Lesson Learned: The Negative

[RoboMom]

SATURDAY AWARDS/FINALS/CELEBRATION

• The fact that the finals/awards ceremony ran over so long (AGAIN!) is unacceptable. Feedback about this has been delivered each year. Speeches, even by the heavy weights, need to be very short and sweet. The people sitting in the Dome "get it" so the same message does not need to be delivered over and over by everyone. Food for the teams at the "Celebration" is usually only available from 6:30-8:30 and those expensive tickets need to allow teams to have a full 3 hours at the event. But please don't take time away from honoring the teams. FIRST needs to take control of the schedule.
  
• It took me almost 20 minutes, to enter the Park after a 10 minutes exit from the Dome (and I was lucky to have shortcuts leaving the Dome not available to the teams). All the teams around me were good sports but the crush of bodies could have been a disaster. There needs to be a more efficient queuing system. FIRSTers get team queuing!
  
• Where the team was from and their name need to be up on the big screen along with their number when the award is announced.
  
• I feel bad for all those teams that were kicked out of the club level due to "VIP seating" only to be replaced by other teams. The management of allowing the customers (the teams) to enter the stands and get a decent seat, without confused messages, should be a FIRST priority.
  

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