QUICK SURVEY

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Posted by Keith of team #131, CHAOS, from Central High School sponsored by Osram Sylvania.

Posted on 3/24/99 2:44 PM MST



And here's the question:
Which venue do you like better...
1) The New England Regional in Connecticut..
2) Or the New England Regional in Manchester..
and also give your reasons...
-THanks,,, an interested Manchvegas veteran

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Posted by Kirsten, Student on team #177, Bobcat Robotics, from South Windsor High School and International Fuel Cells.

Posted on 3/24/99 3:05 PM MST


In Reply to: QUICK SURVEY posted by Keith on 3/24/99 2:44 PM MST:



I think both venues had their good points, but neither one was perfect. I must say, I am a fan of the gymnasium atmosphere in NH, but there's no way that would have been a feasible location for this year, it was just WAAAAY too crowded last year. The Meadows was nice in that there was more room, and it didn't get as unbearably hot as the college, but it lacked some of the atmosphere. If they could find a larger gymnasium type building somewhere in the area, it would be awesome, but finding one with adequate pit space is not easy either.
Kirsten Saur
Co-Captain
Team #177, Bobcat Robotics

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Posted by Jeff Bazydlo, Other on team #126, Gael Force, from Clinton High School and Nypro Inc..

Posted on 3/24/99 5:09 PM MST


In Reply to: the venues posted by Kirsten on 3/24/99 3:05 PM MST:



I went to the Philadelphia competition and I will say it was the perfect
arena setting for the competition... It was a gymnasium but it wasn't hot
and stuffy like manchester yet you were surrounded by fans just as you
were in the old place. But it had more seating, that gets my vote on best
setting for arenas, sorry that it wasn't on your list though!

Jeff Bazydlo
Team #126
Go BIG RED GAEL FORCE!

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Posted by Andy Grady, Coach on team #42, P.A.R.T.S, from Alvirne High School and Daniel Webster College.

Posted on 3/24/99 3:32 PM MST


In Reply to: QUICK SURVEY posted by Keith on 3/24/99 2:44 PM MST:



I feel that the competition in Manchester was better. It had more of an exiting feel than the Meadows. Plus it was like a tradition to have a competition at the home of FIRST in Manchester. Of course it was getting too small and the Meadows was alot bigger and more comfortable. I feel if we could keep the size of the Meadows, and have the gym like feel of the Manchester competition it would be perfect. My suggestion, The Worcester Centrum, or Mullen Center at UMass would be great.
Good Luck to all
Andy Grady, DWC/Alvirne HS

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Posted by Tom Lish, Other on team #126, Gael Force, from Clinton High School and Nypro, Inc..

Posted on 3/24/99 4:25 PM MST


In Reply to: Re: QUICK SURVEY posted by Andy Grady on 3/24/99 3:32 PM MST:



Personally I preferred Manchester better. I liked the gym setting better.

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Posted by Keith of team #131, CHAOS, from Central High School sponsored by Osram Sylvania.

Posted on 3/24/99 5:50 PM MST


In Reply to: Re: QUICK SURVEY posted by Andy Grady on 3/24/99 3:32 PM MST:



The Worcester Centrum is an awesome idea... if only we could get it, it would be the greatest competition yet.
-Keith

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Posted by Jason Leslie, Other on team #157, The Aztechs, from Assabet Valley RTHS and Simplex / EMC / Intel Massachusetts / Ascend .

Posted on 3/24/99 10:11 PM MST


In Reply to: Re: QUICK SURVEY posted by Andy Grady on 3/24/99 3:32 PM MST:



On a note about the Centrum for a regional...

It has the atmosphere of the gym in Manchester where you can see the
feilds unlike in Hartford (I thought that was a problem). There is enough
room for two feilds and a stage in the middle. the teams can come in from
one end and after there match out the other (thus solving any traffic jams)
and the pits could be located in the convention center (giving more room
for teams). It also has the vending like Hartford, A hotel across the
street and many more near bye.

The problem...

The problem with having it at the centrum is money (of course) and
scheduling. there are many events that go on there Hockey, conventions,
concerts, etc...

It is a great idea and my sources say that it was considered but the
previous was the problem.

Maybe next year

Jay Leslie
Team 157

GO AZTECHS

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Posted by Jerry Eckert, Engineer on team #140 from Tyngsboro, MA High School and New England Prototype/Brooks Automation.

Posted on 3/25/99 9:07 AM MST


In Reply to: Re: QUICK SURVEY posted by Jason Leslie on 3/24/99 10:11 PM MST:



: On a note about the Centrum for a regional...

: It also has the vending like Hartford,

Are the prices more reasonable than those in Hartford.

And will they allow FIRST to sell T-shirts on-site???

- Jerry

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Posted by Jason Leslie, Other on team #157, The Aztechs, from Assabet Valley RTHS and Simplex / EMC / Intel Massachusetts / Ascend .

Posted on 3/25/99 10:36 AM MST


In Reply to: Re: QUICK SURVEY posted by Jerry Eckert on 3/25/99 9:07 AM MST:



They do offer consetions, however the question is Would it be offerd?
they may or may not allow FIRST to sell shirts, but I don't se what the
problem is or what it was in Hartford. Personally I wanted to buy some
FIRST gear.



Jay

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Posted by Jerry Eckert, Engineer on team #140 from Tyngsboro, MA High School and New England Prototype/Brooks Automation.

Posted on 3/25/99 11:04 AM MST


In Reply to: Re: QUICK SURVEY posted by Jason Leslie on 3/25/99 10:36 AM MST:



: They do offer consetions, however the question is Would it be offerd?
: they may or may not allow FIRST to sell shirts, but I don't se what the
: problem is or what it was in Hartford. Personally I wanted to buy some
: FIRST gear.

What are the concession prices like at the Centrum? I thought some of the
prices at Hartford were outrageous.

I don't understand why the Music Theater management had a problem with
FIRST selling T-shirts. Unlike food, they would not have been in
competition with anything being sold by the facility concession vendors.

- Jerry

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Posted by Jon, Engineer on team #190, Gompei, from WPI/Mass Academy and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Posted on 3/25/99 12:14 PM MST


In Reply to: Re: QUICK SURVEY posted by Jerry Eckert on 3/25/99 11:04 AM MST:



For anyone not familiar with the Worcester Centrum, it is a facility
similar to the Apollo at Temple. The seating is all around the central
area and it is the home to the Worcester Icecats. I think the food is
priced more reasonably than at the Music Theater, but one possible
complication is that the event would have to be coordinated very closely
with the Icecats season so that the team is on an away streak of at least
5 days (3 days for competition and 1 day before and after to setup/takedown
lights and setup ice)
As for the T-shirt issue... that would need some looking into, i can't
even guess without knowing the MMT's management's reasons.

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Posted by Kirsten, Student on team #177, Bobcat Robotics, from South Windsor High School and International Fuel Cells.

Posted on 3/25/99 1:03 PM MST


In Reply to: Re: QUICK SURVEY posted by Jason Leslie on 3/25/99 10:36 AM MST:



From what I heard, FIRST would have been allowed to sell merchandise at the meadows, but only if they sold through Meadows agents. This would have made it really expensive, with a large amount of the $ going to the Meadows instead of FIRST. I suppose this could happen at any of the commercial venues, though.
Kirsten Saur
Co-Captain
Team #177, Bobcat Robotics

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Posted by Tom Wible, Coach on team #131, chaos, from central high school manchester and osram-sylvania.

Posted on 3/25/99 9:51 AM MST


In Reply to: QUICK SURVEY posted by Keith on 3/24/99 2:44 PM MST:



I would think that another college in the New England area would be a good choice. How about getting M.I.T. to provide a gymnasium?

2 cents
Tom

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Posted by Michael Betts, Engineer on team #177, Bobcat Robotics, from South Windsor High School and International Fuel Cells.

Posted on 3/26/99 9:45 AM MST


In Reply to: QUICK SURVEY posted by Keith on 3/24/99 2:44 PM MST:



: And here's the question:
: Which venue do you like better...
: 1) The New England Regional in Connecticut..
: 2) Or the New England Regional in Manchester..
: and also give your reasons...
: -THanks,,, an interested Manchvegas veteran

First of all, let me talk to the past. In the first year that our team
participated in FIRST, the venue was (I believe) Manchester High School.
In my opinion, it was the best! The pits were in the cafeteria and I
still have fond memories of drilling holes into the cafeteria tables
while we were rebuilding a broken arm!

I also hold very fond memories of NH College. However, I also remember
my VP of engineering, the assistant superintendent of our school and
half my team (including our drivers) standing outside in an ice storm
because the Fire Marshall closed the venue off at 8:15 AM!

I also have some unique perspectives on this year and the move to
Hartford. I am team coordinator for the corporate end of the
Bobcat Robotics partnership. As such, I have attended almost every
corporation level meeting on this subject.

The problem with venue selection is not the arena but the pits! Many
potential locations were disgarded because of this single criteria.

The second problem is the sponsor. It takes a surprising amount of
capital to host a regional and the sponsor has a (justifiably) keen
interest in maximizing their return on investment. Their desire to
host the regional in their home city should be very understandable
if you stop to think of it. This limits the venues available.

Choosing a venue is a lot like engineering a robot. There are always
trade offs (many more than I have noted above). In my opinion, the
selection of the Meadows was the right one but I must say that certain
aspects of the Meadows venue displeased me as well.

In total, however, I felt that the competition was a success and
I would like to congratulate the folks at both UTC and FIRST who put
in some long hours to make it so. Kudos also to the volunteers who
help make these competitions a reality.

In summary, I would say the same thing to the organizers of this
(and all) competitions that I say to my students... At the end of the
day, look yourself in the mirror. If that person who looks back at you
did his (or her) best, be proud of your accomplishments and yourself.

Maybe next year... If we tilt the field...