"Louisville trying to steal robotics competition from St. Louis" Article

[Taylor]

Originally Posted by PVCpirate

Something tells me that would turn into Robotics city for the weekend, sounds awesome!

That's exactly what would happen. That's what Indy did for the Super Bowl, that's what it does annually for the GenCon and FFA conventions, that's what it does for the Indy500.

[eli2410]

Originally Posted by PVCpirate

Something tells me that would turn into Robotics city for the weekend, sounds awesome!

That was my thought. Indy seems to really embrace these types of things, it doesn't swallow it up like large cities, such as NYC (no offense to anyone). When I was there for the 2010 Final Four, the city embraced it, and everything was about it. I could totally see that happening with FIRST Championships.

Originally Posted by DonRotolo

Is there really a Kansas City in KS?

Hm, an outdoor speedway. Sounds challenging.

Let's face it: As victims of our own success, there are not many venues that might accomodate CMP. None of the ones mentioned are 'perfect'. STL is not bad, especially for the walk from the field to the pits (for both robots and spectators) and so that's my fave so far.

Yep, that's who originally got Google Fiber, KCMO was announced a week later. For anyone who is interested here ( here) is the map. Note that the directions and time for walking is completely wrong, as it is taking the longest route possible. Frances Family Drive between the Best Western and Sporting Park would make the route 5-10 minutes tops, as it runs right to the infield of the Speedway and right next to Sporting's garage doors that can lead you to the field. Of course, like I said, this is still half jokingly, unless anyone actually wants to do it.

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by eli2410

My other idea (mostly joking, of course, unless people would actually want it) is that Kansas City, Kansas could host it, using the Kansas Speedway's infield as pits and Sporting Park for the fields,

Is there really a Kansas City in KS?

Hm, an outdoor speedway. Sounds challenging.

Let's face it: As victims of our own success, there are not many venues that might accomodate CMP. None of the ones mentioned are 'perfect'. STL is not bad, especially for the walk from the field to the pits (for both robots and spectators) and so that's my fave so far.

[Michael Hill]

Originally Posted by Cory

It's still too small for more than just Einstein.



I heard that there was no good way to get from the convention center to Lucas Oil Stadium and that the "meeting space" in LOS wasn't nearly big enough for all the pits. Do you know what the plan is there?

A little birdie told me they figured out a solution.

[CENTURION]

I'm in agreement with most here; Atlanta was awesome. We took a coach bus down there from Wisconsin, and it really wasn't that bad of a trip.

St. Louis is alright, but I would really love to go back to Atlanta

[protoserge]

Come on, y'all. Any city can host The Championship Event.



So long as it's Atlanta


Or the FIRST Robotics City, complete with spaceport, hyperloop, and STEAM education programs for all.

[Andy Baker]

Originally Posted by Cory

I heard that there was no good way to get from the convention center to Lucas Oil Stadium and that the "meeting space" in LOS wasn't nearly big enough for all the pits. Do you know what the plan is there?

On behalf of the Visit Indy bid for the Indianapolis FIRST Championships, we had a good crew working on layout solutions for FRC, FTC, and FLL in Lucas Oil Stadium (LOS) and the Indianapolis Convention Center (ICC).

To walk robots and drive teams back and forth between the ICC and LOS reminded us of Houston in 2003, which was not optimal. So, having FRC pits in ICC and fields (except for Einstein) in LOS was not an option. However, we still have two good layout plans.

Our #1 suggestion is to have all of FRC in the ICC and then FLL and FTC in LOS.

Our #2 suggestion is to have all of FRC in LOS, with pits and fields. FTC and FLL would then be in ICC.

Once FIRST makes their decision within a few weeks, we may post more regarding the details of this layout in Indy. I can attest that there have been many people working hard on this, and the above two options are good plans.

Sincerely,
Andy Baker

[Carol]

Originally Posted by Andy Baker

On behalf of the Visit Indy bid for the Indianapolis FIRST Championships, we had a good crew working on layout solutions for FRC, FTC, and FLL in Lucas Oil Stadium (LOS) and the Indianapolis Convention Center (ICC).

To walk robots and drive teams back and forth between the ICC and LOS reminded us of Houston in 2003, which was not optimal. So, having FRC pits in ICC and fields (except for Einstein) in LOS was not an option. However, we still have two good layout plans.

Our #1 suggestion is to have all of FRC in the ICC and then FLL and FTC in LOS.

Our #2 suggestion is to have all of FRC in LOS, with pits and fields. FTC and FLL would then be in ICC.

Once FIRST makes their decision within a few weeks, we may post more regarding the details of this layout in Indy. I can attest that there have been many people working hard on this, and the above two options are good plans.

Sincerely,
Andy Baker

How far apart are the LOS and ICC? I've always liked how the three programs have always been together under one roof, so that the participants of each program can check out the happenings of the other programs. To me this is a great way to enhance the unity of the programs; to show the world that the programs are a progression and not three separate paths. I'm willing to bet that a large proportion of the students there have never really watched a match from one or both of the other programs. If FTC/FLL are physically separated from FRC, I would be worried that very few participants and spectators would take the time to go visit the other location.

The same question would apply to the other cities as well - I'm not picking on beautiful Indianapolis.

[Roger]

From the maps it looks like there's a loading dock, an underpass bridge for rail tracks, and a small parking lot. Yeah, not exactly an ideal connection, unless the parking lot gets converted to a "play field" like Atlanta's. No underground connections?

I'm sure the planning crew has something good figured out.

[Taylor]

Originally Posted by Roger

From the maps it looks like there's a loading dock, an underpass bridge for rail tracks, and a small parking lot. Yeah, not exactly an ideal connection, unless the parking lot gets converted to a "play field" like Atlanta's. No underground connections?

I'm sure the planning crew has something good figured out.

The convention center is connected to Lucas Oil Stadium through underground passages.

[Calvin Hartley]

Originally Posted by Carol

How far apart are the LOS and ICC? I've always liked how the three programs have always been together under one roof....[snipped]

I second this. I've always loved being able to see all of the programs. Being an FLL veteran (competed 2005-2010/11*) and a mentor since, if I love to keep up on them there. I'm not sure that separating the program would be a good idea.

*If you're not aware, the FLL season runs from September until end of the year, but for the few teams competing at Worlds (last year about 0.41% of teams) it is of course the following year.

[Nathan Streeter]

Originally Posted by Carol

I've always liked how the three programs have always been together under one roof, so that the participants of each program can check out the happenings of the other programs. To me this is a great way to enhance the unity of the programs; to show the world that the programs are a progression and not three separate paths. I'm willing to bet that a large proportion of the students there have never really watched a match from one or both of the other programs. If FTC/FLL are physically separated from FRC, I would be worried that very few participants and spectators would take the time to go visit the other location.

I've often heard this cited as a good reason (which I think it definitely is... theoretically) to keep FLL, FTC, and FRC close together at the World Championships... but I'm curious how many people take advantage of the relative ease we have to "get out and see the other programs?"

From personal experience, I actually don't think I've ever visited the other program fields or taken the time to tour the other program pits any of the times I've been to CMP (2003 and 2004 as an FLL student, and 2006, 2010, and 2011 as an FRC student or mentor)... with the exception of in 2003 when my FLL team was fortunate enough to win the 1st Place Director's award, we sat in on the Einstein matches and award ceremony, where we were re-awarded the Director's award. On that occasion - at least as a 11yo FLL student - I wasn't overly interested in the Einstein matches. (I actually found FRC kinda lame compared to FLL when I first started to transition from FLL to FRC... now I find the opposite.)

Am I the only one that's so absorbed in competing with my team for that particular program that I rarely take the time to check out what else is going on? If the MAYHEM FRC and FLL teams ever qualified for CMP in the same season, I almost certainly would pay more attention... but having relatively little invested in the other programs each year, I rarely paid much attention to anything but the program I was competing in. Is this different for spectators or people that have simultaneous involvement in the programs?

Really, I'm saying that even though having FLL, FTC, and FRC all under the same roof sounds great on paper, how many people would it affect how much to have the programs in adjacent/nearby buildings? If I'm in the minority and many people are actually checking out FIRST as a whole, then perhaps this is quite important; however, I'm just curious how much this argument is "real" and not just "on paper."

[ttldomination]

Originally Posted by Nathan Streeter

Really, I'm saying that even though having FLL, FTC, and FRC all under the same roof sounds great on paper, how many people would it affect how much to have the programs in adjacent/nearby buildings? If I'm in the minority and many people are actually checking out FIRST as a whole, then perhaps this is quite important; however, I'm just curious how much this argument is "real" and not just "on paper."

From a participant's perspective, I agree with what you're saying.

However, Worlds is a show. And from a viewer's perspective, the grandeur of having the entire show under one roof is too high to give up.

- Sunny G.

[Jaxom]

Originally Posted by Nathan Streeter

Really, I'm saying that even though having FLL, FTC, and FRC all under the same roof sounds great on paper, how many people would it affect how much to have the programs in adjacent/nearby buildings? If I'm in the minority and many people are actually checking out FIRST as a whole, then perhaps this is quite important; however, I'm just curious how much this argument is "real" and not just "on paper."

A major reason our elementary school has an FLL program is that in 2010 we were on Curie, which was right next to Einstein, which was where the FLL tables were set up. My wife -- a 5th grade teacher -- spent time watching FLL when the FRC matches weren't going on. And decided that her students could do that. We're now starting our 4th year of FLL at the school.

That's hardly "many people," but how many does it take to make a success? All other things being equal, even one or two cases of programs being started because someone saw them at Worlds is worth it. I'm sure that all other things aren't equal among the various sites, but since we're in the business of Inspiration I think it behooves FIRST to try really hard to keep everyone together.

[ChuckDickerson]

FIRST is a family. The family that plays together stays together. I hope wherever we go in the future FLL, FTC, and FRC stay together. Simply put that's what makes it the World Festival rather than individual championships.