Why is FRC Kickoff when it is?

[abeD]

If I'm not mistaken...

I think in 2004 or around there FIRST actually let everyone ship a couple days late due to some really nasty weather up in the northeast.

[Matt C]

Originally Posted by abeD

If I'm not mistaken...

I think in 2004 or around there FIRST actually let everyone ship a couple days late due to some really nasty weather up in the northeast.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_A...izzard_of_2003

It was 2003.

[Rick Wagner]

Originally Posted by Matt C

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_A...izzard_of_2003

It was 2003.

Thanks. I had forgotten about that!

[EricH]

2004 was parts missing from KOPs for weeks. That was the last time it's happened. It's also the last time the ship date was extended.

So in back-to-back years, the ship date was extended, but it hasn't happened since.

[waialua359]

I am happy that next year it may be January 9th.
That's 6 more days than this season of ample rest before we dont get any.

Its during our christmas vacation from school.
The last several years, we lost a week being at school anyway.

No schedule will meet everyone's expectations, but at least something to look forward to NEXT season.

[GaryVoshol]

Because the competition season has been extended to 6 weeks for at least the last 2 years, that pretty much limits when kickoff has to be. Else you're pushing the Championship into May.

This year it would have been nicer if kickoff could have been Jan 10, simply because many schools didn't open up after break until the 4th. But it wouldn't fit into the schedule - Atlanta is scheduled more than a year in advance and can't be moved. Unless you want a 5-week build ...

edit: I just looked at the GWCC site, and FIRST is scheduled for the same week in April for 2010. That likely means only 5 weeks of competition next year.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

As Gary has stated above, simply add in the six weeks of build, a few weeks of rest for First staff and prep for regionals, then a few weeks of regionals (some of which will occur in spring break for schools to allow travel without missing school) and then an early spring Championship so that students have time to prepare for finals, graduation, prom, etc. When Championships were at Disney, it coincided with Disney's Science month promotion and a lull in other activity that made travel cheaper and hotels available. And since winter keeps many people inside, this is a perfect activity to bring people together while indoors. And it allowed FLL to have the fall but that's another story.

[Brandon_L]

I coulda sworn last year the ship date was delayed about 2 days, I don't remember what for but I remember shipping the bot, then logging onto CD and seeing the delayed shipping date and face-palming myself...

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Brandon_L

I coulda sworn last year the ship date was delayed about 2 days, I don't remember what for but I remember shipping the bot, then logging onto CD and seeing the delayed shipping date and face-palming myself...

Nah, it wasn't. It was probably a hoax. Or a misunderstanding. It's only been delayed twice, as previously noted.