Future Championship Location?

[Anupam Goli]

Originally Posted by mikemat

I believe it was brought up last year. The general consensus was that $100,000,000 was too much money to build a stadium that would only be used a handful of times per year.

Didn't someone announce at SVR that a venue for FIRST had been approved in the San Jose area? It's not big enough for a championship event obviously, but It's going to be used for kickoff, workshops, practice, and regional events.

[Ekcrbe]

Originally Posted by animenerdjohn

Because the Cowboys stadium isn't big enough to hold everyone

It has a lot of seats, but I don't believe there is any adjoining building to provide enough floor space.

[Cory]

Originally Posted by Wing

Didn't someone announce at SVR that a venue for FIRST had been approved in the San Jose area? It's not big enough for a championship event obviously, but It's going to be used for kickoff, workshops, practice, and regional events.

It was announced as a practice facility, not as a venue for holding events.

[Camren]

Originally Posted by Samwaldo

I don't think this has ever been mentioned!!! FIRST should build their own venue!

I have thought the same thing the whole past year. Also as long as we are talking Minnesota. Does any other MN team think MN FIRST should take Mall of America Field (The metrodome) as their home venue and call it The FIRST Dome
The only teams that use it are HS and NCAA baseball teams. We can move them.

[Camren]

Originally Posted by CalTran

Considering it'd only be used, what, 4 days a year (Maybe 7 if they host a regional too)? That's one heck of an investment for a week worth of use per year.

I Believe if they open it up for Robotics Championship, a regional, and then FIRST Robotics conferences throughout the year. Have it host an Sponsor trade fair and an Andy Mark conference along with lending it out for concerts and highschool and ncaa events it would find very good use

[iPenguin]

Obligatory Georgia team answer:

COME BACK TO ATLANTA!!!!

[Cory]

Originally Posted by Camren

I Believe if they open it up for Robotics Championship, a regional, and then FIRST Robotics conferences throughout the year. Have it host an Sponsor trade fair and an Andy Mark conference along with lending it out for concerts and highschool and ncaa events it would find very good use

I don't think people have a proper understanding of how much it costs to construct a domed stadium and convention center.

The America's Center and Edward Jones Dome cost a combined $556,000,000 in 2012 dollars. Not including whatever expansion and upgrades were completed since they opened.

Even if you assumed that FIRST would only need to construct a facility 1/5 of the size of the venue in St Louis, Atlanta, Indianapolis, etc, the cost is still ridiculous.

[Lil' Lavery]

Try finding the real estate to build a Championship-scale venue in a suitable location. Due to the structure of CMP, the venue would need to be located near a major airport, an abundance of hotels, suitable attractions and amenities, and accessible public transportation connecting these resources. That basically limits to developed urban areas. Do you know how much land costs in urban areas?

[OZ_341]

This where I add my annual and obligatory "Go Back to Disney, no matter what it takes" statement. There I did it.

[Anupam Goli]

Originally Posted by iPenguin

Obligatory Georgia team answer:

COME BACK TO ATLANTA!!!!

I would love to be able to MARTA to the Dome and be back in my dorm room for dinner.

[ratdude747]

Indy. It's perfect in almost every way. Seats? Check. Space? Check. Central? Check. Good weather? Check (no worse than ATL). Large INTL airport? Check.

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by ratdude747

Indy. It's perfect in almost every way. Seats? Check. Space? Check. Central? Check. Good weather? Check (no worse than ATL). Large INTL airport? Check.

Weather?

[Karthik]

Originally Posted by ratdude747

Large INTL airport? Check.

Large? Indianpolis International is ranked 39th in America based on number departures and 49th based on number of passengers. I've found St. Louis to be hard enough to get reasonable flights into, Indy would be even worse. There are plenty of reasons as to why Indianapolis would be an amazing city to host the Championship, but the airport is not one of them.

[ttldomination]

Originally Posted by ratdude747

Indy. It's perfect in almost every way. Seats? Check. Space? Check. Central? Check. Good weather? Check (no worse than ATL). Large INTL airport? Check.

ATL weather was just spotty that one year with the random tornadoes in the city, at least, as far back as I remember. Other than that, it's been the usual mix of rain/sun for CMPs.

- Sunny G.

[Taylor]

Originally Posted by Karthik

Large? Indianpolis International is ranked 39th in America based on number departures and 49th based on number of passengers. I've found St. Louis to be hard enough to get reasonable flights into, Indy would be even worse. There are plenty of reasons as to why Indianapolis would be an amazing city to host the Championship, but the airport is not one of them.

While I won't dispute these, I will add that Indianapolis added a brand new terminal a couple years ago; it is much nicer and easier to navigate than the older one.
Indianapolis is also the second-largest FedEx hub in the world (second to Memphis, the headquarters). This could ease the burden on donated shipping.
I also won't dispute the fact that Indy's mass transportation system leaves much to be desired. Having said that, the downtown is vibrant and pedestrian-friendly. Thanks, 2012 Super Bowl!
Plus, Indianapolis has hosted the unofficial FRC championship for years.
Unfortunately, since Indianapolis is so popular with conventions and sporting events, it is booked years in advance. I'm not sure what timetable FIRST uses for booking events - I tend to think it's a year or two in advance at most - but it may be the case that when they do schedule the CMP, some venues, Indy and around the world, may not be available.