A Question for FIRST teams particularly in the New York State Area!

[Koko Ed]

Yesterday team 191 the X-Cats and team 250 the Dynamos spent the day at the New York State fair having demos and enjoying the fairgrounds.Talking to Ana Martinez and Thomas Frawley they had both expressed a desire to hold an off season competition during the New York state fair.
Demos are nice and all, but there is only so much you can do with a robot in a very crowded area. Showing an actual robotics competition with the music and excitiment in all it's glory to the thousands who attend the fair is the ultimate demo.
The question is; what would it take for the planners to arrange (within reason ) to attract your team to come to the event, in late August, and paticipate?

[mtaman02]

Guaranteed Media Attention to help spread FIRST (then again since you say an off-season event), Free X-portation of Equipment and crew, plenty of flyers from not only the regional event planners but the people hosting the event in general.

Do they have an idea of what the fees will be like for attending teams?

Hrm goes off and ponders to make sure that this is a legitamate answer.

[DonRotolo]

I don't speak for the team, but for certain we'd need to know about it well before the end of school, so everyone can be contacted and vacations planned around the event.

We're in Northern NJ, so it depends on exactly where the event is being held - Albany is OK, but Buffalo is 9 hours + from here! Point being, NY is a big state for around here.

On a related note: Holding an off-season event there would be excellent. I'd put in an overnight or two, so the kids can enjoy the fair, too.

Don

[Scott Carpman]

Well, speaking from (very) recent experience, the shlep from NYC to Syracuse isn't much of a problem if you have an overnight stay. I would love to have an offseason tourney at the Fair, since it will promote FIRST in Syracuse and help out 891's recruitment base.

The overwhelming issue would be the transportation for downstate teams and accomidations. The hotels during the Fair were in the $200/night range in Syracuse. I do know that 4H can hold us in their barracks, but that is not a very attractive option at all.

Side note: How did the event turn out? I worked it Friday with 1155, 2265, 891 and 694.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by mtaman02

Guaranteed Media Attention to help spread FIRST (then again since you say an off-season event), Free X-portation of Equipment and crew, plenty of flyers from not only the regional event planners but the people hosting the event in general.

Do they have an idea of what the fees will be like for attending teams?

Hrm goes off and ponders to make sure that this is a legitamate answer.

I suggested to them that $100 fee would be suffice.
I cannot speak for the powers-that-be who run the fair about media attention but remember you are doing an event in the middle of an even larger event with thousands of people walking around. They will mention the event is happening and you will get thousands walking through. Who knows? Meneber a few hundred of them will actually stop, sit and stay awile.

I don't speak for the team, but for certain we'd need to know about it well before the end of school, so everyone can be contacted and vacations planned around the event.

We're in Northern NJ, so it depends on exactly where the event is being held - Albany is OK, but Buffalo is 9 hours + from here! Point being, NY is a big state for around here.

On a related note: Holding an off-season event there would be excellent. I'd put in an overnight or two, so the kids can enjoy the fair, too.

That is why we are bringing up the off season idea now.

I recommended that they start advertising as soon as the season ends. That will give them ample time to get teams.


There are dorms at the 4H building that can be occupied for as little as $2 a night.

Well, speaking from (very) recent experience, the shlep from NYC to Syracuse isn't much of a problem if you have an overnight stay. I would love to have an offseason tourney at the Fair, since it will promote FIRST in Syracuse and help out 891's recruitment base.

The overwhelming issue would be the transportation for downstate teams and accomidations. The hotels during the Fair were in the $200/night range in Syracuse. I do know that 4H can hold us in their barracks, but that is not a very attractive option at all.

Side note: How did the event turn out? I worked it Friday with 1155, 2265, 891 and 694.

There is an Amtrak station just outside the Grandstand area of the fair.
As for the event itself it was nice enough. Just a little overwhelming at times.

[Koko Ed]

OK.
So now we got a few questions out there.
The next step is to get some volunteers on board.
Anyone interested?

[synth3tk]

I've gotta check my calendar, but I live in Northeast Ohio and would love to help. Depending on the date/location, I might be able to get our team interested, but there's a lot of variables at this point.

[wilsonmw04]

Check with some of the folks from VirginiaFIRST. They have held the Robot Rumble at the Virgina State Fair for the past two years. I think the fee was $250 per team and we had 16 teams this year. The crowds were large and really got into the elimination rounds. Space was tight, less space than a regional in the pits, but a good time was had by all.

[RoboMom]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

The question is; what would it take for the planners to arrange (within reason ) to attract your team to come to the event, in late August, and paticipate?

We are so fortunate to have a strong base of off-season events in New England and the Mid-Atlantic.
Right now, there is one other event in August in Baltimore. I am hearing that there be an effort in central PA to hold an event in August. It would be great if everyone could communicate as you move forward.

[Elgin Clock]

Where in NY State would that be?
/me has no idea where the NY state fair is held.

[Cynette]

Originally Posted by Elgin Clock

Where in NY State would that be?
/me has no idea where the NY state fair is held.

Its in the middle of NY! The Fairgrounds are located near Syracuse off of I-90.