Do you think FIRST will ever raise the Entrance Fee?

[team222badbrad]

Do you think FIRST will ever raise the entrance fee? I have been thinking about this all day. For the last several years the entrance fee's have been the same.

DO you think in the near future (1-3 years) FIRST will raise or lower the entrance fee?

This is just an interesting subject I thought would be cool to bring up here on CD.

[Jeff Waegelin]

I think it'll stay the same for at least the near future. The only increase in the past 6 years was $1000 for your first regional (from $4K to $5K) to cover the cost of the control system. Since they've held the fees static for this long, I'd say we see at least 2 more years at current levels.

[Rob Colatutto]

if they made it higher now....a lot of teams would be in trouble. maybe after a few years when the economy recovers it won't be a problem to get some nicer kit parts or a new innovation FIRST product. but right now you'd see teams drop events if the price was raised for each one

[Kevin A]

i think it may be lower to inspire newbie teams...

[Mike Rush]

Originally posted by Jeff Waegelin
The only increase in the past 6 years was $1000 for your first regional (from $4K to $5K) to cover the cost of the control system....

There have been persistant rumors of a better control system coming, maybe even next year, on the CD forums. I think if there is a new system, there will be additional costs involved and the $$ will go up, just as with the last control system upgrade, as you pointed out in your post

[tenfour]

Speaking from an economic standpoint, it seems like FIRST will keep the price the same for some time. With the economy as it is right now, their costs must be increasing since companies have tightened their belts. However, this is balanced with the fact that because there are more teams at nearly any given regional, their revenues towards what are primarily overhead costs (like renting the venue) will be better covered. Taking both of these factors into acount, it seems like they provide a sense of balance that will keep costs the same. In the long run, the cost may decrease as a result of improved economic conditions.

-Chris
Economist

[Ryan Albright]

Yes the only raise that i think they will make will be if a new controller comes to FIRST. Innovation is coming out with a new controller next year but if first picks it up, no one knows. YEs if they raise it they will be losing alot of teams. You will see many of the teams that two or more regionals only doing like one.