Missing out on all the best 
Palmetto and Jersey of course!
I’m a little biased, but I’d say my favourite in the East is GTR. I also loved Finger Lakes when my team went there while I was in high school! (I didn’t make it to the 2006 one unfortunately.)
Truly depends on the definition of Best. Therefore, all above arguements are valid within their specified parameters. Congrats all of East, you have the best regionals.
I’m kinda biased, if I say NJ, seeing as how it’s my home regional, but I love Philly too.
NJ has always had a great team of volunteers behind it, and the competition is as fierce as any Championship event, however the arena is a little iffy (although we’re trying to fix that for this year)
NJ might have me and Chiniqua, but so does Philly (we’re an equal opportunity supporter)
Philly the fans are great, the crowd gets pumped…plus it’s only a walking distance to Cereality…a cafe that serves only cereal…it’s great.
Excluding the NYC Regional,
my top three (from past experiences and from speaking to other mentors & coaches) East coast Regionals are:
- NJ Regional- competitive, awesome plays and entertaining
- VCU Regional- Friendly, big and fun
- Long Island- friendly, comfortable and a place I can bring the whole family.
Is there anyone in FIRST who has attended every one of these regionals? Otherwise how can anyone attest to making an actual informed opinion when there is so much unknown?
My viewpoint comes from attending Granite State Regional, NJ, Philly, Pittsburgh, Finger Lakes, Detroit, Waterloo, GTR, West Michigan and Buckeye. No I haven’t seen them all yet but I am trying.
My top picks from best to worst
UTC
Finger Lakes
Boston
New Jersey
VCU
Florida
Philadeplphia
New Hampshire
Long Island
Chesapeake
NYC
(I have been to UTC, Fingerlakes, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Long Island, New Hampshire, NYC)
I have to vote for the hometown regional, UTC-Connecticut. 
My team has been to NJ, Philly, UTC, Florida, Long Island, and Granite State. I have had a lot of contact with teams that said good things about Boston, Chesapeake and Finger Lakes. This year we are going to tryout Toronto to see what all the shouting is about…out West
I’ll let you guess my vote
Steve, Expand your viewpoint. Come visit the Chesapeake (-;
Ed, you’ve identified one skew for the events. Here’s a few more:
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the age of the Regional (the younger Finger Lakes scores quite well against grandfather New Jersey – give it a few more years)
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the number of different teams who have attended the specific regional over the years (VCU is a large regional, Pittsburgh is smaller, so even if they were equal in age, VCU should receive more raw votes just due to the fact that more teams would pass through)
As Ed says, “Best” is a poor descriptor for this judgement. “Favorite” would be a better one.
My favorite is always "The Next One!"
It’s the same weekend as Detroit. However if I don’t get asked there is a chance that I might make the trip.
How can you say best venue ever? Have you been to every venue?
At FLR, I love the “family” atmosphere. The pits aren’t very big, so it takes you no longer than 30 seconds to walk from one end of the pit to the other. The stands are right near the field, so teams can come down right next to the field and cheer their team on. It’s very cool, because as the drive team exits the field, we can get input and congratulations from team members as we walk out, and 10 seconds later, were back to our pit.
If any team is in need of anything, any other team is right there to help. Whether its programming, electrical or simply in need of a hammer, any team is ready and willing to stand up and help.
Friendships can be made, and kept at FLR, due to the fact that most teams that attend this event are no longer than 30 minutes away from each other.
FLR is a great experience. Even though teams such as 1126, 191, 340, and many others don’t get the experience of travelling to a Regional, the experience we do receive at FLR is indescribable.
I encourage any of you they may be in the area, or are even a little bit out of the way, come to the FLR 2007, you’ll walk away changed.
very good description of it and i must agree whole heartedly!!! i love the fact that anything you need is always within your hands around 1-10minutes after you ask. also like you said the “family” atmosphere is huge. it is more like the feeling of a family reunion with a robotics competition instead of a robotics competition where you see a bunch of random people.
Richmond has my vote.
How do you define best??
Do you define it as the most competitive?
Do you define it as the biggest or smallest event?
Do you define it as the nicest venue?
“Best” is certainly one for personal interpretation.
Over the years:
coughs coughs Was even a spectator at the “Barn” in New Brunswick.
I have participated in New Jersey and Chesapeake.
I have been a spectator at New York, and Philadelphia.
Given that I am only familiar with 4 regionals I can only vote from what I know and what I have seen.
Chesapeake certainly is one of the nicest events I’ve been to, both in quality and environment.
Philadelphia certainly is nicer neighborhood than Trenton, if the venue was larger to hold more teams or more spectators it would be even better.
New York has a solid level of competition. Being they are going to be in the Javits Center, I anticipate it will only get bigger and better.
New Jersey “appears” to have a slightly higher level of competitiveness than the others, but the neighborhood and the arragement with the venue leaves something to be desired at best.
So how do you rate best? I have to stick with my home regional and say New Jersey for now, but I won’t count out anyone for the future.
I will admit that of all the FIRST events I have ever attended there may have been better overall competition but non ever came close to the amazing level of energy and enthusiasm that was at the 2005 Finger Lakes Regional. That was an amazing weekend.
I’ve been to New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Boston. Every regional has good teams and advantages to being big/small. You just need to put in the attitude and you’ll have a blast.
After all, it’s not where you are but the people you’re with that make it worth while.