They should change the formula from nylon loop to Kevlar loop (Kevlar wont melt from tire tread abuse). Cost a little more, but it’s worth it… O.k. maybe a lot more.
2 Likes
If (a) the 75’-11" figure is correct and (b) there are 30ish fields in circulation and (c) each field is shipped with 2+ carpets to support a whole season
Then we’re talkin about multiple miles of carpet
They’ve figured out the logistics to get carpets directly to event venues in certain circumstances before. I’d imagine it’s more of a cost prohibition than a logistical one.
FIRST could also order extras and fulfil them the same way they do game specifics – at the end of the season, from the championship event. I could see FIRST having a truck full of carpets and distributing them to folks that are already shipping stuff all over the continent from there.
I’m not sure yet if we’ve established this an issue, though. I’d be curious to see if other retailers have corroborated what Mike’s vendor raised, or if anyone has contacted HQ on this. Though, to me, the question I’m much more interested in is: is there a functional alternative that is readily commercially available at an attainable price?
1 Like
For the PNW district the carpet is shipped to the local Shaw warehouse, which just happens to be a few blocks away from the FIRST WA Fieldhouse. I’m sure Shaw just sends it with their regular shipments that are intended to end up at a retailer. So no real issue with getting it shipped to at least some metro areas directly from the mill. FIRST doesn’t need to touch it at all. The big problem is the accounting side and FIRST being worried about getting stiffed for some carpet or Shaw saying hey we still have 2 rolls of that stuff in our Anytown distribution center and we want it gone.
Yeah I just don’t see FIRST making that leap.
Well if they also changed the backing from Jute to Kevlar, then it could represent a cost savings if it was able to last for enough events instead of a new set for each Regional or 2 District events.
When I was talking with a FIRST employee back in in Power Up he said they built 40 some odd fields for Regionals and districts plus an extra ready to be deployed as needed.
Each field also gets a piece for the practice field which is 30’ long. That means around a 1/4 mile long strip just for those at 1 per field.
For the field carpet each regional gets its own set of carpet and for districts one set of carpet is used for 2 district events with a new set for DCMP. By my count including some for CMP they need about 200 sets. Assuming 75’ per roll and add in that practice field stuff and we are looking at a strip of carpet about 6 miles long, 50,000 sq yds, or ~10 acres. That is assuming the field doesn’t have any overlay like there was the last two games which added another 10-12’ per roll.
1 Like
You think that’s a lot of carpet, check out the IMTS convention at McCormick Place in Chicago. I think it’s about 1.4 million square feet, pretty much all carpeted.
1 Like
Hoping to get some left-over carpet at the end of a competition season - sometimes the carpet is offered to teams who might need a chunk… Am I right?
Hey, it was sourced locally by a Brazil carpet company called Bergotex.
We took a sample of Neyland to a carpet store and found the closest option available. That may work there as well.
Filipe
6 Likes
Yes, if teams don’t take it then it eventually ends up in the trash in most cases. There should be a set up for grabs after each Regional while districts replace it every 2 events. Note there are some exceptions to that. In the PNW I save two sets at the end of the season to send to off-season events. Once those are done one of those sets gets given away while I keep the other to put down for the following season’s field set up training.
In Michigan every district gets new carpet and it often goes home with a team.
With a lot more teams running swerve (SDS), I noticed carpet wear was a whole lot more than just a few years ago.
We used to take the Hawaii regional carpet annually after the event and it looked pretty good after an entire weekend.
For every event we did this year, the carpet was so wasted, you pretty much had to throw it away after 1 event. For the back to back Port Hueneme/Ventura events Weeks 1 and 2 this past season, we attended both. The carpet was in absolutely horrible shape at the start of the Ventura event.
3 Likes
“Part of this year’s challenge is little rubber wastes embedded within the carpet.”
4 Likes
Solution: have the field directly on the gym floor and tell teams to be careful
1 Like
“hold my falcons” -SDS modules
2 Likes
I contacted Shaw’s Philadelphia Commercial division. Here is what they said:
Thank you for contacting Shaw. It is true that the Neyland III series is being phased out and will be dissolved by the end of 2022. It is being replaced by the Profusion series. This style is similar in design, but of a higher, better performing quality. It does not, however, offer a 15’ width version. The spec sheets are linked below. If we can help you with anything else, please let us know.
Looks like there will be a new carpet spec going forward. I do not know if Shaw Philadelphia is discontinuing the 15’ width in all styles. If they are, I’d expect that the new spec will be with a different manufacturer.
5 Likes
These are the best reviewed carpet shears on the great rainforest in the sky:
These might be more ergonomic and come in different colors:
1 Like
Or we go with a 3’ narrower field.
1 Like
Hmm… need to “double” check your math.
2 Likes
Complete speculation on my part, but considering HQ purchases brand new carpet every year anyhow, I’d expect them to look for a new supplier/product for carpet before they look at chopping 6’ (there are two rolls of carpet per field, so actually 6’ instead of 3’) off the width of every field.
6’ off the length would be one thing, but the width would involve cutting into either the driver stations (which are typically fairly standard and reused year to year), or drastically reducing the amount of space available for game specific field elements (like human player stations or goals).
Or increasing the field carpet by 6’ with a third roll.
6 Likes