Where is gonna be located the 2014-2015 Championship?

[MrTechCenter]

Originally Posted by Moon2020

Reliant Stadium in Houston seats 71,000, but not sure if it has enough attached exhibit space without using the Astrodome. Toyota Center downtown near the GRBCC is not big enough.

I think the Reliant Center is a sufficient convention center. But I don't think they're totally attached like it is in St. Louis. Same thing with Indy, there is a gap between the convention center and stadium.

[TheMadCADer]

Originally Posted by EricH

Houston might have a shot, if they didn't stick us in the Reliant/Astrodome again.

Any proposal from Houston wouldn't use the Astrodome, that building is pretty much abandoned. However, right next door there is Reliant Center, larger than America's Center in St. Louis by 200,000 square feet of floor space, and it is also right next door to an NFL stadium with a retractable roof. It's a bit more walking than St. Louis (and based on the shape of the convention center, some divisions would walk a bit further), but probably pretty close to what we had in Atlanta.

There's also Reliant Arena just across the parking lot, which couldn't handle FRC but could support some FLL/FTC. However, most people would like to keep all the levels together, so everyone can easily see it all at once.

[Mike Marandola]

Originally Posted by TheMadCADer

Any proposal from Houston wouldn't use the Astrodome, that building is pretty much abandoned. However, right next door there is Reliant Center, larger than America's Center in St. Louis by 200,000 square feet of floor space, and it is also right next door to an NFL stadium with a retractable roof. It's a bit more walking than St. Louis (and based on the shape of the convention center, some divisions would walk a bit further), but probably pretty close to what we had in Atlanta.

There's also Reliant Arena just across the parking lot, which couldn't handle FRC but could support some FLL/FTC. However, most people would like to keep all the levels together, so everyone can easily see it all at once.

I think open air Championships in a stadium with a retractable roof would be amazing. Unless it is raining of course.

[PayneTrain]

Originally Posted by marandola316

I think open air Championships in a stadium with a retractable roof would be amazing. Unless it is raining of course.

The open air stadium would be very difficult since a large amount of lighting, curtains, and other things are rigged to the ceiling of the EJD as it is right now.

I do know Indianapolis' Convention Center has multiple hotels connected to the convention center, but a big issue will arise in the airport not having any independent mass transit to the downtown area like St. Louis or Atlanta.

[IndySam]

Originally Posted by PayneTrain

I do know Indianapolis' Convention Center has multiple hotels connected to the convention center, but a big issue will arise in the airport not having any independent mass transit to the downtown area like St. Louis or Atlanta.

Indianapolis host the annual FFA convention which makes the championship look small. We know how to get people downtown.

[Patrick Flynn]

Originally Posted by IndySam

Indianapolis host the annual FFA convention which makes the championship look small. We know how to get people downtown.

Would you be able to comment on how the convention center is connected to Lucas Oil stadium?
On their website it says, "Now, we’ve connected that stadium to the expanded Indiana Convention Center—doubling its size and creating one of the nation’s largest convention centers."

Would it be possible for robots to traverse this connection in a reasonable amount of time?

[kwotremb]

Originally Posted by PayneTrain

The open air stadium would be very difficult since a large amount of lighting, curtains, and other things are rigged to the ceiling of the EJD as it is right now.

I was hoping especially with how the weather was the one year it was in Houston that they would open up the roof there. After seeing all the wires hanging from the roof, that was not going to happen. Maybe if it was set up right and the right kind of retractable roof maybe, but odds are low.

[Racer26]

Originally Posted by marandola316

I think open air Championships in a stadium with a retractable roof would be amazing. Unless it is raining of course.

You mean like the Rogers Center (#SkyDomeForever!) and MTCC combination in Toronto, ON?

[Batterink]

Originally Posted by Racer26

You mean like the Rogers Center (#SkyDomeForever!) and MTCC combination in Toronto, ON?

That would be awesome. I'm not sure on how feasible it would be to get robots from the MTCC to the SkyDome though.

[Racer26]

Originally Posted by Batterink

That would be awesome. I'm not sure on how feasible it would be to get robots from the MTCC to the SkyDome though.

About as feasible as getting people from MTCC to SkyDome during Autoshow. Its not THAT bad.

[sgreco]

Originally Posted by Racer26

You mean like the Rogers Center (#SkyDomeForever!) and MTCC combination in Toronto, ON?

It would be cool to have it in Canada, but I'm not sure how well that would works seeing as the Blue Jays schedule would have to be arranged around it. No chance the MLB rearranges it's schedule to accommodate the FIRST Championships.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Racer26

You mean like the Rogers Center (#SkyDomeForever!) and MTCC combination in Toronto, ON?

I don't think the Blue Jays would feel very inclinded to share their field with us at this time of year.

[Lil' Lavery]

Originally Posted by Aiyash

Cobo Hall and the Joe Louis Arena? Go Detroit!

The Red Wings tend to be using the Joe in late April.

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

I don't think the Blue Jays would feel very inclinded to share their field with us at this time of year.

Far more likely than all the NHL/NBA arenas (given the playoff time frame). You can easily schedule a road trip in the regular season. We'd occupy the space for just under a week, or basically two series on the road. Hardly even a road trip worth mentioning.

[Jonathan Norris]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

I don't think the Blue Jays would feel very inclinded to share their field with us at this time of year.

Yea the MTCC/SkyDome would be a great location for championship in terms of Transit/Hotels/Restaurants/Attractions in the area. But there really isn't a connection between MTCC and Skydome that would work for moving people/robots. Also the majority of MTCC's floor space is a couple levels underground... moving robots in elevators wouldn't be fun. There is also that whole passport issue

Its my understanding that the MTCC is going to go under a massive renovation in the next 5 years (It desperately needs it).

For me St. Louis/Indy/Houston/Atlanta are the front runners.

[Denise Bohnsack]

Originally Posted by TheMadCADer

Any proposal from Houston wouldn't use the Astrodome, that building is pretty much abandoned. However, right next door there is Reliant Center, larger than America's Center in St. Louis by 200,000 square feet of floor space, and it is also right next door to an NFL stadium with a retractable roof. It's a bit more walking than St. Louis (and based on the shape of the convention center, some divisions would walk a bit further), but probably pretty close to what we had in Atlanta.

There's also Reliant Arena just across the parking lot, which couldn't handle FRC but could support some FLL/FTC. However, most people would like to keep all the levels together, so everyone can easily see it all at once.

So the Astrodome that did not work well for 2003 has been shut down now.So those that attended in 2003 what was your opinion of just Reliant Stadium? And since I have never been to the new Reliant Center, which compares to St. Louis America's Center only larger, how would that work?