Bills Blog - You're going to want to look closely at the diagram

[Justin Montois]

Load in details and a diagram of the pits including the fields.

Looks like the College FIRST Pilot is in the pits as well.

FRCTeams: You're going to want to look closely at the diagram. http://frcdirector.blogspot.com/2011...acked-yet.html http://fb.me/LjrVxfjV

[Basel A]

So, the Galileo pits are split into two parts? Interesting.

Some Newton teams are going to have very easy commutes.

[Chris is me]

The bleachers they have shown are about the same size as 2/3rds of the bleachers brought in for the CT Regional. That event has 60 teams, and those bleachers were jam packed. Fitting 28 more teams in less space is not going to be pleasant.

[dodar]

I wonder why it says each divisoin says it has 86 teams in it when Bill says each will have 88?

[BrendanB]

Yay for Archimedes we have such a long commute!

[rsisk]

<edit>Just ignore if you already read the Tom Line post above. He beat me to it, although we use different numbers. Mine came from ehow </edit>

Doing some rough estimates on bleacher size

16 rows x 115 ft x 12 ft/in / 24 in/person = 920 people/bleacher x 2 bleachers
1840 people / 88 teams = 20.9 people per team at max capacity.

some assumptions
2 ft per row, could be fewer rows
24 in/person space, std space is 16 in, some bleachers use the 24 in space
100% capacity probably ain't happening, so using the larger in/person size should compensate.

So, 20 people per team in the bleachers seems reasonable, especially considering some teams will not have as many people as they would at a local regional.

Certainly not the ideal that having all the fields in the dome would bring, but certainly workable.

[Taylor]

Originally Posted by rsisk

<edit>Just ignore if you already read the Tom Line post above. He beat me to it, although we use different numbers. Mine came from ehow </edit>

Doing some rough estimates on bleacher size

16 rows x 115 ft x 12 ft/in / 24 in/person = 920 people/bleacher x 2 bleachers
1840 people / 88 teams = 20.9 people per team at max capacity.

some assumptions
2 ft per row, could be fewer rows
24 in/person space, std space is 16 in, some bleachers use the 24 in space
100% capacity probably ain't happening, so using the larger in/person size should compensate.

So, 20 people per team in the bleachers seems reasonable, especially considering some teams will not have as many people as they would at a local regional.

Certainly not the ideal that having all the fields in the dome would bring, but certainly workable.

This isn't counting FLL and FTC participants who may wish to view the FRC festivities, as well as people who come to the event that aren't affiliated with a particular team. This situation would be further exacerbated by non-affiliated spectators who may or may not be joined by his pregnant wife, toddler, and perhaps a stroller (which I realize would be this hypothetical spectator's cross to bear, but consideration would be appreciated).

Of course, this event will be populated and attended by thousands of bright, clever, courteous individuals who can overcome obstacles and make this event successful on all levels.

[Dancin103]

Looking at this map again reminds me of how small and crammed the pits were in Philly when it was at Drexel.

[thefro526]

Originally Posted by Dancin103

Looking at this map again reminds me of how small and crammed the pits were in Philly when it was at Drexel.

At least Drexel had enough seating for all of the teams....

[Dancin103]

Originally Posted by thefro526

At least Drexel had enough seating for all of the teams....

There was room on Thursday, some room on Friday, and no room on Saturday.

Originally Posted by Nawaid Ladak

I went to philly one year, it wasn't THAT bad. St. Louis will be far worse.

I agree with you.

[Bob Steele]

I guess my question is what is going to happen to all those students/mentors/parents/etc that don't fit into the bleachers. It is just going to crowd up the pits... which will be overtaxed the way they normally are.

I would sadly have to say that I think it is going to be very crowded in the pits ... I am not sure what to tell parents who have flown 2000 miles to see the team play... sorry you can't be in the bleachers...there isn't enough room... etc etc..

This is really critical for eliminations... it is bad enough to have to play them in the pits let alone without seating for everyone...

It will be what it is... I just hope there is a really good reason...

B

[Carol]

Originally Posted by Bob Steele

I guess my question is what is going to happen to all those students/mentors/parents/etc that don't fit into the bleachers. It is just going to crowd up the pits... which will be overtaxed the way they normally are.

B

There's a lot to do that doesn't involve sitting in the stands all day waiting for your team to play. Walk around and look at the displays in the FRC, FTC, FLL and JrFLL pits. Trade pins with the international FLL teams - they love to do that. Check out the LEGO, NI, PITSCO booths. Go to the robotic conferences and the Autodesk Theater. Go check out the FTC and FLL competition. Watch the Aerial Robotics challenge. Go to the HOF booths and talk to the teams there. Go to the FIRST store and browse the merchandise. Go to the Supplier's Showcase and Scholarship Row. If you have enough time between matches walk down to the Gateway Park and check out the Arch, riverboats, and museums there.

Most of all, don't go to St. Louis with the attitude that since they have changed things, it's going to be horrible and a waste of time and money. Embrace the opportunities there. Enjoy the experience.

[Taylor]

Originally Posted by Carol

Most of all, don't go to St. Louis with the attitude that since they have changed things, it's going to be horrible and a waste of time and money. Embrace the opportunities there. Enjoy the experience.

I completely agree with what you've posted in this thread, including the above that I've reverse-truncated.
I don't believe there are a whole lot of people in FRC that are out looking for a bad time. I've personally never been to a robotics championship event (unless IRI counts) and am very much looking forward to the opportunity of being a spectator, not tied to a team or role, simply enjoying the experience with my family.
My concerns lie with the general public's experience. There will be parents, administrators, current and prospective sponsors for which this may be their first FRC experience. If what they take away is a crowded, chaotic, loud experience, then the perception of FIRST suffers. Those of us well-versed in robotic competitions wouldn't think twice of hearing "ROBOT!" in the pits - others may find this irritating and rude. If a team has a particularly exciting pit display, I'd like to be able to visit it and talk to team members without feeling like I'm imposing on other teams and individuals.
Especially with the performance of the act-that-is-not-to-be-named, there promises to be many, many FRC virgins that we all wish to have a positive experience.
If we want FIRST to be as popular as high school basketball on Friday nights, and I think we all do, we need the experience to be open, inviting, and comfortable.

[Bob Steele]

Originally posted by Carol.....QUOTE/Most of all, don't go to St. Louis with the attitude that since they have changed things, it's going to be horrible and a waste of time and money. Embrace the opportunities there. Enjoy the experience.[/quote]

Carol,
First of all I am not sure you you get the above comment out of my original post.

I was speaking in regards to how to explain to a large group of parents why they won't be able to actually sit in the stands and see there students participating on the field.

I have been to championships for 8 years now... I am aware that there are many things to do... most of things are very appealing to students and mentors... but parents come to see their student's team play on the field. I will certainly encourage them to enjoy everything but they are going to be asking me this question...
I don't have an answer for them...

It will not be a simple thing to just drop by scholarship row and take that in and also visit the other fields and STILL get into the crowded pit stands and find a seat to see one of the 10 or so matches that will be scheduled for the team.

My team will come and play and have a good time. We will partake in everything that is going on...we don't do anything any other way.
We don't spend $25,000 + of team money to come out to complain we come to compete and make new friends and everything else FIRST is about. Parents don't really understand much of this... sure we educate them the best we can... but they want to see the competition.


I feel this is a legitimate concern and I really want to know what to tell parents when it comes up. It has ALREADY come up with my team and its supporters when I have explained what is going be going on in regards to having to change fields. I have repeatedly been asked why and it puts me in a difficult position to have to say that I don't know why...I have to defend FIRST when I am not given any reasons ......



I am more than a little concerned when another teams mentor jumps on a comment and makes the assumption that we are expecting it to be horrible so somehow we are doing something wrong...

[Carol]

I wonder if the secrecy about the concert on Friday with the un-named but we all know who they probably are group is due to the problem of keeping the general population from overwhelming the event. I'm sure they want to keep the concert pretty much limited to FIRST participants and friends, but how will they limit it? If they had announced several weeks ago that the un-named but we all know who they probably are group is going to be in town, word would have spread and fans would be camped out now to try and get seats.

I agree with several of the previous posters that we all need to stop the ever increasing speculating, whining, complaining, guessing, kvetching, griping, fussing, moaning, and start enjoying the experience. FIRST isn't there to try and ruin your trip, but is working very hard with a limited staff and a new venue to put on a very large and complicated event. Go and spread the joy and enthusiasm that we all should have to everyone on your team.