2009 Silicon Valley Regional

[Bill Gold]

Not that this really matters, but in 1999 / 2000 it was officially the NASA Ames Regional. However, many people in this area of the FIRST community referred to it as the NASA Ames Western Regional or just Western Regional since it was the only event anywhere near the west coast. Also, at least in 2000, since the event wasn't held at NASA Ames Research Center it could have been seen by many not to have been "their" Regional, despite their massive funding of it.

2001 was the first official naming of the "Silicon Valley Regional," and the beginning of FIRST's event expansion to other cities on the west coast... or just anywhere west of Texas, really.

This nuance doesn't really matter, though. It's the same event, just different names at different points.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Bill Gold

Not that this really matters, but in 1999 / 2000 it was officially the NASA Ames Regional. However, many people in this area of the FIRST community referred to it as the NASA Ames Western Regional or just Western Regional since it was the only event anywhere near the west coast. Also, at least in 2000, since the event wasn't held at NASA Ames Research Center it could have been seen by many not to have been "their" Regional, despite their massive funding of it.

2001 was the first official naming of the "Silicon Valley Regional," and the beginning of FIRST's event expansion to other cities on the west coast... or just anywhere west of Texas, really.

This nuance doesn't really matter, though. It's the same event, just different names at different points.

Yeah... you can look on teams' histories on the FIRST site, and it's listed as CA (or CA1 in 2001). L.A. apparently now gets that designation... Same event, though. Who cares what the name was, as long as the event is the same?

[Cory]

Originally Posted by EricH

Yeah... you can look on teams' histories on the FIRST site, and it's listed as CA (or CA1 in 2001). L.A. apparently now gets that designation... Same event, though. Who cares what the name was, as long as the event is the same?

I'm sure the sponsors care.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Cory

I'm sure the sponsors care.

I can't think of too many regionals anymore that have sponsors in the name. 3, to be exact, though I might be missing one. (Hmm... You're still sponsored by NASA/Ames, right, Cory? I'd think 254 gets their name out better than a regional would.)

[Cory]

Originally Posted by EricH

I can't think of too many regionals anymore that have sponsors in the name. 3, to be exact, though I might be missing one. (Hmm... You're still sponsored by NASA/Ames, right, Cory? I'd think 254 gets their name out better than a regional would.)

I didn't mean this regional in particular. Any regional. No different than people getting upset about everyone calling "The Championship Event" "Nationals" in my opinion. If it's got a specific official name, that's what ought to be used.

[Bill Gold]

Originally Posted by Cory

I'm sure the sponsors care.

He was speaking from a straight-up competitor's standpoint ("I don't care what the event is called, I just want to play!"), and you're speaking from a sponsor's standpoint ("I dished out $100,000... this event better have my name!").

The real names have been posted.

Just build a robot, go to the 10 year old event, and try to have fun? Sound like a plan?

[R.C.]

Originally Posted by Bill Gold

He was speaking from a straight-up competitor's standpoint ("I don't care what the event is called, I just want to play!"), and you're speaking from a sponsor's standpoint ("I dished out $100,000... this event better have my name!").

The real names have been posted.

Just build a robot, go to the 10 year old event, and try to have fun? Sound like a plan?

Yes, it does sound like a plan.

[waialua359]

I believe that sponsorship does matter to an extent no matter which point of view.
Receiving a NASA grant for example and having the requirements of putting NASA "meatball" stickers and in our team name means it does from a competitor's standpoint.
The Hawaii regional is heavily sponsored by BAE and is on our CA banner for 2008.

[Wetzel]

Originally Posted by Bill Gold

He was speaking from a straight-up competitor's standpoint ("I don't care what the event is called, I just want to play!"), and you're speaking from a sponsor's standpoint ("I dished out $100,000... this event better have my name!").

The real names have been posted.

Just build a robot, go to the 10 year old event, and try to have fun? Sound like a plan?

I recall a time about 6 years ago where I just went to a four year old event, got a pineapple, and had a lot of fun. It was a great plan!

Wetzel