Location Suggestion for 2010 Championship

[synth3tk]

I know this thread is for mentioning serious suggestions (whether FIRST sees them or not) but I'd like to throw Cleveland in.

Only issue we would have is weather. It's very unpredictable. Otherwise, it's no less an option than some of the others posted here, sans Disney. You can't beat Disney.

We just had a $200-million renovation of a major street (Euclid Avenue), including downtown Cleveland itself. We've got the Cleveland Convention Center, with multiple hotels in the immediate area, some within walking distance, others on the public transportation route.

It's near the lake, has a large indoor shopping center (in walking distance), Gund Arena (I refuse to change!), Jacob's Field (Never!), the Brown's Stadium (nobody wants to touch it, lol), AND, The Great Lakes Science Center.

Actually, after typing this up, it doesn't seem like that bad of an idea...

[hallk]

I'm a bag fan of having it at Indy. Just look at all the spectators that IRI draws. I think more teams would be able to come and watch even if they cn't compete in the Championship. Plus Indy doesn't have as big of a homeless problem as Atlanta.

[nuggetsyl]

I know the cd world lives and dies in the midwest. But the champs in indy is a bad idea. Plane tickets alone would be 4 times what they are now. In fact there would not be enough seats on planes to get teams to indy for the champs. example are for flights on 15th wed apr 2009 nonstop flights

from and to- total seat for the day

ewr to ind 314
ewr to mco 1537 from cal 750 from jet blue
ewr to alt 744 for cal 1754 from delta 685 from airtran

If first went to indy then unless you drove you are not going to champs. I have been working in the airline industry for 8 year now there are not enough seats.

[IndySam]

Originally Posted by nuggetsyl

I know the cd world lives and dies in the midwest. But the champs in indy is a bad idea. Plane tickets alone would be 4 times what they are now. In fact there would not be enough seats on planes to get teams to indy for the champs. example are for flights on 15th wed apr 2009 nonstop flights

from and to- total seat for the day

ewr to ind 314
ewr to mco 1537 from cal 750 from jet blue
ewr to alt 744 for cal 1754 from delta 685 from airtran

If first went to indy then unless you drove you are not going to champs. I have been working in the airline industry for 8 year now there are not enough seats.

These numbers only reflect non-stop flights. We host many conventions several times larger than FIRST every year. We just had 50,000 FFA kids in town.

[Andy Baker]

Originally Posted by nuggetsyl

I know the cd world lives and dies in the midwest. But the champs in indy is a bad idea. Plane tickets alone would be 4 times what they are now. In fact there would not be enough seats on planes to get teams to indy for the champs. example are for flights on 15th wed apr 2009 nonstop flights

from and to- total seat for the day

ewr to ind 314
ewr to mco 1537 from cal 750 from jet blue
ewr to alt 744 for cal 1754 from delta 685 from airtran

If first went to indy then unless you drove you are not going to champs. I have been working in the airline industry for 8 year now there are not enough seats.

Keep trying to knock down Indianapolis, Sean, but your flight costs are simply NOT TRUE.

I fly out of Indy often and get reasonable rates. Within the past year, I have had these rates:

Indy to Manchester, round trip (1 layover): $180
Indy to Miami, round trip (1 layover): $190
Indy to Vegas, round trip (direct): $200

Also, if anyone flies in and out of Indy now, they will notice a brand new airport. Not a remodeled airport... a new airport that just opened last week.

Indy hosts the NCAA final four every 3-4 years.
Indy hosts the largest single-day sporting event in the world each year (Indy 500, where 300,000 people attend).
Indy will host the NFL Super Bowl in 2012.

If the passenger volumes of incoming and outgoing flights from IND can handle those events, they can handle the FIRST Championships.

Andy B.

[Madison]

Originally Posted by Andy Baker

Keep trying to knock down Indianapolis, Sean, but your flight costs are simply NOT TRUE.

I fly out of Indy often and get reasonable rates. Within the past year, I have had these rates:

Indy to Manchester, round trip (1 layover): $180
Indy to Miami, round trip (1 layover): $190
Indy to Vegas, round trip (direct): $200

Also, if anyone flies in and out of Indy now, they will notice a brand new airport. Not a remodeled airport... a new airport that just opened last week.

Indy hosts the NCAA final four every 3-4 years.
Indy hosts the largest single-day sporting event in the world each year (Indy 500, where 300,000 people attend).
Indy will host the NFL Super Bowl in 2012.

If the passenger volumes of incoming and outgoing flights from IND can handle those events, they can handle the FIRST Championships.

Andy B.

Andy, Sean's numbers aren't airfare, but the number of seats available flying to Indianapolis on direct flights from the cities he listed. There might be some confusion there.

For what it's worth to others, EWR is Newark (or Liberty...) International Airport and MCO is McCoy Orlando International Airport.

[IndySam]

Originally Posted by Madison

Andy, Sean's numbers aren't airfare, but the number of seats available flying to Indianapolis on direct flights from the cities he listed. There might be some confusion there.

For what it's worth to others, EWR is Newark (or Liberty...) International Airport and MCO is McCoy Orlando International Airport.

Yes, but he also said plane tickets alone would be 4 times as much which is absolutely not true.

[Madison]

Originally Posted by IndySam

Yes, but he also said plane tickets alone would be 4 times as much which is absolutely not true.

Ah, didn't see that. From Seattle, flights to Indianapolis, though the they require a layover in most cases, are significantly cheaper than flights to Atlanta. I don't really understand why.

[IndySam]

Originally Posted by Madison

Ah, didn't see that. From Seattle, flights to Indianapolis, though the they require a layover in most cases, are significantly cheaper than flights to Atlanta. I don't really understand why.

Indy is not a major hub for any airline, so no one airline dominates our market. All the majors fly here so there is maximum competition.

[Wayne C.]

Guys we can suggest all we wish but the fact is that FIRST finds Atlanta suitable and convenient and I have heard no inklings of them having the desire to move anywhere else. They have a set procedure with Atlanta, they know all the logistical issues and frankly, I doubt if the management really cares what we want as long at the event comes off smoothly.

Has anyone checked the Georgia Dome booking calendar to see if 2010 is already booked?

Anyone who experienced FIRST at Disney Epcot will tell you that that was THE place to hold it. The reasons are too numerous to go into. I dont accept the "we outgrew it" excuse- the numbers just dont add up. There are other issues that led us away from there we are not privvy to I'm sure. If FIRST and Disney really wanted us there a way would be found to hold the event.

But for now Atlanta is convenient and an easier arrangement. So we live with it. At least it is relatively warm in Atlanta in April.

WC



Addendum: the FIRST Championships will be held in Atlanta 04/14/10 - 04/17/10 as stated in the GWCC calendar. See you there.....?

[JVN]

Originally Posted by Wayne C.

Anyone who experienced FIRST at Disney Epcot will tell you that that was THE place to hold it.

This is one of those blanket statements that lots of people make, and everyone seems to accept it. As though everyone who ever attended Nationals at Disney prefers it to Championship in Atlanta.

I personally prefer Atlanta to Disney, and I know I'm not the only one. Maybe YOU prefer Disney, but please stop speaking for the rest of us...

-John

[nuggetsyl]

Originally Posted by Andy Baker

Keep trying to knock down Indianapolis, Sean, but your flight costs are simply NOT TRUE.

I fly out of Indy often and get reasonable rates. Within the past year, I have had these rates:

Indy to Manchester, round trip (1 layover): $180
Indy to Miami, round trip (1 layover): $190
Indy to Vegas, round trip (direct): $200

Also, if anyone flies in and out of Indy now, they will notice a brand new airport. Not a remodeled airport... a new airport that just opened last week.

Indy hosts the NCAA final four every 3-4 years.
Indy hosts the largest single-day sporting event in the world each year (Indy 500, where 300,000 people attend).
Indy will host the NFL Super Bowl in 2012.

If the passenger volumes of incoming and outgoing flights from IND can handle those events, they can handle the FIRST Championships.

Andy B.

This is a simple supply and demand issue. When you have huge events like the super bowl airlines add extra seats(bigger planes or more planes), airlines are not going to do this for first. 3 teams signing up from NJ would take half the seats off the market. Ticket prices would then rise easily $600-$800 a seat. Buying a single ticket from orbitz is not factoring in the demand of a first event.

[Andy Baker]

Originally Posted by JVN

I personally prefer Atlanta to Disney, and I know I'm not the only one. Maybe YOU prefer Disney, but please stop speaking for the rest of us...

-John

I agree. I would rather compete in a world class facility as opposed to be placed in a make-shift temporary structure in a parking lot... even if it is at WDW.

Andy B.

[Wayne C.]

Originally Posted by JVN

This is one of those blanket statements that lots of people make, and everyone seems to accept it. As though everyone who ever attended Nationals at Disney prefers it to Championship in Atlanta.

I personally prefer Atlanta to Disney, and I know I'm not the only one. Maybe YOU prefer Disney, but please stop speaking for the rest of us...

-John

OK JV- sorry to ruffle your feathers but I just reflect the opinion of MANY folks I have talked to over the years. To each his own. I am not your spokesperson but I have NEVER heard another person tell me that they prefer Atlanta over Disney until now. Maybe I'm just not in touch?

[Richard Wallace]

Originally Posted by Andy Baker

I agree. I would rather compete in a world class facility as opposed to be placed in a make-shift temporary structure in a parking lot... even if it is at WDW.

Andy B.

The tent that was used as a pit area, in a parking lot at Epcot in 1996, was not much fun. One kid in the group I was leading that year needed EMT attention for heat exhaustion.

I'd vote for Indy (or St. Louis ) if the Championship needs to move, but I think Atlanta is an excellent home if it can stay there.