**FIRST EMAIL**/Championship FIRST Finale Ticket Information

[Katie Reynolds]

Greetings 2007 Championship Teams:

Below please find information regarding the purchase of Championship FIRST Finale Tickets*.

Date: Saturday, April 14, 2007
Time: 6:30PM - 10:00PM
Location: Centennial Olympic Park
Cost: The cost per ticket is $45 per person and is non-refundable.

Payment Method:
You can pay by cash, check, Visa, MasterCard or American Express, in the form of one check, or one money order, or one credit card per team. Please note that all credit card transactions will be charged a 3.5% processing fee. If you are paying by credit card, you will need to fill out a credit card authorization form.

Advance Purchase Deadline:
Advance purchase payments must be received no later than April 2nd, after which time all purchases will need to be made on-site. Cash will also be accepted on-site.

How to book your tickets:

* You may order your tickets now by e-mailing: customerservice@steelemeetings.com. Please include Team Number (important!) and Quantity. You will then receive an email with payment instructions.
* You will also be able to purchase tickets on-site up to 12 noon on Saturday, April 14th.

How to pick up tickets:
Tickets may be collected on-site at the Steele Meetings, Inc. Housing desk located in the Foyer of the GWCC. Tickets will be available for pickup and purchase as follows: Thursday 8-6, Friday 8-6, and Saturday 8-3.

Tickets must be picked-up prior to 12 noon on Saturday, April 14th. One team adult mentor will need to pick-up the tickets for the entire team and will need to sign for them.

**IMPORTANT** Please note lost tickets will not be replaced. Tickets are sold on a first come, first served basis and are non-refundable.

*Please remember, if you booked your hotel through Steele Meetings, Inc. your tickets are included in the package rate at a reduced rate. The number of tickets included is based on the room occupancy and package purchased (i.e., if you have a quad room shared by four (4) people, you have four (4) tickets.)

Go Teams!

[George A.]

I don't know...for the past three years, at least to me, the finale party hasn't seemed worth it. I mean $45 for what I'll call, mediocre food at best, just doesn't seem fun. The lines get too long for you to do anything lucrative, and if you watch the show there's virtually no time left for other activities (aka: the inflatable attractions, meet n greets etc.)

I'm not sure If I'm going to go this year...haven't made up my mind.

[Katie Reynolds]

For someone who's never been to Atlanta before, what does this $45 cover? FIRST has nothing on their website about the Finale, and we're not about to shell out $900 for a mystery party.

[Ricky Q.]

In the past it has been buffet style food, drinks, and entertainment. Entertainment being music, hypnotist, carnival games/inflatable fun, fireworks, and general social interaction.

[George A.]

Originally Posted by Katie Reynolds

For someone who's never been to Atlanta before, what does this $45 cover? FIRST has nothing on their website about the Finale, and we're not about to shell out $900 for a mystery party.

Yeah, Ricky pretty much nailed it. It's held in a portion of Centennial Park, and you go in and they have about 7 or so tables set up with food, ie pulled pork sandwiches, fried chicken, macaroni salad, and a dessert or two.

As for entertainment, they have inflatable attractings (pugel sticks, obstacle courses etc) They do have a hypnotist but if you've seen one you've seen them all. And if you DO decide to watch the show say goodbye to your chances to ride the rides.

As for me, I think a nice night on the town with some of my fellow FIRST friends, is more worth the money.

[Mr. Van]

If you bought the hotel package through Steele Meetings, how do you get your tickets?

(We've not been to Atlanta before...)

-Mr. Van

[jgannon]

I've been to the finale twice, once as a student and once as a mentor. The event itself is not spectacular. There's some stuff to do, and some stuff to eat. However, for whatever reason, I've always had a ridiculous amount of fun, if only because there are a lot of awesome people and no more stress. Also, the fireworks are amazing. Unless you have something substantially better to do with your students on Saturday evening, I would highly recommend it.

[Bongle]

The fireworks were pretty stunning last year, but you can watch the fireworks from outside the park. When I say stunning, I mean that I was yawning during Canada Day celebrations last year because the FIRST fireworks show was mindblowing. My camera had run out of batteries though, so no-one I tell believes me about how amazing it is.

Inflateable stuff was fun (I hadn't done that since I was 6!), but I'm not sure it was $45 of fun.

[Ricky Q.]

In past years the pick up for either hotel packages or buying them separately has been the same:

How to pick up tickets:
Tickets may be collected on-site at the Steele Meetings, Inc. Housing desk located in the Foyer of the GWCC. Tickets will be available for pickup and purchase as follows: Thursday 8-6, Friday 8-6, and Saturday 8-3.

Tickets must be picked-up prior to 12 noon on Saturday, April 14th. One team adult mentor will need to pick-up the tickets for the entire team and will need to sign for them.

[Andy Baker]

Originally Posted by Ricky Q.

In the past it has been buffet style food, drinks, and entertainment. Entertainment being music.....

I hear that a certain costumed band will be part of this entertainment.

AB

[KathieK]

At the finale I've enjoyed some great entertainment, had the opportunity to chat with people I've only met online here on CD, been able to talk with seniors from teams I may never get a chance to talk to again, was invited to join the party sitting behind me who was an FLL group from France, get my picture taken with Jenny (my WAI photo) since we only see each other once or twice a year, celebrated my anniversary with my husband at it last year along with severl thousand of our "closest" friends, and generally had a good time. If you are chaperoning your team you probably won't be able to go out with your peers anyway; it's a good stress-release. Bring a jacket to the venue with you on Sat. if they are forceasting chilly weather when the sun goes down.
It has it's attractions and it's drawbacks, but hey, how often can you claim that you went to a party where they closed down Centennial Olympic Park just for you???

[Kims Robot]

For those who have never gone, its definitely worth going and making up your own minds. Hanging out with other FIRSTers and the entertainment is decent (perhaps better if SOME band is there!)

1511 has decided not to go this year, the past two years we were too late to get drinks and the food was cold... and I think there were only hot dogs left... thats one pretty expensive hotdog. But I have to say I SERIOUSLY miss the days of Epcot when it comes to the party... there is nothing like 300 FIRST teams wandering around an EPCOT open only to us, with some great HOT Buffet items (mexican, veggie, pizza, itallian). If we hear its better this year, we might be up for coming back.