Limiting teams to Nationals

[patrickrd]

I heard this idea mentioned at the team forum, and after more thought, I think it may be the second best solution (next to allowing all teams to go to nationals). The basic idea was to split the teams up for nationals. Half would compete earlier in the week (e.g. mon-wed); the other half would compete later in the week (thurs-sat). For both Disney and FIRST, this would add a very small cost -- easily offset by the increased number of teams coming. This idea seemed to dismissed, perhaps without good reason. The reason for dismissing it was because it would be infeasible for the winners of the competition earlier in the week to stay and compete at the end of the week. Later on in the team forum, they raised the idea of having two separate nationals on opposite sides of the country -- and bring perhaps the winners of each together later on in the year to decide a [inter]national champion. This seemed like a favorable idea. This, however, would mean double cost to FIRST since it would need two separate events. Also, it would be a lot easier to take the winner of each of the half of a two-part Disney nationals (or perhaps divisional winners of each half), and bring them together a month or two later for a playoff in NH or another location. This cost for the final playoffs (a one-day event) could either be absorbed by teams, FIRST, or a third-party sponsor. Costs would be minimal because it would be: (a) smaller than a regional, (b) a one day event, and (c) perhaps located in NH where FIRST and Dean have places they could host it.

If we utilize Disney for both nationals that happen during the same weekh, we nearly cut the cost in half of what it would take to have two separate nationals. All FIRST & Disney would need to do is set up the tents a few days earlier.

This by far seems the most cost effective option that excludes zero teams. If we double again in size in a few years, we can split nationals into four parts over two weeks. This solution is flexible enough to work with much greater growth than we see today.

Patrick