pic: Los Angeles Sports Arena

[Roger]

While every regional has it's quirks, I can't complain too much about the ones we've gone to. The practice field in Manchester was small, half field and a little short -- but I've come to expect that. But I pity the poor teams with a shooter, as there was a HUGE electrical box (I think) directly above the overpass. There was enough room to hurdle, but no room for error if you went any higher.

[Nica F.]

Originally Posted by David Brinza

The areas in front and behind the playing field were really cramped. There wasn't room for the judges to sit across the front of the field as they traditionally do.

That was the most surprising for me honestly. The judges sat in front of the field in the beginning with no tables and then was later moved on the other side of the field in 3 short rows next to the production table.

It was also a little crowded for everyone else like the refs and the volunteers. Definitely hard to get around with the tables a short distance next to the field, and then the white (complaint, protest, I forgot what it was called?) box with at least one team member in it waiting to talk to the head ref right in front of one of the field exits.
(I can tell that the field and the tables are a little close when 1515's grabber looked like it was going to attack me during one match. haha)

[EricH]

To respond to the arena issues:
1) Practice field: we used the FIRST official one, including all the carpet they gave us for it. If you want to complain about that, talk to FIRST. We didn't have the vehicles to bring in a better one and set it up, let alone the time.
2) Again, not our fault. If there had been no AG sets, we'd have had something. As it was, we didn't have space.
3) This was brought up at the event to the FTA and others and dealt with. The announcement took care of it, mostly. Anything left would have been cameras with auto-focus, which are hard to stop people from using.
4) $8, actually, but that is not under our control. (Neither is the hours of the food stands.)
5) It's always that way. I don't know if it's that the PA is already maxed out or if all the teams are just too loud.
6) Something else to complain about with the security...

Billfred, both 1726 and 842 were in attendance. 1726 was shooting; I don't remember seeing 842 letting fly. There was one trackball off the field, but I don't think either of them was responsible.