2009 Minnesota Regionals

[AndyB]

Twice the teams, twice the awards, twice the excitement. Can't wait to see everyone there.

Who's attending the first ever Minnesota North Star and Minnesota 10,000 Lakes regionals?

171 will be attending one of the Minnesota Regional this year (currently looking like North Star), assuming Wisconsin doesn't fill up too quickly, forcing us to move our registration.

[Cow Bell Solo]

Well Team 2207, of WBL MN is registered to attend the North Star Regional.

My question is does anyone know anything about where these are located, I know on the FIRST website they say Minneapolis, but WHERE, what buildings? Plus i hope to see an update on the regional website with this information about the two regionals, i know this way early in the season but I am way to excited.

Plus a little off topic, on the MN regional website (http://www.mnfirstregional.org) they mention something about the CompactRIO seminar, what time is that happening so I can plan accourdingly

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Cow Bell Solo

My question is does anyone know anything about where these are located, I know on the FIRST website they say Minneapolis, but WHERE, what buildings? Plus i hope to see an update on the regional website with this information about the two regionals, i know this way early in the season but I am way to excited.

Plus a little off topic, on the MN regional website (http://www.mnfirstregional.org) they mention something about the CompactRIO seminar, what time is that happening so I can plan accourdingly

You linked to the site with the answer. Right where it talks about the two regionals, it says that they will be at University of Minnesota's Williams and Mariucci arenas.

[Cow Bell Solo]

Originally Posted by EricH

You linked to the site with the answer. Right where it talks about the two regionals, it says that they will be at University of Minnesota's Williams and Mariucci arenas.

WOW thankz, that wasn't there this morning when I checked the website.

[vivek16]

Yep, the arenas are right next to each other.

2264's going to the 10000 lakes right now. It'll be good to have a smaller regional this year.

[Jeff Pahl]

North Star is at Mariucci Arena, and 10,000 Lakes is at Williams (site of last year's regional). Both are located on the campus of the U of M. Mariucci is the ice arena, and Williams is the basketball arena. And yes, they are right across the street from each other.

I don't know about smaller, my understanding is that they will both be roughly the size of the single regional last year, maybe slightly smaller. I believe there will be 50+ teams at each regional. Should be a pretty crazy weekend, I can't wait!

Here is the link to the YouTube promo video for the double regional: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrCJJ2JHnEU&fmt=6

I don't know any more specifics on the cRIO seminar, but you may want to ask that question in the forum section of the MN regional website.

[AndyB]

Originally Posted by Jeff Pahl

North Star is at Mariucci Arena, and 10,000 Lakes is at Williams (site of last year's regional). Both are located on the campus of the U of M. Mariucci is the ice arena, and Williams is the basketball arena. And yes, they are right across the street from each other.

I don't know about smaller, my understanding is that they will both be roughly the size of the single regional last year, maybe slightly smaller. I believe there will be 50+ teams at each regional. Should be a pretty crazy weekend, I can't wait!

Here is the link to the YouTube promo video for the double regional: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrCJJ2JHnEU&fmt=6

I don't know any more specifics on the cRIO seminar, but you may want to ask that question in the forum section of the MN regional website.

Jeff, I know that FIRST is showing a capacity of 40 for each regional. Historically, I know most regionals usually end up with more than what FIRST lists due to late registrations with rookies and such. I'd love to see 100 teams competing that weekend.

[Jeff Pahl]

Originally Posted by AndyB

Jeff, I know that FIRST is showing a capacity of 40 for each regional. Historically, I know most regionals usually end up with more than what FIRST lists due to late registrations with rookies and such. I'd love to see 100 teams competing that weekend.

They are holding some spaces for rookies. My understanding, from various information I have received, is that the current plans allow for 50 teams at each site. I know that there are several teams in the state that are still waiting to see if they can pull the funding together.

[Bryan Herbst]

So we get a chance to compete at Mariucci? That is pretty cool. I go there for Gopher hockey games quite often, and I'm surprised it's available.

It would be even cooler if we could attend both, but they're the same weekend.

[ATannahill]

If they were not the same weekend than many teams would go to both, therefore ruining the point of two regionals, which is to let more teams compete.

[vivek16]

Originally Posted by rtfgnow

If they were not the same weekend than many teams would go to both, therefore ruining the point of two regionals, which is to let more teams compete.

Exactly, I suppose they could restrict registration for both if they were different weekends but this just works out overall. They can have the same machine shop, volunteer catering, supplies, setup teams, etc. Management will be harder but fiscally it works out better.

-Vivek

[BioxBunny]

Team #2181 from Blaine will be going to 10,000 Lakes one ^^
Going to be a fun regional for minnesota, there seem to be alot of teams from out of state going to the North Star one. I took a look at the regestared team list for both, 10,000 lakes is more of the local teams; sofar.

[AndyB]

Originally Posted by BioxBunny

Team #2181 from Blaine will be going to 10,000 Lakes one ^^
Going to be a fun regional for minnesota, there seem to be alot of teams from out of state going to the North Star one. I took a look at the regestared team list for both, 10,000 lakes is more of the local teams; sofar.

North Star definitly has the veteran teams right now. Things will change in a few weeks when teams start signing up for their second regional. I'd think Appleton and Fondy will both be back from Wisconsin. We'll see if there are any more Wisconsin teams that make the trip. 525 has yet to sign up for a regional as well.

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by BioxBunny

Thats what my teacher was thinking, he said that if people are coming from out of state, like way put, then they must know they have a good chance at winning. From the "wanting to win the competition" view of course.

That's an awfully cynical view.

I know that when the TechnoKats decide where we want to compete, we don't ask "How weak is the competition?" We think instead about meeting new people, visiting new places, and learning new things.

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by BioxBunny

Thats what my teacher was thinking, he said that if people are coming from out of state, like way put, then they must know they have a good chance at winning. From the "wanting to win the competition" view of course.

But hopefully 10,000 lakes will gain more variety in teams as registration keeps going. Time will tell who our competitors are.

If I may, I'd like to expand on this thought a little. There are almost as many reasons to travel to regionals to compete as there are stars in the sky.

One that I hear a lot is that teams work hard to obtain funding to travel to different regionals outside their area so that they can interact with other teams from other areas, broadening their experience in FIRST. That experience can encompass the competition, the teams, the locale, the history of the event and the location, the sight-seeing opportunities.. the list goes on.

Competing successfully at the regionals is always a plus and an important part of the competition season but there can be many reasons for selecting the regionals that teams travel to and participate in. It's very exciting.

Jane

Edit: I must have been typing when Alan posted.