Vetting and Idea: Modular Field Design...

[Justin]

Hi Everyone,

I want you all to vet this idea I had while talking to some fellow FIRSTers at Mayhem this past weekend. We got talking about FIRST's financials and different areas that have a lot of cost associated with them and how FIRST might save some money. One area that seems to have quite a hefty cost associated with it is R+D of the game/field. So I got to thinking what if the field could be made more modular? For example the basic field border and driver stations should not change from year to year, they should be reusable. Okay so there's a large portion of the field done doesn't need to be redesigned or manufactured. Now imagine if you will FIRST being able to keep field objects intact from season to season. After a few seasons they will have amassed quite a few different field objects. Then they could pick from the archive of field parts and simply just mix and match...maybe one year they use the bridge, troths, and the bar. The next year it is maybe the stairs, bar, and puck. You get the idea. In addition the rules can change and sometimes a simple change of the rules or value of an object, doubler, etc. can drastically change the game changing those types of things is far cheaper than building entirely new field obstacles each year. I realize that this approach would have pros and cons. While I'm one who supports having new games each year perhaps, if this were to actually save money, it would be a happy medium?

What do you all think?....

Justin