Greater Kansas City and Heartland Regionals 2018

Competition Regional Competitions
1

The 2018 competition will be the first time that the Greater Kansas City Regional is split up to two weekends as separate regionals. I can’t give the most details, but I have found that through Blue Alliance that many teams have chosen one over the other for their First Pick for competition.

Heartland Regional is from March 8-11 (Thurs. to Sun.)
Greater KC Regional is from 14-17 (Wed. to Sat.)

I’m curious to see what differences there may be for the different competitions being held at the same venue just one weekend after another. Of course there’s the difference brought in from week-by-week experience of all competitions.

If you’re a team planning on competing at either KCMO Regional or watching: What differences are you expecting/hoping to avoid? Was there a specific decision that made your team want one competition over the other? What do you think of this decision to split the competition up?

Plus: What’ll happen to the iconic enamel pins? I have to ask as an enamel pin collector, of course :stuck_out_tongue:

2

I would think of it less as “splitting the competition up” and more as “giving every team in the area the chance to compete close to home”. Our region consists of all of Kansas and western Missouri. Last year we had 62 teams in the region, but only 60 spots at the KC regional. As we continue to add more teams to the region, we wanted to offer local teams a chance to compete locally and not turn any away.

Additionally, with each regional having fewer teams, we should be able to offer more matches per team during the competition. Hopefully this will lead to some excellent playoff matches.

3

Choosing Heartland over GKC - Spring Break was the deciding factor; this is on the first two days of the student’s spring break rather than the latter half of their spring break. They still miss 1-2 days of school, but I think they’d rather miss school than their vacation.

4

In 2017 GKC had 60 teams with 33 more on the waitlist. If both tournaments run at 48 (38 initial registration plus a standard 10 team reserve) that would just cover that demand before considering teams who want to play at both. Expecting these events to both fill during 2nd registration.

Hosting a second regional is a huge undertaking but very happy that FIRST approved it and that the regional planning committee had the vision and drive to make it happen.

of teams that went to Champs last year:

Heartland - 10/29 (Including 2451 from IL who won 2 regionals last year)
Greater KC - 2/24 (Including 932 from OK)

It is my understanding that most of the teams who traditionally attend more than one regional will continue to travel out of the area for their 2nd event. A few are looking into attending both. Many will be volunteering at the event they are not competing at.

Teams who normally attend GKC, who haven’t signed up for either of the 2 KC events yet include…

1775, 1939, 1986, 1987, 1984, 2164, 2167, 2335, 2346, 3528, 4522, 4959, 5098, and 5189

Those in bold have not appeared on a regional list yet (and may not be playing this season). Check on your friends.

We will be aiming for the week 3 GKC event with our 2nd registration. It has nothing to do with what teams are signed up currently. It just fits our time schedule better.

5

Calling it “splitting it up” probably wasn’t the most accurate term, but I still see how the separation of typical teams at a competition will alter for sure with opening spots to people outside of the area. It was also pretty packed last year just in terms of arena space I thought. Thankfully, this division will most likely help with that, too.

It may mean missing out seeing some other teams, but it seems like a good decision given the direction KCMO is headed in.

6

Team 2346 was the O’Hara high school team and that school closed at the end of the last school year. The new St Michael’s high school in Lee’s Summit is essentially its replacement and there is a rookie team from there that is registered for the Heartland regional.

As for team 3528, it is odd that they are not registered. They are the team that has a shop on the MCC campus (location of both events). I hope nothing has happened to that team nor any of the others not registered for an event.

Steve

7

I’ve talked to 1984, they are going to try and register for both KC regionals. Also, congrats to 1984 for just winning the Ozark Mountain Brawl down in Arkansas.

For 2167, their school still lists FIRST ontheir website, so I’m not entirely sure whats up with them.

As for ourselves, we simply chose the heartland regional because of our spring break, as it seems most people have had to schedule around.

8

We’ve had 4 regionals at the BTC, starting in 2014. The team count for those was: 58, 54, 59, 60. It’s been a tight fit ever since we’ve been in that arena :] .

9

Some movement today between the events. 938 slid over to Heartland from GKC. 5801 and 6424 left Heartland for Oklahoma and Seven Revers respectively. Heartland stands at 28 teams and GKC has 23.

Now that all of the movement from the software glitch has been taken care of, hoping to see some of the teams who didn’t have a first regional at all start to find their way into the system.

2nd Event Preference Registration runs October 12th through 11:00 am Central on the 19th.

10

I now count 65-68 teams with it definite that 7 rookies have been added to the 61 teams from 2017 and with Cel-Techs morphing and 1448 Parsons reactivating. What is happening with Up Next (3528), Radical Tech (2167), or SABRE (5189) isn’t clear yet.

My count doesn’t include 2 MO teams, 3284 and 5730 that haven’t attended KC too much, and it doesn’t include NE or IA teams that may be closer to KC than elsewhere.

Of the 61 teams from last year, you have 45 in place at a KC regional thus far. You have 11 signed up elsewhere, 5 in OK (6 counting 1448), 5 in Seven Rivers, and 1 in Dallas. The other 5 teams are the 3 uncertain ones about, the disbanded team, and 1984 who plans to signup in KC.

Only 3 of 7 rookies has signed up at this point. None of the KS rookies have.

Last year 22 teams attended a 2nd regional (36%), and 2 attended a 3rd (3.3%). With 11 signing up outside of KC it seems to be trending that way again this year. It would be cool to get over 40% of teams to a second regional, even if it is back-to-back in Kansas City. Maybe their schools can just give them that whole week off, even if it doesn’t fall on their break.

Our second regional decided which KC regional to attend, because week 4 fit with the school’s Spring Break and it has worked well to travel then, and we prefer a week between regionals.

It will be intriguing to see what outside competition comes to KC with more open slots. In this first round, seeing PWNAGE at Heartland adds to what will be high-quality competition, with already 4 other prior year regional winners. GKC has 1 at the moment, but will add 1986. And I assume 1987 and 5801 will attend a regional in KC.

11

It is with mixed emotions that I am writing to let everyone know that Up Next 3528 will NOT be competing in 2018. There were many factors that went into our decision, but primarily was the fact that my husband’s day job has shifted a bit this year and may require random out of town travel. We simply did not have the time or resources to run a team this year. Our other main mentors have also had more demands on their jobs making a 2018 season not feasible.

FIRST has been a constant in our family the past 7 years. Jeff will still be lending his programming knowledge to any team that needs assistance as well as volunteering at FTC and FRC events.

Best of luck to all the teams! Back to back regionals will be crazy! I’m sure you will see Up Next faces at both competitions.

God Bless! Sharon

12

Up Next will be missed. Absolutely understand how the change in availability of a key mentor or two can completely change the capabilities of a team. Hopefully we’ll see you guys back in action one day. Look forward to seeing those of you who can volunteer at the regional events.

13

Up Next will be missed dearly for sure. This is a team with one Chairman’s and one EI win, a role model for all.

I believe 1987 is hoping to attend a KC regional. We will see where the cards fall in a couple of weeks.

14

Up Next will be sorely missed this year. Running an FRC team is such a big job, and 3528 was always a great role model team with the friendliest people you’d ever hope to meet. Hopefully, we will see those pink shirts behind the driver station again someday. We wish you all the best in your career. Safe travels!

15

As 2nd registration opens up, here is what we know about KC area teams and events.

The week 2 Heartland Regional has 29 spots spoken for, another 9 open slots, with at least 10 slots reserved for the waitlist. (1984 just showed up today.)

The week 3 Greater Kansas City Regional has 25 spots spoken for, another 13 open slots, with at least 10 slots reserved for the waitlist.

Both events would be a lot of fun at 48 teams each. Potentially a cozier experience than the near 60 team regionals we have been running lately.

**3528 is bowing out of this season. As a home school team hopefully the students can latch on to other area programs.

2346 had a school closure, combined with a new school opening in team 6843.**

Still haven’t seen 2167 show up on registration lists.

Other teams who traditionally play in KC, but went abroad for their 1st regional selection include 1775, 1939, 1986, 1987, 2164, 2335, 4522, 4959, 5098, 5801, and 6424. (Seven Rivers, and Oklahoma being popular destinations along with one for Dallas.) Expecting most of these to choose a KC area regional in their 2nd selection.

Still significant room for some local teams to play at both KC events or to entertain more out of area teams. Can’t wait to see how the lottery shakes out, and then see what’s still available for those who would like a 3rd event.

16

Based on the quote below from last year’s KC Regional thread, I don’t think 2167 is competing this year. Their school will be closing after this next season, but their team isn’t even registered on a waitlist.

17

Team 1986 we look forward to seeing you all at Seven Rivers. 6424 will still try to get to KC. We are waiting to see how everything shakes out tomorrow with the 2nd lottery closing. It will be interesting to see what is left out there for the 3rd event.

18

Team 5801 has reached out to members of 3528 so that if any should still want to participate in FRC that they may have a place to go. Hopefully the Up Next program can be revived next year and return to their former excellence!

19

How do waitlists work?

Noticed that someone dropped out of the GKC event. FIRST is now showing 37 spots taken with 1 open spot. I know there are teams on the waitlist. Can someone snipe that 1 spot who hasn’t made a 2nd event registration yet, or is it being held in reserve because there is a waitlist?

20

Once the event goes to waitlist it stays there until FIRST HQ releases it.
Even if slots open up by teams dropping out, admittance onto the event list is still through HQ only.

At this point I imagine that preference is going to go to any team appearing on the waitlist who doesn’t have any event at all yet.
So, regardless of how many open slots are showing, new teams will still continue to be added to the waitlist, and FIRST HQ will explicitly move any teams by hand into the event.