Championship 2007 Question

[Eugenia Gabrielov]

I'm cautiously posting this, knowing it's well in advance. However, on the Georgia World Congress Center, I noticed that the Championship Event for 2007 is scheduled 4 / 11 / 07 thru 4 / 14 / 07. Could somebody reasonably informed explain the huge time shift?

I'm sure there's a good reason, and I know this is way ahead, but I really am curious. Again, all of us have our pros and cons for the shift, but I'd rather have a better idea from somebody who's well-informed, then we can get to discussing.

Much love,
- Genia

Edit: Note this is mentioned but not explained in a couple of threads I searched. I assume scheduling issues, but there are certain results from it.

[Greg Marra]

Since next year's game is a water game, if they wait too long to hold the Championships it will have heated up considerably in Atlanta. Hotter temperatures means more evaporation, which ultimately will increase the event's cost (especially since there are 5 fields).

Of course, the week 1 regionals will have to contend with the possibility of freezing playing fields, but it's nothing a little salt won't fix.

[slickguy2007]

Maybe this is FIRST's way of combating the AP test dates?


GO 1403!!!

[Tomasz Bania]

Originally Posted by slickguy2007

Maybe this is FIRST's way of combating the AP test dates?


GO 1403!!!

Actually, Wouldn't that impede on early arriveing teams with members taking the SAT's???

Tomasz Bania

[Eugenia Gabrielov]

There is a May 5 SAT in 2007, but nothing in April. The AP thing makes sense though.

[David Kelly]

Well, this year Easter is later than usual. Next year Easter will be on Sunday 8th April 2007, so they will be able to hold the competition earlier. I suppose one of the reasons Nationals being so late this year is because Easter is later than in the past...

[akshar]

easter falls on the 3rd sunday of april, correct? almost all high schools have a week vacation the week before easter, the new dates would fall during vacation dates and allow students to not miss class, for people in college (myself) it sets the time frame a good 2-3 weeks before finals

[YonZ]

so they care about easter and not passover?!?!
it fell right on passover last year. our team sent home kids and I remember asking steampunk 1577 what they were doing, and they said their team just had seder together in atlanta.

[Meredith Rice]

Originally Posted by YonZ

so they care about easter and not passover?!?!

Well we can't assume that Easter is the reason for FIRSTs scheduling choice. Of course it would be ideal to avoid major religious holiday's, but that has not always been the case with the Championship. As I remember, the championship in Houston coincided with Easter weekend. I was able to get home on Sunday mid-day to celebrate with my family but I was away for other Catholic holy days. I think if this does avoid scheduling issues with AP tests and increases the chance of the event falling on a school's spring break, then it definitely a good move, even if some will have to make the choice for themselves whether they need to be home for religious reasons. I think a team Seder sounds like a nice way to celebrate Passover!

[Corey Balint]

It is most likely just scheduling wise. That Convention center is used often, so FIRST probably just took the times they could.

[Kevin Kolodziej]

Its a tighter schedule, but I prefer it that way. I really dislike waiting a month after regionals for the Championship. There are a lot of factors that play into the date, though, and there's little any one party can do about it.

I believe it was in 2001 that the Midwest Regional (and all other regionals that week of course) fell on Easter weekend. I think that was the same year Nationals were held the first weekend of April (5-7th I believe, which was nice for Dean's birthday on the 7th).

Next year, kickoff will be the 6th, Ship date will be the 20th, there will be a weekend of rest, 5 weeks of regionals in March, a week of rest, and then Atlanta. I like it a lot. There are a lot of schools that start their spring break with Good Friday so this will work out for those schools (and us at MSOE!).

Kev

[Elgin Clock]

Actually.. I was gonna say just the opposite about this year Genia. I noticed that I didn't have to rush to do my taxes this year ealry, cause the Championship Event isn't going to be during the weekend of April 15th, as it has been so many times in the past.

It looks as if next year I will have to rush again, or even just do my taxes as soon as I get the paperwork in Jan/Feb. lol There's a thought.

[anna~marie]

If they did move it back I would be sooo grateful...
This year we get back on my birthday (the 30th) and then the next day I have an AP exam... the rest of the week is AP examinations (and a physics project... and a POPS choir rehersal week...)
But yeah moving it around would be awesome simply because FIRST encourages education - and that includes helping kids get enough sleep so they can pass their AP tests, I would think

[Bill Moore]

Originally Posted by akshar

easter falls on the 3rd sunday of april, correct? almost all high schools have a week vacation the week before easter, the new dates would fall during vacation dates and allow students to not miss class, for people in college (myself) it sets the time frame a good 2-3 weeks before finals

Easter 2007 is on the second Sunday, April 8th.

Easter is scheduled on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Vernal Equinox. That's why it can change from year to year over approximately a four week period.

[wheeler]

I will say that most of this has to do with availablity of the venue in the time frame for the competition. They tend to shoot for the 2-4 week of April for the Championships so this worked out for the venue this coming year.