Well this year we are going to Atlanta for the first time, and I am going to try and get our team there in a safe manor.
(PS: I didn’t really find any other post on CD about this) Has there been any?
Anyway, while packing the crate at Boiler Maker Regional, Andy Baker stopped by with the Baker Girls, and gave a few tips in some chit-chat. These tips are what I was looking for.
Here was some of his tips, I’d love to hear more if some of you that have been to Atlanta could post some more.
Andy Baker Tips:
This is your first time to Atlanta? Alot of teams won’t know you, find a way to market yourself. (I can understand that, we only know the teams from the surrounding Indiana area.)
Scouting is very hard, be prepared and plan ahead.
Walking to the PITs is a long walk. (How long is the walk? Does someone have a playing field layout PDF from last year or something?)
Find something fun to do with your team on Friday night, like we took our team to a game. (Is there any planned events at Atlanta? The Team Social link is not active at usfirst website)
We are taking a bus, when and where will I get information about bus unloading and logistics? I guess I am kind of spoiled with Boiler Maker having a GREAT website and Amy Przybylinski from 45 sending out AWESOME e-maills weeks before BMR letting us all know exactly where we can park and not park, how to unload our teams, equipment and bus parking etc… Where is all the information like that? Does it come active here:
Rookie team going by train. Some other surronding teams are coming by next saturday and giving us some pointers. Ill post them if they aren’t already by then.
I am very disappointed at the lack of info provided by FIRST about Atlanta. We didn’t even know until yesterday when we went to ship our crate that shipping to and from the championship is covered by FedEx for winning teams.
I got some good answers here…
Don’t know what we would do without the Chief Delphi community.
Wow…I just saw the “walk video” from the PITs to the Field…agh!
I have a question about the robot uncrate. At this time, there is no way we can make it on Wednesday night to uncrate out robot. Can we uncrate our robot on Thursday? Morning and setup our pits?
If you are not in walking distance to the dome and you have to take the Marta, make sure to leave early. I rememeber when we took it in the morning it was rush hour and you were literally fighting for seats, and some of the Atlanta people werent very nice. Especially to a bunch of teenagers dressed in “wierd” clothing. Also be careful riding it after dark, bad experience.
We uncrated and set up on Thursday morning last year with no problem. However, be aware that the unloading zone is pretty crazy on Thursday morning. Plan on sending in a couple of people to uncrate who don’t have to carry anything through the mass of people.
You are going to receive a lot of helpful information when folks wake up from naps after working this weekend at different regionals as volunteers, participants, & FIRSTers. (KathieK and Robomom:) come to mind)
The one thing I would highly recommend above all else is to pack your patience and your humor for the first day and the last day and everything in between.
To all the teams that are traveling to Atlanta for the first time, it is a time of wonder and celebration. A time of recognition and achievement. A global community comes together and celebrates FIRST. Take your camera.
Spent most of the afternoon in bed. Ugh. Hope I didn’t catch the FIRST flu. will write more probably in the AM. 1 quick tip if you just won and find yourselves going and need to earn quick funding - write a press release NOW and get it out to every media contact in your area tonight or first thing in the morning. It will help.
I am considering options between flying or travelling by charter coach
(12 hour drive).
1.Advance team leaving on Wednesday and everyone else on Thursday by bus and returning Saturday night OR
2. Everyone traveling on Wednesday by bus and returning Saturday night OR
3. Flying the advance team on Wednesday and flying everyone else on Thursday OR
4. Everyone flying on Wednesday and returning Saturday night.
Any thoughts/comments from personal experiences would be appreciated.
Be prepared for a lot of fun, those who don’t like to have fun should be advised.
Check the forecasts before getting down there, shorts and sunscreen maybe needed.
When you get there, ask the concierge where to eat, and book times for dinner for your team, everywhere downtown tends to be filled up with teams Thursday-Saturday night.
My best estimate on the pit to field walk is 1/4 mile each way, either way it gets exhausting between hauling a robot and other tools, make sure your cart can handle it.
Have your scouters look for a minimal amount of data on the field, the load is intense, make sure you know how to file it and access your data later.
The last 2 years I believe a program called Sundial was running in the pit, bring a computer with a wireless card to access the network that’ll tell you when you should leave for a match
If your not within walking distance of the venue make sure your within easy access to it, most people take the subway or walk to the competition every day.
*]Get passes to the conferences, they are awesome! (especially when you find one you like)
What’s your budget? That may largely determine how you travel since it’s late to purchase airline tickets now.
Can people get out of school/work to accomodate a bus trip (it’s a two day trip for me so we’re leaving here on Tuesday to drive down so I can volunteer down there - so it means two extra vacation days from work vs. flying down but I can’t afford to fly).
Will you have to have a layover? It was a 12 hour trip from Hartford to Atlanta via Chicago if you consider layover time, plus time to travel to the airport and arrive early so the whole group can check in together, plus the transportation from the Atlanta airport to the hotel… and if you get stuck due to bad weather, it could take even longer.
Will you have to stay overnight in a hotel on the way down/back if traveling by bus? Could add more expense to the trip.
Will you be attending the wrap party on Sat night? It’s got it’s flaws but I still enjoy it.
Get a map of the subway system, also a big help in Atlanta. Team 836 flew down to Atlanta a few years ago we assigned 6 students to one mentor for the whole trip which helped out a lot especially in the airport. And if any student went anywhere the buddy system was in place which also helped a lot.
For us, flying to ATL is almost the same price as getting a bus for 5 days with 22 people. Being that ATL and Fort Lauderdale are both international airports, this was quite reasonable and do-able. You should start getting quotes now to see what offers are available to you at this point, we booked all of our reservations in mid-February. Our whole team of students/teachers always comes in at the same time, Wednesday, and leaves on Sunday afternoon.
We use the Atlanta Link to get from the airport to the hotel on Wednesday and Sunday. We stayed at the Westin last year, and this year too, so we can walk to the Dome, and there are tons of restaurants within walking distance (Hooters, Hard Rock, and McDonalds directly across the street.)
At competition, most of our team was really spread out, SOAP on the floor, the Drivers with the bot walking back and forth, people in the stand cheering, and people around the pit, so make sure that you have a good method of communication (runners, cell phones, designated meeting spots/times) and a way to get everyone back together when its time to leave.
food at the stadium is VERY expensive and not very high quality. The food court at the CNN Center in the Omni Complex next door has more variety at more affordable prices. But the lines will be very long and expect them to close down early in the evening.
bring a jacket. It seems that every year the wrap party is cool and rainy
there will be practice fields available in the pit area on a sign up baisi. Get on the list early but please be courteous and leave room for others.
everybody will be trying to scout your machine. If you post a team member at the entrance to your pit it will make your work area safer and make them psss through quicker
be prepared to walk and ride escalaters. Everything is on separate levels
the stadium people are fanatics about bringing food into the event and that you use their turnstyles. So if you are planning on supplying your own food you will have issues if you arent discreet
there will be vendors selling FIRSTwear of various types. Bring some spending money.
Have fun. Anything can happen at the Championships
To expand upon the food issue. We found it much easier and cheaper to make a Sams run the first night. We got lots of lunch meat, bread, condiments, chips, fruit, water etc. We packed in a van that stayed in the parking lot. At lunch time we had a picnic in the courtyard. We didn’t take any food into the venue but we didnt pay the high food court prices either. And we had healtier stuff. You just need to assign a few people to drag it to the courtyard…I suggest coolers with wheels.
