Why can't Nationals be somewhere else?

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Posted by Anthony S. at 04/13/2001 11:17 PM EST


Student on team #442, Knight Riders, from Lee High School and NASA/BOEING/MEVATEC.



I'm not complaining about Florida or anything, don't get me wrong, Florida is a wonderful place. But of all places, why can't it be anywhere else. I would love to travel somewhere else. Florida is only a 12 hour drive by bus from where I live. I like travelling so I wanted to go somewhere far. I was just wondering whats with Florida?

Anthony Steele II
Lee High School, Huntsville, AL
Team 442 NASA MSFC/BOEING/MEVATEC

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Posted by Jeff W. at 04/14/2001 12:09 AM EST


Student on team #419, RAMBOTS, from Boston College High School and Don't think we actually have a sponsor.


In Reply to: Why can't Nationals be somewhere else?
Posted by Anthony S. on 04/13/2001 11:17 PM EST:



I think they shouldn't always stay at Florida. They should go to a different state every year. This will let everyone see the different parts of out country.

Jeff Wo(n)g

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Posted by Gui Cavalcanti at 04/14/2001 10:49 AM EST


Student on team #422, Mech Tech, from Governor's School (GSGIS) and Verizon.


In Reply to: Why can't Nationals be somewhere else?
Posted by Anthony S. on 04/13/2001 11:17 PM EST:



Mainly because Disney's biggest parks (and since Disney is FIRSTs MAJOR sponsors) are in Florida, and no other place has volunteered to host Nationals of this size. Not every state has the equipment needed to support 340 teams for 3 straight days, you know. Or the space.

-Gui

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Posted by Hymnson at 04/14/2001 12:01 PM EST


Student on team #419, The Rambots, from Boston College High School and UMass Boston and Modern Assistance Programs, Inc..


In Reply to: Why can't Nationals be somewhere else?
Posted by Anthony S. on 04/13/2001 11:17 PM EST:



I think that its a great idea to keep it in Florida because its a great enviroment and lots of things to do after/during competitions. Also, if they moved the Nationals to different places every year, you might end up somewhere you wouldn't want to be. Also, as I read before, not all States can accomadate this size of a competition. So I say "dont fix something that isn't broke." We all got a good thing going here, lets stick with it.

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Posted by Joe Johnson at 04/14/2001 4:28 PM EST


Engineer on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.


In Reply to: Why can't Nationals be somewhere else?
Posted by Anthony S. on 04/13/2001 11:17 PM EST:



Any city that can host the Superbowl or the NCAA Final
4 could easily host the FIRST Nationls based on hotel
space.

Of these cities, most have a conference center big
enough to EASILY host a FIRST Nationals.

Cobo Hall in Detroit could house 4 or 5 complexes the
size of the National Complex that Disney puts up every
year. That plus Cobo Arena attached could easily play
the role of Einstein Stage.

I am quite sure that McCormick (spelling) Center in
Chicago could just as easily host the Nationals.

LA, NYC, Atlanta, Denver, Boston, etc. each have
facilities that would be BETTER than what Disney has
going for it.

The ONLY thing that Disney has going for it is that it
is, well... ...Disney.

Like it or not, a lot of folks get involved
initially just because a trip to Disney World is
involved.

When FIRST matures enough not to need this parlor trick
to draw in the uninitiated, then I believe we will be
well served to look elsewhere.

In fact, I look forward to the day.

Joe J.

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Posted by Andy Baker at 04/15/2001 11:53 PM EST


Engineer on team #45, TechnoKats, from Kokomo High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.


In Reply to: 10's of cities could host the Nationals...
Posted by Joe Johnson on 04/14/2001 4:28 PM EST:




: Of these cities, most have a conference center big
: enough to EASILY host a FIRST Nationals.

Downtown Indy would be a great place for FIRST Nationals.

The NCAA Men's final four basketball tournament is there about every 4 years, and for a darn good reason... it is the best place to have it.

The RCA dome is connected to the convention center, which has 6 HUGE rooms (pits with divisional fields?). Then, there is a great mall and entertainment center right next door (Circle Center).

The only bad thing is that Indiana will not pay attention to FIRST until we have robots playing basketball... let's hear it for 3 on 3 robo-ball for 2002!!

Andy B.

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Posted by Jessica Boucher at 04/16/2001 12:03 PM EST


Student on team #237, Sie-H2O-Bots, from Watertown High School and Eastern Awning Systems & The Siemon Company.


In Reply to: Indianapolis!
Posted by Andy Baker on 04/15/2001 11:53 PM EST:



Baker-

Is it SUNNY?

If its not sunny & warm, I am not coming, sorry

Personally, if Ive spent 6 weeks in the cold and dark of CT there is no way Im going someplace that isn't sunny & warm...its the one thing I look forward to each year as much as the competition itself.

I honestly think what made part of UTC kind-of somber was that it was cold, it was rainy/snowy, and 2 pits down from us was flooded out. Even though it poured on Thursday at Nats, I had a blast in the warm rain (my media tent people can vouch for me ).

Im sorry if I sound shallow...but no matter where the competition is, it HAS to be warm.

-Jessica B, #237

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Posted by Mike Sklar at 04/17/2001 2:10 PM EST


Engineer on team #21, ComBBAT , from Astronaut H.S. and Titusville H.S. and Brevard Community College and Boeing Company and NASA-KSC.


In Reply to: Why can't Nationals be somewhere else?
Posted by Anthony S. on 04/13/2001 11:17 PM EST:



All the arguments here seem perfectly legit. But it certainly seems like no one really appreciates what Disney does. They are for sure the largest sponsor of FIRST, have been there since the beginning and spend a fortune on FIRST. We all take this and the support of other sponsors far too much for granted. Working for a large corporation and having had a lot of involvement in corporate educational and community spending I know how large a committment Disney makes. It would be far easier for them to take the FIRST money and spread it out among 100's of very good, and needing programs.
We should all appreciate this.

And quite frankly putting the nationals right under the EPCOT ball seem more fitting and exciting than some boring gym or convention hall!