pic: Montreal is sure to be a good show!

[Tristan Lall]

There are so many nice improvements to the standard format at that event—little things that you don't immediately realize, but which really make the show.

The game announcer is easily one of the best in FIRST (understanding French is an asset here, but I suspect that his enthusiasm would show through even if not).

The camera work on the webcast is better than I've ever seen in FIRST—even the ESPN-televised Championship coverage from the 1990s was nowhere near that good. They have so many cameras moving around the field, so they can add tight, detailed shots of the field, drivers, crowd, officials, etc.. And then there's a director who can pull it all together. It's almost a pleasure to watch their coverage of the inter-match downtime, especially compared to the sponsor cards that so many events throw up.

The music is more interesting, and is well-DJed. The French-language pop music adds welcome variety.

And those lights.