thought everything was extremely close and convenient when our team went there in 2004 (so glad we didn't have to buy transportation there). I just hope it will move somewhere closer to the West sometime, everyone here could really use a break from the expensive Nationals trips.

[StephLee]

Originally Posted by Sgraff_SRHS06

Be lucky that you guys have the money. I know that there are many teams that don't, and others that fold soon after they go to Atlanta (namely 53) because it can be such a financial problem. (We had the money this year, but we had to cover for 888, 1629, and others at the Historic Electronics Museum, and Das Goat (165) has not been willing to do it yet.) To make it easier, someone should subsidize the championship and/or make it 100% free for regional winners, rookie inspiration, rookie all-star, chairman's winners, and engineering inspiration winners to go.

What's this about us? I'm a bit confused here...what exactly are you talking about?

[nparikh]

Originally Posted by Sgraff_SRHS06

Be lucky that you guys have the money. I know that there are many teams that don't, and others that fold soon after they go to Atlanta (namely 53) because it can be such a financial problem. (We had the money this year, but we had to cover for 888, 1629, and others at the Historic Electronics Museum, and Das Goat (165) has not been willing to do it yet.) To make it easier, someone should subsidize the championship and/or make it 100% free for regional winners, rookie inspiration, rookie all-star, chairman's winners, and engineering inspiration winners to go.

And where would FIRST get the money to do that. Based on rough calculations, putting the price of Nationals at 6k/team, and 7 awards/regional x 33 regionals, that's an estimated cost of..$1,386,000.

Just doesn't seem practical to me. Maybe have like "scholarship" type awards or grants to subsidze costs for some teams..but for all of them..doesn't make sense to me.

[David Brinza]

Originally Posted by Sgraff_SRHS06

To make it easier, someone should subsidize the championship and/or make it 100% free for regional winners, rookie inspiration, rookie all-star, chairman's winners, and engineering inspiration winners to go.

At the SoCal Regional this year, The Ahmanson Foundation gave a grant to teams that qualified for the Championship at the regional to cover the entry fee ($5K). It's true that transportation, lodging and food are additional costs that a team must bear to participate, but getting the entry fee covered is a great motivator for teams to raise those additional funds. It would be great if other philanthropic organizations would "adopt" other regionals. It is equally important that teams that receive this type of support recognize the contribution by displaying the organization's name prominently on their robot, team shirts, and that the field announce/MC identifies the contribution during team introductions.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by ali_rockon22

I think it should be held in a very large ship in international waters to make it a truly international event.

Back to the real topic, I think it should be held in a city where there has been an Olympic event held there because it is already suited for a large number of people. For example, Salt Lake City or L.A.

How about Lake Placid New York, they have had two Olympic events.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by mtaman02

NYC wouldn't be a bad place just a few issues

Traffic IS a big issue in the city
There is not a big enough arena to hold the Nationals let alone parking for it or storage of equipment
NYC lacks Entertainment for the youngins but has many tourist attractions =)


Some positive things though

If the new Jets stadium gets built on the west side (which also is a Super bowl candidate city as well as the 2012 olympics) maybe FIRST will put a bid in holding it in NYC
There are 3 area airports within an hour to the west side stadium - LaGuardia, John F Kennedy and Newark Liberty Airports
If the west side stadium gets built up parking should be resolved as well as transportation - MTA Going Your Way =)
If The NY Yankees build their enclosed stadium you have a slim shot of getting at least one year of nationals there

Sorry the Jets and the New York Football GIANTS are building a new Stadium at the Meadowlands. DOME MAYBE??

[sirjam]

Everyone keeps mentioning that the teams in the west have such a longer distance to travel than teams in other parts of the US. They all say that somewhere in the middle of the U.S. would be the best so that is is equally available to all the teams. But distance isn't the issue. Somewhere like Atlanta is a perfect place for the competition because Atlanta has such a major airport. Airfare is determined by the number of times a flight goes to a specific city. If the competition was held in the middle of the U.S. airfare would actually be higher for teams everywhere. So if the westerners really want everyone to pay less, somewhere like Las Vegas would be the perfect venue. There are so many flights in and out of the airport there that flights would be cheap and obviously the city can hold the number of people who would be attending.