FIRST Festival of Champions

[BrennanB]

It's amazing to see how much negativity there has been already towards this announcement. While obviously it's not a perfect solution it is a pretty serious attempt by FIRST to resolve some of the concerns with 2champs and we should appreciate that. It also seems like a pretty cool experience that is somewhat similar to what Dean's List winners do. (Might even be the same time frame not sure).

While many individuals may be unable to attend due to distance/timing/whatever, I think this is a cool experience that I can't imagine many half champ winners passing up.

[Karthik]

Originally Posted by BrennanB

While many individuals may be unable to attend due to distance/timing/whatever, I think this is a cool experience that I can't imagine many half champ winners passing up.

Agreed. I will be stunned if any of the 8 World Champions pass on this event.

[Tyler Olds]

Originally Posted by Karthik

Agreed. I will be stunned if any of the 8 World Champions pass on this event.

I wouldn't. Many teams struggle enough to have the resources to go to champs. It's easy to say that if they really want to go that they will find a way but the reality is that some teams may not be able to afford this or be able to accommodate going in the summer.

I am all for FIRST having an extra event but it seems like there is mixed messaging. Is this to crown the FIRST champs or is it just an exhibition with other cool activities going on?

[itsjustjon]

Originally Posted by Tyler Olds

I wouldn't. Many teams struggle enough to have the resources to go to champs. It's easy to say that if they really want to go that they will find a way but the reality is that some teams may not be able to afford this or be able to accommodate going in the summer.

I am all for FIRST having an extra event but it seems like there is mixed messaging. Is this to crown the FIRST champs or is it just an exhibition with other cool activities going on?

Well, why can't it be both a crowning of champs and an exhibition of cool STEM stuff? This is the first year they are doing this, and it's due to the whole community asking for it.

If they made an event because we complained, I'm sure we might have some say about the purpose of the event in the years going forward.

[MARS_James]

Originally Posted by Tyler Olds

I wouldn't. Many teams struggle enough to have the resources to go to champs. It's easy to say that if they really want to go that they will find a way but the reality is that some teams may not be able to afford this or be able to accommodate going in the summer.

I imagine another big sticking point even if FIRST pays is going to be mentors being able to get off work. I know of several mentors on our team who burned through their vacation time last year and wouldn't be able to swing it for another event especially with only 3 potential matches.

This isn't about the mentors necessarily having to be their to teach and help but to be there to fit school criteria of chaperoning.

[D.Allred]

Originally Posted by Tyler Olds

I wouldn't. Many teams struggle enough to have the resources to go to champs. It's easy to say that if they really want to go that they will find a way but the reality is that some teams may not be able to afford this or be able to accommodate going in the summer.

I am all for FIRST having an extra event but it seems like there is mixed messaging. Is this to crown the FIRST champs or is it just an exhibition with other cool activities going on?

I'd go if possible. Let's not speculate on unannounced logistics and/or cost.

Bottom line, it is still a great opportunity for the students that they didn't have before.

David

[bobbysq]

What are they going to fill 2 days with for only 3 matches at most? They could change it to 5, 7, or 9 for more, but it's still the same 3 robots going against each other. Perhaps it'll be a FIRST-sponsored IRI/CC style offseason, with the winning alliances being guaranteed a few matches against each other?

Either way, I'm excited for this. It's a good way to bring the two winning alliances together for some final official play. I assume that any off-seasons will simply move off of the week of the event if they have to.

Edit: just realized this is my 254th post ayy

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by James1902

Isn't this around the same time IRI usually is? Not that that's a dealbreaker, just curious to see how teams will plan their summers.

Excited to see how it goes this year.

IRI usually happens a week before. TRR may be happening that week.

[Harrison.Smith]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

IRI usually happens a week before. TRR may be happening that week.

Thankfully TRR won't be state champs for Texas this year, that could have caused problems with some school districts in Texas.

[Bmarshall645]

Only like 35 minutes away. Definitely taking a trip up this summer to volunteer.

[cgmv123]

Email from Don Bossi:

Dear FIRST® Community,

Since we announced the expansion of the FIRST® Championship to two events almost two years ago, we’ve heard a lot of questions, concerns, and excitement about our plans. While FIRST is not about winning or losing, we have heard a number of requests for the Winning Alliances from each Championship to meet and compete against each other, and we promised to explore options for that to occur.

Today, FIRST is excited to announce that on July 28 & 29, 2017, we will host the Festival of Champions near our home town of Manchester, New Hampshire – where the inaugural FIRST competition was held 25 years ago in 1992. This event, which will be live streamed to the FIRST community, is an opportunity for the FIRST® Robotics Competition (FRC) and FIRST® Tech Challenge (FTC) Winning Alliances from the 2017 FIRST Championship Houston and FIRST Championship St. Louis to meet live and in person, along with the FRC Chairman’s Award and FTC Inspire Award winning teams from both Championship locations.

The Festival of Champions is designed to be an experiential reward for the world-class teams that rise to this level. It will include robots, education, camaraderie, and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, such as behind-the-scenes tours of FIRST Headquarters and Dean Kamen’s company, DEKA Research & Development, as well as a celebratory dinner at Dean’s amazing home. For those that have never been, Dean’s home is an ‘experience’ all its own and is absolutely unforgettable.

The FRC and FTC Winning Alliances from both Championship events will meet in competition on Saturday, July 29. Chairman’s and Inspire winning teams from both Championships will not be competing with their robots, but they will have important roles and places of honor during the playoff event. As noted above, this event will be webcast to reach as much of the community as possible, and the competition will be free and open to as many in-person spectators as we can safely accommodate. We will work hard to make the webcast a robust and highly viewable event. Unlike other official FIRST events, however, there will be no registration fees for those teams earning the right to participate in person.

We’re very excited to host this 2017 concluding event in New Hampshire and to welcome the teams who earn the honor to attend our Festival of Champions. We’re sure you have questions about the details for this special event, including how exactly the competitions will be run. We’re still working out all those details, so stay tuned!

We look forward to the large-scale and exciting FIRST Championships in Houston and St. Louis this coming April, followed by a wonderful Festival of Champions in July.

Good luck to all, and Go Teams!

Bob Tuttle
Co-Chair FIRST Board of Directors

Kelly Ortberg
Co-Chair FIRST Board of Directors

Dean Kamen
Founder, FIRST

Don Bossi
President, FIRST

[Harrison.Smith]

I wonder how this impacts teams that have drivers who are seniors or students who have summer jobs, if this event is to crown the "true" champion it seems potentially unfair if all teams don't have their champs winning drive team. Are all FRC/FTC students now going to have to tell their parents to hold off on vacations over this date? Are teams going to want to pay, travel and extend their season another 3 months?

[Nuttyman54]

Kudos to FIRST. While the logistics may be complicated and there are many questions still to be answered, this is probably the best we could ask for given what many of us were expecting going into this season.

It's not a Championship, but it is a very cool way to cap off the season. I'm really OK with an All-Star game if that's what it is, it's more than we had and it's not a bad thing IMHO. Hopefully the new partnership with Twitch means there will be a great broadcast to go along with this, something along the lines of a League of Legends LCS finals.

[Andrew_L]

#3champs

[James1902]

Originally Posted by Andrew_L

#3champs

#OneChampstoRuleThemAll