Double DECCer 2025 Twice the regionals, twice the fun

Competition Regional Competitions
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Thought I’d get a start on this year’s thread.

First round results Lake Superior filled 44 teams with 10 spots being held in reserve and likely a couple on the waitlist. Northern Lights 32 teams so 22 spots still available.

Lake Superior Regional FRC Event Web
Northern Lights Regional FRC Event Web

Eight states represented so far:
Colorado: 4
Florida: 1
Illinois: 3
Iowa: 2
Minnesota: 44
North Dakota: 1
South Dakota: 1
Wisconsin: 20

Certainly some of the teams that would normally have registered for Duluth are now going to St. Cloud’s Granite City so that’s taken some pressure off. I fully expect we’ll hit 108 teams pretty quickly though.

Only two rookie teams so far, I was hoping for a couple more.

The ARC field will be here again in the Lake Superior pits and the practice elements will be open to teams from both regionals. We may have had a couple of teams in Northern Lights last year who didn’t realize the practice area was for both events.

Speaking of Colorado, last year at the Colorado regional the teams from here were impressed by the “mentor lounge” and have lobbied for something similar. I’m trying to make this happen, but it will require buy in from FIRST, Show Ready, and the Venue, none of whom have said yes yet.

If there were any communication issues, or signage issues last year that you’d like to see addressed let me know.

Lake Superior College will be running our machine shop again. A huge thank you to them.

If anyone has any questions, I’ll answer if I can. Best steak in Duluth? The Pickwick. Best steak on a budget? Texas Roadhouse. Best steak within 50 miles and absolutely not on a budget? Silver Creek Chop house.

10/5/24 In talking with the ARC region teams yesterday there are five more that will likely be coming to the Double DECCer. There is another ARC team that had dashboard issues preventing them from registering. FIRST jiggled the handle yesterday on the database, so Northern Lights is now up to 32 teams. That leaves maybe 27 spots I can’t account for across the two events. This doesn’t include anyone on the official waitlists, I didn’t ask and even if I knew it’s not my place to tell.

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Sorry to maybe derail the convo, but since when was Wisconsin going to Districts? I don’t see anything here or on their site, but maybe I missed something.

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There was a town hall about it at a few of the Wi regionals last year

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I thought that was a done deal as of last April. At least that’s what I heard from someone in Wisconsin. Hmmm. It’s been discussed here in MN because many teams travel to attend the La Crosse and Milwaukee regionals which would go away as options.

I suppose FIRST changing regionals to work more like the district points system could factor into their decision.

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From what i’ve heard(Captain of a wisconsin team) First wisconsin wants to be in districts no later than 2028.

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I could be wrong, but I believe this is the reason. The board of directors was scheduled to vote this summer on whether or not to transition to districts, but it was delayed. My guess is FIRST wants to see if the revamped points system will effect FIRST Wisconsin’s decision.

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WI is looking at districts. One challenge is the geography. Most FRC teams are over on the eastern side of the state. Unless/until there is infrastructure for teams in Western WI a District system would be an unfair burden. And, because a large part of MN population is in close proximity to the MN/WI border there would be impact on teams from that state too. Hard not to sympathize with a team that could almost see the 7 Rivers venue from across the Mississippi but not be allowed to go there. It will be worked out, but it is tied in with issues of growth, sustainability, District v Regional advancement models, etc. Me, I just wanna build robots.

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A couple of updates. Lake Superior is now at 45 of 54 teams and Northern Lights is at 35 of 54 teams. All of the teams I’m aware of have a first round regional but I wouldn’t be surprised if a handful more pop in before the second round preferencing opens. I expect we’ll go into the second round with 25 or so spaces remaining.

Remember I said the road was supposed to be open behind the DECC making load in and load out better this year? Maybe not, this was the news yesterday.

Construction continues on Seawall Project despite delays (northernnewsnow.com)

They’re saying they’ll be done by next June now. I’m not happy about this but consider yourselves forewarned.

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For continuity and people who may wonder what happened:

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I’m glad to know I wasn’t insane about the Wisconsin thing just premature.

Lake Superior is currently at 46 teams (8 slots remaining), Nothern Lights is currently at 36 teams (18 slots remaining).

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If you can convince 359 or 1622 to come you can have 9-10 states!

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The Hawaiian Kids, 359 has (in the past had) a policy in general of only attending a regional once. They’ve done both Northern Lights and Lake Superior in the past. I would love to see them come back if they change their policy. Personally, I may not be committed to set up the ARC practice field on week 4 which opens the possibility I could volunteer in Hawaii this year. I don’t have a policy of only volunteering once at an event but do like to spread the love.

I’d love if Team Spyder 1622 could make it. If they’ve submitted for Lake Superior or Nothern Lights in round two, they should contact me and I’ll email the RD saying “Hey, there’s a team from California that wants in. Would be cool to have another state represented.” Which should tell you a lot about the minimal level of my influence on the decision.

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An update here, we have hotel blocks reserved at a few of the hotels in Duluth. The blocks release January 1st, they are negotiated by the local organization and are not on the FIRST website.

Pier B Resort www.pierbresort.com and use Group Code FIRS2625
· 2 queen room, Wednesday and Thursday nights = $169
· 2 queen room, Friday and Saturday nights = $219

Lift Bridge Lodge
· 2 queen room 2/26-28 either $169 or $189
· 218.727.1378 and Group code FIRST Robotics 2025 account 4950984

AmericInn by Wyndham AmericInn by Wyndham Duluth Rooms & Rates (wyndhamhotels.com)
· 2/26-3/1 - 2 queen bed rooms
· Wednesday and Thursday night = $105
· Friday and Saturday night = $159
· Group name: 2025 Competition/First Robotics

Radisson Duluth Harborview Hotel
· 2 queen bed rooms
· $169/night
· Group code = FIRST Robotics 2025 Competition

Park Point Marina Inn Contact Piper at [email protected] or 218-491-7111

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The policy of attending a regional just once was just a personal preference of ours to get trips approved by our State since we were experiencing new things by going to different events.
With doing 4 regionals per year, we no longer follow it as its become quite the logistical challenge to get our robot and crate to and from events quickly, and with so many back to back competitions essentially.

We would never rule out Minnesota. Great State to compete in.

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I still have the all time greatest pit give away item from you guys in 2016. A team branded windshield ice scraper! 'Cause you heard they were useful in Minnesota…

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