Second test launch of newsletter!

[Ken Leung]

------------------------------
|II. 2002 events attendance |
------------------------------

As most of you know, all the 2002 events are now filled up, and a decent amount of teams on waiting list. Take a look at the attendance info in FIRST’s web page: http://www.usfirst.org/frc/public/FMPro

There are still two months left before registration ends, and there are no space left. This means teams failing to register earlier will be placed on waiting list. Take a look at some stats of teams registered for events as of 10/8, which is close to updated:

Number of teams currently registered: 423
of those, ...
Number of rookies (team # > 719): 58
Number of odd (numerically) teams: 209
Number of even teams: 214

Avg # of events per team: 1.93
Avg # of events per odd team: 1.82
Avg # of events per even team: 2.03
# Teams attending exactly 1 event: 149
# Teams attending exactly 2 events: 174
# Teams attending exactly 3 events: 84
# Teams attending exactly 4 events: 14
# Teams attending exactly 5 events: 1
# Teams attending exactly 6 events: 1

(thanks to Patrickrd of 639)

Clearly, there is a bigger demand for regionals after Nats is limited…
So much demand that not even 17 regionals is enough. This is a problem for start up teams who won’t register until deadline. If there’s not enough room for veteran teams already, where else can new teams compete at? Consider the impact this have on FIRST growth rate this year…

Two oblivious questions are still unanswered:
Are there reserved slots in regionals (the capacities might be “suggest” ones, since some of the regional had more slots last year,)? And, will FIRST be limiting the number of regional teams can attend?

These two questions should be answered when registration ends, or whenever FIRST makes any future announcements… We will keep you updated in the future.

Threads related to this issue:

“I believe that there is a difference between "open" capacity as listed on the FIRST site and Total capacity.”
Some registration numbers- http://66.78.36.159/forums/showthrea...=&threadid=814

Interesting stats (back at 10/03)- http://66.78.36.159/forums/showthrea...=&threadid=775

“he (coordinator for the Nevada teams) is just beginning to organize his 10 Nevada teams, let alone register... where do they play?”
“Many people, including myself, believe that FIRST is spots in reserve for rookies and other late registrants. If this is not the case, FIRST will actually see a decrease in the total number of teams this year.”
“I am not sure if FIRST realized how much demand for regionals they were generating when they limited the Championship Event.”
“I know for a fact that the LI Regional is holding spots.”
“I have been told that the LA regional has room for 60 teams.”
2 months left & 97% Full!… the need for more regional?- http://66.78.36.159/forums/showthrea...=&threadid=846
One Slot Left...- http://66.78.36.159/forums/showthrea...=&threadid=870

Polls:
Do you think it is fair to hold slots for the rookie teams
http://66.78.36.159/forums/showthrea...=&threadid=893

Limit the number of regionals teams can attend to help rookies attend at least one?
http://66.78.36.159/forums/showthrea...=&threadid=892

What has your school said about traveling?
http://66.78.36.159/forums/showthrea...=&threadid=811

-----------------------------
|III. Regional competitions |
-----------------------------

There are 747 slots for 17 regional competitions this year… And all of them are filled up. Dates and location of regionals can be found here: http://www.usfirst.org/2002comp/FRCEvents.html
There are 4 new regional this year: Toronto, Cleveland, St Louis, and Seattle. One of the new regionals will be held at Toronto, Ontario, Canada during the weekend of April 4th to 6th. Visit their website created by team 188 at http://www.team188.com/cr/

The regionals will be taking up 5 weeks during March and April, and three weeks until Championship event. As mentioned above, regionals are filled, which is because more teams this year are registered for multiple regionals, due to two reasons: 1. enlarge their chance to obtain more qual. points, or 2. Visit more regionals instead of attending National. It is still unclear if the capacities are final or not, but FIRST have been adding more slots these few weeks.

Non-pre qualified teams going to St. Louis, New England, Southern California, West Michigan, and the Canadian regionals will be the ones facing problems with booking tickets and hotel for National with only three weeks in advance… We still don’t know if there’s any way to help those teams with this problem, so any suggestions are welcome. (Maybe some sort of advance group bookings set aside for last-minute qualified teams…?)

We will keep you updated on details and analysis of regional attendance when the list is final…

Threads related to this issue:

“So.... where is everyone going?”
Regionals -- where are teams going?- http://66.78.36.159/forums/showthrea...=&threadid=718

“how many teams are going there (Canadian regional) and what teams??”
The first Canadian Regional- http://66.78.36.159/forums/showthrea...=&threadid=746

“date originally posted for the St. Louis Regional has changed to 4/4/02 to 4/06/22… also noticed the date for the Pacific Northwest Regional may change.”
“Is it me or are the regionals getting smaller and smaller every year?”
“there was a specific place for the Pacific NW Regional, but now it's TBD. This leads me to believe that for some reason the location FIRST wanted to use backed out of hosting the Regional.”
Regional Date Changes!!!!- http://66.78.36.159/forums/showthrea...=&threadid=840
Regional Sizes- http://66.78.36.159/forums/showthrea...=&threadid=875