Bad News for teams on Waiting List

[KarenH]

Originally Posted by EmilioM

Thanks guys. We have a robot which lost to an amazing - and eventual champion - alliance composed of 330 (Beach 'Bots: a godly ring scorer with ramps) and 254 (another amazing ring scorer) and 4 at in the semis at LA. And then lost to 330 (again), 696, and 835 in the finals at SD. We just wish that we had a chance to showcase our design which lifted 18 robots (28 including the bulk of our own) in 10 qualifying matches in SD...

The winners from 2 regionals would normally consist of 6 teams, but because 330 won twice, 5 teams qualified as winners. However, because at San Diego team 835's robot died, team 1216 got to substitute their robot. It turned out to be a good substitute, helped win the regional, and thus qualified to go to the Championship as well.

So, 3 teams at L.A. plus 3 teams at S.D., minus the duplicate team, plus the substitute team equals... 6 teams! But if any of these can't go because they can't raise the money (or whatever), then it would be less than 6 teams.

I'm sure FIRST can do the math, but forecasting number of attendees for any event is always a big headache. I don't envy the people at FIRST who handle the event planning.

[Bongle]

So I guess next year (or in the very near future) we can expect reductions in the # of qualified teams, an increase in the size of the championship, or a different top-tier competition arrangement altogether.

28 pre-qualified teams
222 regionally-qualified teams (6 per regional, assuming chairman's, engineering inspiration, and rookie all-stars go to different teams)

So that's 250 teams qualified.

[BandChick]

This is an issue every year, it's just part of the game, so to speak. FIRST can't really make the event any bigger, as it is, The Georgia Dome right now is the only place that can fit all the teams that DO register. They've been looking into new venues, but that's the best there is for now. Sure, it's disappointing that you might not get to go this year, but hey, you just move up in the teirs for next year! =)

[abeD]

Right now it works out that if you start on the team as a freshman, you can get to go at least once in your 4 year high school career, granted that your team doesn't die and that you have enough money.

As always there are probably some exceptions.

[Brandon Holley]

What makes championships great is all of the high caliper robots on hand. These robots come from regionals these teams have won, or high level awards they have received. Not everyone can go to championships...its unfortunate, but its just how it is.

[Ryan Dognaux]

Originally Posted by BandChick

The Georgia Dome right now is the only place that can fit all the teams that DO register.

:cough: Indianapolis :cough:

But seriously, once the new stadium and convention center are finished, it would not surprise me at all if the championships moved to the crossroads.

I doubt that none of the wait listed teams will get to go, there are always teams that have last minute complications or just can't find the money to go.

[whytheheckme]

Originally Posted by BandChick

They've been looking into new venues, but that's the best there is for now

How about Hartford, CT?

*cricket* *cricket*

ROFL... Just the thought. Wow. OK, my *sad-to-be-living-in-CT* moment is over.

But seriously, the bustling downtown would really have the competition going...


Jacob

[Jeremiah Johnson]

Originally Posted by Ryan Dognaux

:cough: Indianapolis :cough:

But seriously, once the new stadium and convention center are finished, it would not surprise me at all if the championships moved to the crossroads.

I doubt that none of the wait listed teams will get to go, there are always teams that have last minute complications or just can't find the money to go.

And I really hope that this would be the case. It would make things much cheaper for a lot of teams... I think? If memory serves me right, Atlanta is about the same distance from CA as Indianapolis yet it's much closer for the NE and Midwest teams, again, if I can see things in my brain right. Why I don't go get a map and measure this out is beyond me. The only region this would negatively effect would be the South, for the most part.

[IndySam]

Originally Posted by Ryan Dognaux

:cough: Indianapolis :cough:

But seriously, once the new stadium and convention center are finished, it would not surprise me at all if the championships moved to the crossroads.

I doubt that none of the wait listed teams will get to go, there are always teams that have last minute complications or just can't find the money to go.

Indy is trying. We could host in now with the RCA dome attached to the convention center (and the walk would be shorter too.)

There are more factors than just space and hotels. A venue needs a sugar daddy. Orlando had Disney Atl has Coke.

[Corey Balint]

Originally Posted by Budda648

And I really hope that this would be the case. It would make things much cheaper for a lot of teams... I think? If memory serves me right, Atlanta is about the same distance from CA as Indianapolis yet it's much closer for the NE and Midwest teams, again, if I can see things in my brain right. Why I don't go get a map and measure this out is beyond me. The only region this would negatively effect would be the South, for the most part.

The one part about it being cheaper, however, is that it might be harder to find a cheap ticket to Indy, then it is for Atlanta. I just looked myself, from Newark to Indy, and its fairly cheap, but it would be cheaper yet to Atlanta. And I'm sure some other teams might have difficulties for cheaper tickets.
Yet, this could be a problem with any location. Ideally, a major tourist area could be best.

Note: Should really get back on to the topic at hand, you could make another thread about this if wanted.

And the waiting list has always been like this. If you really wanted to go, there was time at the beginning of the year to signup. I know you may not have had the money/support back then, but it happens. You just have to take whats given to you.
I know 1626 just signed up Monday for Palmetto, after an impressive performance at Boston, they wanted another chance to be able to qualify for Nationals, and that was it.

[BandChick]

Originally Posted by Ryan Dognaux

:cough: Indianapolis :cough:

Originally Posted by IndySam

Indy is trying. We could host in now with the RCA dome attached to the convention center (and the walk would be shorter too.)
There are more factors than just space and hotels. A venue needs a sugar daddy. Orlando had Disney Atl has Coke.

I spoke with Paul Gudonis about this, actually. And the 07 contract came down between Atlanta and Indianapolis. There were several reasons that factored into it, the largest being hotels for teams and a convenient system of travel. It is still a possibility in the future, however.

[AmyPrib]

There's a nice long thread with previous discussions about where people think Championships should go after Atlanta contract is up, and yes Indy was a front runner and it will probably be again in the future.
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=37700

The list for Champs is closed - meaning I don't believe they will even add anymore teams to the waitlist. Those that are on the front end of the waitlist currently will be lucky if they go. FIRST is getting big - Champs is getting big... we'll see where it goes from here.

[GaryVoshol]

Originally Posted by AmyPrib

FIRST is getting big - Champs is getting big... we'll see where it goes from here.

Perhaps as FIRST continues to grow, the Championship will become a true Championship - only teams who qualify will be guaranteed a spot. Hopefully there would be enough space to continue with some open-enrollment by tiers so that every team gets an opportunity to go at least every 4 years, or even every 3 years. But I can foresee the end of total open enrollment. If you went last year or two years ago, you will have to earn your way back again.

[Alex Cormier]

Originally Posted by GaryV1188

Perhaps as FIRST continues to grow, the Championship will become a true Championship - only teams who qualify will be guaranteed a spot. Hopefully there would be enough space to continue with some open-enrollment by tiers so that every team gets an opportunity to go at least every 4 years, or even every 3 years. But I can foresee the end of total open enrollment. If you went last year or two years ago, you will have to earn your way back again.

That's how it should have started back in the day AND kept like it.

If FIRST is truely based off sports, then the only true champs would have a shot to be world champs. The regionals would act like the playoffs, where only the winners get to play in the champs. but unlike sports, we have the original 12, CA winners, and a few other award winners that have the right to get there. But still that is the right to get there other then hey, it's an open sign up want to go to atlanta?

[Bongle]

Originally Posted by GaryV1188

Hopefully there would be enough space to continue with some open-enrollment by tiers so that every team gets an opportunity to go at least every 4 years, or even every 3 years. But I can foresee the end of total open enrollment. If you went last year or two years ago, you will have to earn your way back again.

That's already impossible. With champs at its current size, you're talking 50 open spots per year. With 1000+ teams that DON'T qualify for a reserved spot each year, there isn't a chance that everyone gets to go. Actually, this thread is an example of that exact thing happening.

I'm kinda happy that champs is becoming exclusive to regional winners*. It'll make winning a regional that much more valuable. Right now, all you've won essentially is a place at the head of the line. All you have to do to get that same thing is simply register early. If champs is open to regional winners only, then when you win, you've won something that can be gotten no other way.


*FIRST is only 8 regionals away from having to increase championship enrollment, increase qualifying restrictions, or find another system altogether. Given that there are 4 new regionals just this year, it looks like the crunch will happen pretty soon.