*Originally posted by pauluffel *
**Runs off screaming in joy at how many people can go to the Championships next year. **
Just because the event site may be able to hold a much larger quantity of people (teams) does not mean that there WILL be more teams at Champs. FIRST has already made it very clear that they will not have more than the approx. 300-350 teams at one single event because anything larger than that just becomes unmanageable.
As much as we’d all love for more teams to be able to take part in the excitement of Champs, the sad truth is that it will not happen.
*Originally posted by Pin Man *
**Question though: is there any amusment parks in the area? **
No.
This map shows Greater Atlanta. The competition is located about where the star is found. Six Flags over Georgia, the area’s largest amusement park, is located about 15 miles away in Austell, GA. It’s on the left, at approximately exit 41 on I-20.
I wish that FIRST would have a Championship event that wasn’t on a coast. It would make it a lot easier on a lot of teams, and I feel bad for those teams in states like Oregon, Washington, California, Montana, etc., who again have to head to the southeast coast to attend. I still have my vote for somewhere in Missouri, Kentucky, and Kansas, where it is central and teams from neither coast have an advantage.
However, I’m sure that Atlanta will be an EXCELLENT adventure as we adapt to the Georgia Dome. Hopefully this will spark a lot more interest in FIRST as the years wear on. Although I must say, it takes a lot of the fun out knowing where the 2006 championships are going to take place. Can you imagine that? 2006? That will be my last year as any kind of ‘student’ in the FIRST competition, and I can’t believe that FIRST has come that far. I’m sure Atlanta will serve as an excellent place for the event - and for those skeptics - we’ve got three years to perfect it. And then… who knows?
I have to say that I have mixed feelings too. It’ll be really close for my team, but part of the fun of competitions is the looooong bus rides and hotels and stuff. Since we went to the Peachtree Regional (near Atlanta) this past year and drove back and forth to it everyday, we’ll probably do the same thing for the nationals to save money. I’ll miss the really long bus rides and all the fun we have at hotels. Oh well…like most of ya’ll have already said…as long as there aren’t any ramps…I’ll be happy!
There are a few of us veteran FIRST people helping with the Atlanta event and we plan to make it a great one. I wish I could give more details but I’ll let FIRST come out with the info when they are ready. The walk is short- going through the loading docks- and the Dome and Convention centers are really nice. Please keep posting your concerns and questions so that we can address them during our planning. This will be a great year :).
You must of had an awesome presentation to come out on top of two previous hosts (Orlando, Houston).
I think Atlanta will be great logistically - Major hub for airlines, infrastructure to handle masses of people, Indoor Arena and Pits, loads of stuff to do and see besides the competition.
Now if FIRST can get Coca-Cola to be the “Official Drink” of FIRST Robotics
Thanks to the FIRST staff for getting this information out so soon!
edit: Looks like building C is taken by this event! PROOF
Looks like the Pits are in BUILDING “B” thanks to the picture posted by Skyman9000 earlier in the thread. So the Home Show will just bring more people to see “Our” competition.
Oh well…like most of ya’ll have already said…as long as there aren’t any ramps…I’ll be happy! 
**
