2004 Nats??

[OneAngryDaisy]

The only gripe I had with EPCOT is size- but that's fixable..


Houston, on the other hand, kinda dissapointed me.. I felt trapped in the stadiums- in EPCOT you could just go in the park for lunch, at any restaraunt you liked.. And the food prices were actually better- I never thought I'd see that day

The walks back and forth really bothered me.. I never understood why they just didn't open up the big black gates so that you didn't have to walk all the way around all of the time... This killed us when 111 flipped us in the semis and we had to run back to the pits to get a 10 tooth sprocket (which had been sheared)- first time all year we didn't use our arm to self-right ourselves...

And when I tried to go up to the top to get a cool 360 degree effect with my camera, the security lady said that FIRST didn't rent the top three levels.. I offered to rent it for 30 seconds, but she wouldn't let me do so.


Disney already has everything set up for its tourists, and in my opinion it's the best place for the Championship Event.. Hopefully they'll drop down their prices.

[sevisehda]

I heard some rumors that Disney was considering building a permanent area for FIRST. It will also be used for concerts and other things as well. I wasn't at Housin but having to walk 5-6 minuts to get to a field seems excessive, thats 10 minuts per trip and with 6 matches. An entire hour wasted just moving the bot. Plus during finals when time is crucial teams can't go to there pits to repair/resuply as easy.

Epcot has almost unlimited room and setup options because it all tents. They can enlarge stands and pit sizes to match the amount of teams. Also being able to go from competition to the park in 2 minuts is a great perk. My last year in HIgh School we stayed at the Bayou, on of Disneys hotels and I didn't leave the park all week. The buses come every few minuts inside the park compared to the hourly shuttles to go outside. Plus the fact that in 2000 they launched a rocket to Mars during Nats. Florida has a ton of perks and I hope Nats return ther next year.

[Daniel Brim]

I agree with the superbowl idea.

There should be a raffle for cities that will hold nationals. Why not have them in the Staples Center or Dodger stadium? (Don't ask me where pits would be :-) ) Its not very hot here in April

[Matt_Kaplan1902]

Every year over memorial day weekend I play in a roller hockey tournament in Wide World of Sports. In addition, there is a baseball and soccer tournament going on at the same time. I think that this would be a great place to have the nationals. They could set up the pits in the arena they use for hockey, have the fields under tents out on the soccer fields, and have Einstein in the baseball stadium. The walk from teh soccer field to the statdium takes less than two minutes. Plus, you can take the buses to the parks to eat, or eat at the all-star cafe that is on site.

[ZACH P.]

Originally posted by DanielBCR
I agree with the superbowl idea.

There should be a raffle for cities that will hold nationals.

no offense, but why would the cities want to hold nationals? and why would it be good for FIRST? i believe that FIRST sent letters asking if they could hold the event there. All in all, if a city was dependent on tourism then FIRST would not be good 4 them because we clog up all the hotels and such. plus it must be fairly cheap, because FIRST is not for-profit, but it still wont exist if its nothing but a huge hole economicaly.

[David66]

While giving his founders award speech, Dean told the Texas governer that he couldnt get the award for holding the event for one year, but that they'd have to see about it next year. I understand this is part of Dean's sense of humor, but doesn't that hint pretty strongly that we will be back for at least one more season? Also, changing from Disney to Houston was hard this year, why would FIRST want to make another venue change this season?

[Marc P.]

Originally posted by sevisehda
I heard some rumors that Disney was considering building a permanent area for FIRST. It will also be used for concerts and other things as well. I wasn't at Housin but having to walk 5-6 minuts to get to a field seems excessive, thats 10 minuts per trip and with 6 matches. An entire hour wasted just moving the bot. Plus during finals when time is crucial teams can't go to there pits to repair/resuply as easy.

Epcot has almost unlimited room and setup options because it all tents. They can enlarge stands and pit sizes to match the amount of teams. Also being able to go from competition to the park in 2 minuts is a great perk. My last year in HIgh School we stayed at the Bayou, on of Disneys hotels and I didn't leave the park all week. The buses come every few minuts inside the park compared to the hourly shuttles to go outside. Plus the fact that in 2000 they launched a rocket to Mars during Nats. Florida has a ton of perks and I hope Nats return ther next year.

I was told by our mentors that this year we'd really see who is in FIRST for the learning aspect. For many years, many students tried to join the team for the "free ride to florida." I go to a FIRST event to participate in the FIRST event. Last year I didn't even go to the team party (the competition itself is party enough). I think by holding events in places other than Disney, it sort of weeds out those who are in it for a cheap vacation, and is a push forward for those who are actually involved for the inspiration and recognition of science and technology.

[Madison]

Originally posted by Marc P.
I was told by our mentors that this year we'd really see who is in FIRST for the learning aspect. For many years, many students tried to join the team for the "free ride to florida." I go to a FIRST event to participate in the FIRST event. Last year I didn't even go to the team party (the competition itself is party enough). I think by holding events in places other than Disney, it sort of weeds out those who are in it for a cheap vacation, and is a push forward for those who are actually involved for the inspiration and recognition of science and technology.

There's something to be said for luring people in with the promise of a trip to Walt Disney World, then inspiring them to go onto to greater things.

It's certainly more interesting to think about, and probably more worthwhile than assembling a group who's already tech-savvy and excited to participate.

The Army doesn't find new recruits on its bases, y'know.

[Redhead Jokes]

Originally posted by M. Krass
There's something to be said for luring people in with the promise of a trip to Walt Disney World, then inspiring them to go onto to greater things.

Amen!

BTW, our trip to Phoenix regional we wanted to follow Chatsworth' example and take a few from each rookie to the trip and our 8th graders. In addition, I couldn't find a videographer from our 2 schools willing to take the trip, so my daughter's friend, a student "pro" videographer from another local high school without a robotics' team, volunteered to go.

School officials suddenly stepped in (hadn't been to meetings for months, altho kept up-to-date with team emails) and said no on any "outsiders" going. They said the jr hi would never approve the students' absence, another high school would never approvee their student's absence to attend our trip, and each "outsiders" student would have to have an accompanying parent cuz of liability.

I got the school's approval of their absences and outsiders' parents joined them on the trip.

Our videographer and his father were wonderful. In Phoenix, inspired by all going on, they bought a vcr to donate to the team and get the "feed". Our high school students said that father videographer was "cool". I let him know they said that.

Back home after Phoenix the student videographer was so impressed with the whole experience he asked to join our team and is editing a variety of videotapes for us (corporate sponsor, recruit new members, californiaconnected.org, ...)

Weeks after Phoenix, guess what I learned.

That father videographer is VP of Northrop Credit Union. *hits hand to head* It never occurred to me to ask what he does for a living. I was appreciating the favor they were doing for us. I didn't want to impose more on them than they were willing to give.

Now a father, a son, a Northrop VP, has been inspired by the FIRST experience.

ps. those 8th graders parents were very inspired too and one especially began to brainstorm about all his connections that could help.

Our students are talking about how Phoenix changed (bonded, inspired) our team hugely for the better.

Thank you Phoenix!

[Chris Nowak]

If the problem is that FIRST is getting too big for Disney, maybe they will end up remving the even/odd rule for next year. Now that its been 2 years, it would be fair to do so. Perhaps the move from disney was only until they thought it was fair to restrict more teams from going to nationals. I wish everyone could go to nats, its much more fun than any regional, and much more inspiring IMO. However, I think they are at least going to keep the current restrictions unless they make more than 1 national tournament, which isnt really a national tournament.(Oops, keep saying nationals, I guess technically its called the championship).

Houston was a good place. The walk back and forth wasnt so bad in my opinion. As good as disney though? Heck no...but thats partly cuz I'm a fan of the whole atmosphere Disney has going, which seems very lacking in the astrodome and Six Flags. I would prefer Disney, they are better equipped and probably the only place which can hold us.

[Kaelia]

Originally posted by sevisehda
I heard some rumors that Disney was considering building a permanent area for FIRST. It will also be used for concerts and other things as well.

I heard this too...a new convention center being built in Orlando, with FIRST in mind. That would be AWESOME...I was at Houston, but I really didn't like the Astrodome and Reliant Stadium as the site for the nats...seemed kind of weird that an event like FIRST would be held in stadiums for baseball and football ^_^' Maybe when FIRST has enough money, we'll get our own arena! Anyway, I'm looking forward to nationals in two years, and I *really* hope that it'll be back in Orlando...

[MKriegsfeld]

Nationals should be in Phoenix next year!! Right now it is 75 degrees here with a nice breeze. Plus, there is so much to do here!!

[Sachiel7]

If you haven't been keeping up on events, then here's a brief overview:
Disney did not like FIRST. They just didn't want them there anymore. That's one of the reasons FIRST left them.
Secondly, it was biased toward the east coast, so it made travel more tedious for west-coast teams.
Reliant stadium actually does want to host the event, and can gain a good chunk of public attention. It is also centered in the country, so everyone (just about) makes the same amount of travel.
More than likely, FIRST will stick w/ the Reliant stadium.

[Daniel Brim]

Originally posted by Sachiel7
Secondly, it was biased toward the east coast, so it made travel more tedious for west-coast teams.

It cost less for a cross-country flight then it does for a flight to Houston.

[Madison]

Originally posted by Sachiel7
If you haven't been keeping up on events, then here's a brief overview:
Disney did not like FIRST. They just didn't want them there anymore.

Where'd you get that gem from?