District System in Other Regions in 2010?

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Vikesrock

Michigan had 132 registered FRC teams this year and California had 145. Michigan had 7 District events this year, California would need at least 8 for all teams to play twice. This would leave significantly more open spots than there were in MI last year, but I can't imagine there would be too much trouble in finding 30 teams that want to pay a bit more to play 3 times.

Or, as I suggested in another thread, allow "outside" teams a chance to take those spots--not for points--before opening the events up to 3rd-district teams.

Thinking about it, that could result in some really interesting events. Let's say, for now, that CA gets up to 155 teams, at 2 events apiece. There are 320 spots in an 8-district grouping, and 310 are taken. You now have 10 open slots, spread over 5-6 weeks and hundreds of miles. (If the number of teams goes over 160, you'll need a ninth event, or somebody only goes to one and goes out of state. Like that'll happen, but anyway...)

What to do with 10 open slots? They won't be counting for points, because any teams taking them will already have 2 events to get points in. So you may as well cross-pollinate--give outside teams a week's head start in registration for those 10 spots. You'd have to work out a price that's between "third district" and "second regional", but you could easily do that. Then after that week, have "open" registration, anyone can sign up. Price depends on in-state or out-of-state status. Now you get the benefits of the regional and the district system...

I'm with Beth: We'll have to wait. And as I said earlier, some aspects could easily be implemented before going to full district style.