RPI regional

[Joe Ross]

Originally Posted by Kims Robot

From this document (just a google search), RIT's 2014 Spring Break is March 24-28, which actually makes it a week 4 or week 5 event. If I remember right, they traditionally go at the end of spring break so that they can do the traditional Thurs/Fri/Sat event... which could make it a week 5 event. Quite a change from their traditional Week 1/2 event!

RIT is switching from a quarter system to semester, so the later spring break is likely to stay.

[Banderoonies]

Please post when you know the date. The New England teams are moving to the district model next year but depending on dates some might be interested in still traveling to a Regional...who knows

[KrazyCarl92]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

• The event is expected to host 35-40 teams. With about a dozen local teams, there is PLENTY of room for Western NY, MAR, and NE FIRST teams.

How about our friends to the north? They're certainly welcome as well!

[JamesBrown]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

Some details from a recent e-mail blast:
[*]Show Ready says that RPI's ECAV as well as Robinson Gym (the Armory) are suitable venues for a 40 team max event. In addition, nearby Hudson Valley CC is also a suitable venue. Exact location should be decided soon.

Just curious, what email blast did this come from? I would hate to go to a regional at the Armory or ECAV. ECAV would be much more crowded than WPI and the Armory seating would be terrible, parkin will stink (and it leaks in bad weather). The HFH would have pit space but not much seating, it is half the size of the Verizon center and had 2500 less seats than the Agganis arena. The only place in the capital region I would think could host a good regional would be the TUC (Pepsi Arena? I don't know what it is called anymore)

[KrazyCarl92]

Originally Posted by JamesBrown

Just curious, what email blast did this come from? I would hate to go to a regional at the Armory or ECAV. ECAV would be much more crowded than WPI and the Armory seating would be terrible, parkin will stink (and it leaks in bad weather). The HFH would have pit space but not much seating, it is half the size of the Verizon center and had 2500 less seats than the Agganis arena. The only place in the capital region I would think could host a good regional would be the TUC (Pepsi Arena? I don't know what it is called anymore)

ECAV would definitely outclass WPI for seating from 2010-2012. Parking for ECAV is the same as HFH. The Verizon Center uses like 1/5th of its seats at best for GSR. TUC would be nice, but it is a tough venue to book. Also folks haven't mentioned the Glens Falls Civic Center, but that is a reasonable size venue for an FRC event and about an hour north of Albany.

Regardless, the venues as discussed in this thread are the ones that are seriously being considered as far as I know. Hopefully we will have more details to share in the near future.

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by JamesBrown

Just curious, what email blast did this come from? I would hate to go to a regional at the Armory or ECAV. ECAV would be much more crowded than WPI and the Armory seating would be terrible, parkin will stink (and it leaks in bad weather). The HFH would have pit space but not much seating, it is half the size of the Verizon center and had 2500 less seats than the Agganis arena. The only place in the capital region I would think could host a good regional would be the TUC (Pepsi Arena? I don't know what it is called anymore)

I got the info from a forwarded message from our RD.

ECAV is bigger and has more seating than the pre-2013 WPI Regional, with plenty of parking even if you have to walk around HFH.

I would guess the Armory works with supplemental bleachers and a slightly scattered pit area. I don't think it's ideal, but it would probably work for a smaller event.The Armory has some parking, particularly during break when the regional would probably be if hosted at RPI (around march 15th / week 3).

The Houston Field House is more than big enough for a regional this size, with plenty of seating as long as the field is parallel to the long side of the ice rink. However, it's hockey playoffs, so the field house probably isn't available.

Hudson Valley also has a reasonable arena, with a decent amount of parking and accessibility.

[seg9585]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

The Houston Field House is more than big enough for a regional this size, with plenty of seating as long as the field is parallel to the long side of the ice rink. However, it's hockey playoffs, so the field house probably isn't available.

Well if it's hockey playoffs, then the Houston Fieldhouse should definitely be available then!

Kidding, kidding -- haven't followed the team in awhile. Go Red! And Clarkson still sucks...

[Kims Robot]

Originally Posted by seg9585

And Clarkson still sucks...

Oh don't start that now.... At least Clarkson has a FIRST team!!!

And I'm pretty sure the saying goes RPI sucks and SLU... well we just won't talk about it...

[Though I will admit it unfortunately does look like RPI has done better than Clarkson in the last couple of years...]

[Patrick Flynn]

Originally Posted by JamesBrown

Just curious, what email blast did this come from? I would hate to go to a regional at the Armory or ECAV. ECAV would be much more crowded than WPI and the Armory seating would be terrible, parkin will stink (and it leaks in bad weather). The HFH would have pit space but not much seating, it is half the size of the Verizon center and had 2500 less seats than the Agganis arena. The only place in the capital region I would think could host a good regional would be the TUC (Pepsi Arena? I don't know what it is called anymore)

I've spend a decent amount of time, along with Chris and Carl looking at where a regional would best fit on RPI's campus. ECAV sits 1,200 for basketball, that's 200 more than WPI use to be able too. With the pits being in a different gym there would be room to add some more seats. Still not the most ideal location. The HFH sits 5000+ not all these seats would have a good view but more than enough seats for a 40 team event. RIT sits 4000 for 45+ teams. The Armory would require bringing in almost all the seating, this is very similar to whats done at any regional that is held in a convention center.

Parking isn't great at any of these locations. What do you expect in a city? A short simple shuttle just like RPI does for hockey games could easily solve that problem.

[Chris is me]

Some things I heard from tonight's meeting (second-hand, I wasn't there in person):

• Tech Valley Regional is sticking as the event name, barring the sudden introduction of a six-figure sponsor or something like that.
• The regional is probably week 2 or 3. FLR is Week 5, and NYC is Week 6, so this is not a conflict for any New York team's local regional.
• The regional will almost certainly take place at ECAV on RPI's campus. (It's worth noting that since Week 3 is over spring break, the parking lots around BARH and Stackwyck will be more open, allowing for plenty of parking)
• Venue cost is donated by RPI (woo!)

[ThunderousPrime]

Originally Posted by Chris is me

Some things I heard from tonight's meeting (second-hand, I wasn't there in person):

• Tech Valley Regional is sticking as the event name, barring the sudden introduction of a six-figure sponsor or something like that.
• The regional is probably week 2 or 3. FLR is Week 5, and NYC is Week 6, so this is not a conflict for any New York team's local regional.
• The regional will almost certainly take place at ECAV on RPI's campus. (It's worth noting that since Week 3 is over spring break, the parking lots around BARH and Stackwyck will be more open, allowing for plenty of parking)
• Venue cost is donated by RPI (woo!)

Tech Valley Regional is a great name in my opinion. I sounds like it will be cramped which is unfortunate. Its great that there will be another regional in NY.

On another note, off topic I know, does anyone know what regionals if any will be closing with the advent of the NE District System? I've heard rumors that the Pine Tree Regional would close but I have seen anything offical from FIRST or another official source that confirms any regionals to be closed as of next year.

[RocketDean]

The VEX Tournament was Great! I believe 14 robots came.
First Place went to the blue alliance
~Shenendahowa's Team 20 and Avril Park~
GO ROCKETEERS!

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by RocketDean

The RPI Regional was Great! I believe 14 robots came.
First Place went to the blue alliance
~Shenendahowa's Team 20 and Avril Park~
GO ROCKETEERS!

wait..what?

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

wait..what?

I think he is referring to the local FLL / Vex tournament which happened on Saturday. The FRC regional competition is still in March!

[RocketDean]

So sorry for the confusion!
I mixed up the RPI Regional with the VEX Tournament.
Sorry 8d