Anyone know what the layout of the venue will be? Will all fields be in the same area, or will they be spread out around the park? Will Einstein still be the main stage with a huge setup?
Well… there is no Einstein this year, so I’m assuming that the main field will either be called another division, or the “Main Field”.
I’d also be sure that they rotate teams thougth it. Also, does anyone know… (not to be dumb)… but, are all the fields going to be covered??
Thanks,
Jack
I totally forgot! NO EINSTEIN!!! I HATE YOU HOUSTON!!! 
Well, I heard there might be a fifth field. If so, it would probably be Einstein.
*Originally posted by Jeff Waegelin *
**Well, I heard there might be a fifth field. If so, it would probably be Einstein. **
Ya I thought I had heard someting like that too. You can get rid of Einstein. I think it’ll be the main stage just for finals, but I could be wrong.
From what i read on the FIRST site they mentioned 2 venues, Reliant Stadium and the AstroDome.
What i was figuring was that the floor of the Dome would be the main pit area. There are access ramps with huge garage like doors leading from the street level to the floor of the Dome. These would be used to get robots to and from the pit area.
For the actual layout of the playing fields i was thinking they may place them on the floor of Reliant Stadium and maybe a video board behind them. Maybe something like the different configurations in the picture i attached. The stands would be normal stands of the stadium. For a main stage just build a stage at the center or something. All this may make scouting easier because all of the stadiums are in one place.
For the main court yard where you could put things like picnic tables, the big FIRST banners, and practice fields, you could use the area between the stadiums.
If you are wondering if these venues are covered the anwser is Yes and No, The Dome is covered. Relaint Stadium has a retractable roof, so if you want it covered then it is, if you dont then it doesnt. Also both venues are airconditioned. For Reliant Stadium if the roof has to be closed.
I’m excited to see how things are going to run in this new venue in my hometown, besides other reasons. From a Houstonian, (actually a League Citizen and now a TECHsan in Lubbock), to the FIRST community, WELCOME TO HOUSTON!!!
For real efficiency you would have four fields, two in each stadium, each division would have a dedicated field. Then behind those fields would be the pits for each division. Frankly I hope that we aren’t going to be running back and forth between two STADIUMS. Frankly, I think it would be easier for one division, one field…No silly running around to different fields being re-routed all over the place according to what time it is.
Just my dos centavos
…scouting.
Let’s hope this is the case.
Scott358
I was talking to chief delphi today at Western, they hinted at the distance from field to pits being almost a half mile walking. Plan on innovative methods to charge your batteries (maybe even in route) especially for the finals!
Actually that sounds like a good idea, 2 pits one in each venue with there fields right there.
I think if they do have the pits in one place and the playing fields in the other, it wouldnt be that far to walk. Here is a map. Walking from the two may be even shorter than walking from the far end of the pits, to Eienstien at Epcot. The pits then were long by themselves. You could fit 4 Boeng 727’s nose to nose in that space thats the pits alone.
Anyways hopefully it wont be bad.
BTW i dont think that they would rotate fields in either configuration. I thought the reason to rotate is to get every team a turn on the big field. If all the fields are the same, there would be no reason to.
I can sware that Reliant if for the fields and Astro is for the pits, but you never know…
I can sware that Reliant if for the fields and Astro is for the pits, but you never know…
That’s what they said, the Astrodome would be the pits and all of the fields were going to be in Reliaint Stadium. The half mile walk being the distance between the Astrodome and Reliant Stadium.
half mile walk each way? that is ridiculous…if that is the case it shall once again be a poorly planned event (OMGUCFOMG). I guess I can’t be too upset as long as we aren’t out in tents. If it is a half mile walk…I cannot wait to go back to Epcot.
Originally posted by Stephen Kowski *
**half mile walk each way? that is ridiculous…if that is the case it shall once again be a poorly planned event (OMGUCF*OMG). I guess I can’t be too upset as long as we aren’t out in tents. If it is a half mile walk…I cannot wait to go back to Epcot. **
Duh, we’re all getting golf carts to pull our robots 
*Originally posted by Ricky Q. *
**Duh, we’re all getting golf carts to pull our robots
Or Segways, perhaps?
There have been discussion about using golf carts to pull robots and maybe people too…
This was mentioned by Dave Brown when he was up at the Canadian Regional, we discussed the venue at Houston
What i hear down the line from a person who works for reliant park is that the walk would only be like 300 yards.
Our head mentor broke the NO CALL FIRST policy and was told that in the most extreme case a mile walk would be required. This being you are an unlucky team getting stuck on the far end of the astrodome and having to compete in the far end of the reliant stadium. But yah know a mile ain’t that long concidering they could have split up 3 small fields into the near by convention center, and the main field in the stadium. That would have bad.:ahh:
*Originally posted by 118 Tech *
**BTW i dont think that they would rotate fields in either configuration. I thought the reason to rotate is to get every team a turn on the big field. If all the fields are the same, there would be no reason to. **
The reason that teams rotated around Einstein was because FIRST did not want all the einstein teams to have to sit in the 100dgree heat all day. By rotating, all teams had to be on einstein, instead of 70 teams being out there all day.
Cory
There are five fields - the four division fields and Einstein in Reliant Park. Keep in mind that this is a football stadium and the fields will be set up on the football field (They can remove the grass for occasions like this).
They will be set up as follows: the four division fields will be at the four corners of the stadium facing the 50 yard line seats (don’t know why they do not just face the corners - maybe so you can watch two or three fields at once if you are high up on the 50 yard line). Einstein is on the 50 yard line between Curie and Galileo and facing in the same direction (straight at the 50 yard line seats). Archimedes and Newton face the opposite way at the other 50 yard line.
The pits are set up on the baseball field in the Astrodome. Archimedes and Galileo are closest to the entrance/exit, while Curie and Newton are farthest. There is a practice “area” to be set up in the pits area (it looks like there will only be one - ouch). I’m not sure if there will be a ramp or just carpet.