Hey everyone. Wow it’s been a while since I posted. I blame that whole college app/being a senior mess.
Anyhoo. Our this year our team is thinking about doing a new regional for our second event. It’s coming down to either Finger Lakes or Trenton. So I’m posing the question to you all: if you were 1124, which would you choose?
At the moment, I’m thinking NJ, but I could be swayed 
Team 316 has really enjoyed going to the Finger Lakes Regionals for the past 3 years. It is a very well run regional with lots of space. Being a smaller (~40 Teams) it’s a little less hectic than those events with 54+ Teams.
We have always stayed at the Radison on Jefferson Road. Close enough for those with extra energy to walk (in the snow). The Hotel will also transport everyone to RIT.
Unfortunately, the Team has opted not to attend a Week One Regional this year. If we were in on Week One, chances are pretty good we would be going to FLR.
1640 had a similar experience with the Finger Lakes Regional this past season. I’ve never been to Trenton so I can’t comment, but FLR is a relatively small, very well-run regional with some great people and teams. Personally, I had a blast. We’ll be there again this year.
New Jersey has always been a competitive regional. I do not know anything about Finger Lakes, but I always have a blast in New Jersey. Its well run, a lot of fun, and there are a lot of teams to talk to, as well as get to know. If you would like to do some pre-event scouting, you could check what teams are registered for certain events and see what the competition will be like.
http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/regionalevents.aspx?id=430
When it comes down to a regional, I would talk to everyone on the team and then come to an executive decision.
237 has been to both.
Finger Lakes is a great venue. The Rochester area teams are very competitive. The food at RIT was fabulous. IT SNOWS IN ROCHESTER.
New Jersey attracts a lot of international teams and is also very competitive. We stayed in Langhorne, PA near Sesame Place. Lots of great places to eat and relax. The venue is “old school”. Hockey rink, great seating, but nothing near it because it in TRENTON.
New Jersey is a cool regional, though I’ve never been to FLR so I’m a bit biased.
Only complaint I’ve ever had about New Jersey is that it’s in week one so it’s often plagued by the normal week one issues, hardware issues, breaking in the new field, getting a feel for the game, etc. (Some people also complain that the pits and field are cold, but it’s never bothered me.)
Otherwise, it’s becoming more and more competitive each year as the attending teams step up their level of game play and robot construction.
The NJ regional has its moments/years, but I would just warn you about the whole week 1 aspect of it. I’m personally not a fan. The teams there, however, are always fun. My personal favorites being: 25, 816, 1089, 103(if they’re back?), 56 was back, I’d like to see 237 or 359, Where’s Waldo, 1860…etc. Some random black and yellow team.
The NJ regional is also where you can get the best pizza. Not even joking.
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Like Mr.Don said FLR was fun, it was one of my favorite competitions for 3 years in a row! And staying so close to the competition made for a lot of extra time for team bonding after the day was over. Team 316 is a huge fan laser tag! 
Okay, I have to be practical. Both regionals are great, but have you priced it out? Transportation, hotels, travel time? It could be the tiebreaker.
although I have not personally been to FLR, I can say that the New Jersey regional was great fun last year, and I would recommend it
-“some random black and yellow team”
While I’ve never been anywhere but NJ, excluding off season, from what I hear from other teams NJ has a rep for being competitive, to the point where bots are ramming into each other on the field and parts are breaking (happens to us tons of times). This is all I’ve known, cause we haven’t been anywhere else. Other then that, its tons of fun. Our school is literally down the street from the arena so we know the area well, plenty to do. And at the arena, there’s a taco bell across the parking lot which is AWESOME!
Its a really fun regional. Our team is looking to do NJ and Philly this year if we raise enough.
Oh, and don’t forget the fun week 1 bugs.
There are lots of things you have to keep in mind when planning on your away regional. It seems you have it narrowed down to a week 1 regional. I know there are some great teams at both events. I have not been to the NJ regional since it was the J&J at the RAC 2003 but I know we really enjoyed the teams.
I have been part of the Finger Lakes Regional and have attended the regional every year. It is a great venue. No doubt the nicest I have ever attended. If you do decide to come to FLR we will make sure to help you feel welcome.
1676, 2753, and 11 right off the bat. Hehe.