I’m wondering if you might be able to help me with something. I traveled to the NJ regional last year with a group of fellow FIRSTers. We arrived at 10am and were turned away from the main event and put in overflow. I am wondering what’s anticipated for this year more of the same??? I know last year lots of teams had extra bracelets but they weren’t making their way to the over flow. Once I entered the actuall arena there was plenty of seating but no one could get in because of bracelet issues. I’m wondering what can be done about this?? And if teams/spectators traveling to NJ this year are prepared for it and how they’re dealing with it.
Ok first off they said they would change the site…didn’t happen. Ok and are saying now that they are limiting team sizes to like thirty or something which is only half of my team. For the team party you can only have thirty kids there is 43 kids on my team and we all like to party! So FIRST ahead of time please pretty please can you change the venue next year for NJ thanx! I love Rutgers and all but if only half my team can legally get in and the rest have to be sneaked in that means something needs to be done. To vistitors I have no idea but here is a head’s up get there Friday and tell me that you are going to be there for Saturday I know by the strickness they had that they weren’t taking people off the street. Alot of parents on our team were hasseled due to this policy.
I’m actually surprised that the event is still held at the College Ave. Gym.
About 1 mile away, on the Livingston campus is the Rutgers Athletic Center. It’s MUCH, MUCH, MUCH larger, newer, nicer, and there is more parking than you could possibly ever need for FIRST. There is a student center nearby and lots of outdoor space for “hanging out”.
Last I heard, this venue was off-limits because it coincided with the Basketball season. That’s too bad.
There are far too many teams and spectators to continue the event at the CAG.
what basketball season they are either in the NCAA tournament, NIT tournament, or they are done I don’t see where they would need the gym because all of the tournament games are played at a neutral site
THe RAC (Rutgers Athletic Center) is always in use the time they try to plan the NJ regional. That venue has already been looked at and was given a firm no by Rutgers. Ive heard rumors that it may be moveed to a larger site next year. We will see. See everyone there bright and early Thursday morning.
There has always been lots of talk about changing the venue for the NJ regional. I know that there is currently a concerted effort to find a bigger, local venue. It is very unlikely that it will be at the RAC.
Last year, after the regional, a few of us distributed some information and pricing on a local convention center to FIRST central in the hopes that it would be accepted and we would move there this year. Apparently the packet was lost somewhere between the Nationals and the summer of 2001 so the NJ organizers never saw it. Such is life.
Anyway, a new proposal is in the works and hopefully the NJ organizers will in fact make the move next year.
Rutgers WILL be crowded again. Get there VERY early. Saturday will be a zoo!
Our Friday crowd will be approximately 3 x what it was in previous years and will include our entire Lego League sixth grade, visitors form corporate america who signed up to see us at the NJ Computer Festival (remember that-we showed!), and a nice chunk of our school population.
And if you can’t get in at Rutgers come to----
The Brunswick Eruption
November 16th, 2002
North Brunswick Twp. HS, North Brunswick
It will be a very different FIRST replay- and more!!!
We want to see you and your robot there. Pick up a flyer and registration in the pits later this week!!!
Brunswick Eruption is in fact our turn to host the “Mt Olive” game. Paul K. and I talked it over and NBTHS is taking it this year and BRHS will probably host next year.
We really had fun at the Mt Olive event last season but I felt it was a little small. Therefore we are looking for 24 teams, a crowd of 5000, lots of press and a number of extra games which will supplement the FIRST replay. We want to make the little kids special at this event. We are also planning some “glitz” events too. As soon as the Nationals are past we go into full scale planning a promotion for this one.
NBTHS has a BIG gym reserved as well as a commons area for feeding and an auxiliary gym area for pits if we need it. We are also right down the hall from the science labs and the tech shop- great battery charging zones.
NBTHS is about as central in the state as we can get- right at the intersection of Rt 130 and Rt 1 and about 5 miles from the Turnpike.
Paul came out and saw the site in February and left duly impressed. You want to be at this thing!!
There will be robot games (simple stuff) for robots of all FIRST seasons so if you want to bring back that old favorite there will be a place to show it off again.