To all NYC FIRST Regional Teams-
Congrats to all, I’m collecting feedback on this year
NYC Regional event- give me any good, bad, or
ugly stories or opinions and I will bring them to
the NYC Regional Committee.
Example- your opinion about the site, the food, the parking,
the pit, etc (sorry, nothing can be done to change the PIT-LADY)
Competition was good, our team (549) had a blast.
Location was so-so, kinda wish it was around a few more restaurants and stuff, perhaps maybe a starbucks within walking distance.
Parking for vehicles was horrible.
Food selection was, well, lets just say that I hope I never see another hotdog again.
Looking forward to next year, I just hope that sweet little old lady announcer returns… 
I agree, it wouldnt be a nyc regional without pit announcer lady. If somebody has tape from the pits with her screaming in the background, they should really post it, so that the larger FIRST community can share in her announcing greatness.
This was my last event in my high school FIRST career, and I greatly appreciate the effort that went into the planning and running of the event. I was worried at first about moving from Columbia, but I feel the new location was perfect for the competition. My team particularly enjoyed the astroturf football field, since some of our team let out some steam in a lunchtime football game. I can’t speak much for the parking and food situation since we came by bus and I brought lunch with me. I would advise the planners of the event to keep the amount of teams about the same, since I think we pretty much maxed out the seating available there. I realize it was mostly funding related, but I really think if possible there should be a team social next year. I saw the park’s amphitheater down below the level the event was on, and that looked like a fine place for a band or dj to go on. But all and all, I feel it was an excellent event, and the regional should continue to be held there in future years.
-Mike R
2003 NYC Regional Imagery Award
I have to agree to much that was said. The parking was horrific but tolerable. the pit was just about right for the amount of teams that were there, I would say any more teams would make it very difficult to move around.
As for the “pit lady” I must admit that on more then one occasion she gave me a good chuckle, I especialy liked the time she anounced that a team was looking for a wheel… then after a minute she added… a “BLACK ONE”!!!.
As for the food, I had to disagree. Much to my amazement the food was fairly good but most of all it "wasnt"a rip off… Water was $1.00 and can/bottles of soda was $1.25. There was one vendor who had a cart that sold Georgia Hot dogs and they were delicious. When we got to the pit Thursday morning they were advertising places off site that was selling food and many of them delivered right to the pit. That was a great thing and I know was very welcome from some of the poor teams. If NY can alow it even though “ITS A FIRST RULE” then others should be more flexable.
The only bad thing that happened was that we had one game on Saturday that we won with high QP’s when we were informed by FIRST an hour later that we would have to replay the game over. It seemed they possitioned the other 2 teams around the wrong way!!! The game would be replayed after the last match. However after the final game they anounced that teams had 15 minutes to pick their aliances for the final. We were 5th so we were a picking team however not only did we loose the replay we missed out on the 15 minutes for picking any of the top aliances as we were on the field playing our game.
the pit lady was pretty cool this year. wouldn’t want to change her. shes the only one i see be this straight forward “shut the music off” - pit lady quote. being that i work for transit i shoulda known that there were some fast food places near the site. i didn’t notice them till i was driving down E.145 and riverside dr. today in a TA vehicle and recognized the surroundings. other then that the hot dogs weren’t bad at all. coulda used some chili.
parking well can’t comment since i didn’t drive in. location was very very accessible both by train and by bus. thank you to the people who continue to keep the NYC FIRST! REGIONAL going.
Keep the amount of teams attending the same as this year. stands seem less crowded and makes walking through the pits alot more easier.
I think 30 teams was a good solid number for the NYC competition. Too many tends to be rather hectic and in this way i was able to have more in-depth conversations with various members of other teams. Personally, I enjoyed this year’s competition very much. The only thing its missing is more free food and refreshments. anything is better with food.
~Teddy
334 all the way.
Is it always food with you guys?
BTW: I need some feedback on the EPA machine shop.
Did anyone use it? was it adquate? or does NYC FIRST
need to make other arrangements next year.
Thank you all- so far the comments are good; keep them
coming.
(maybe we’ll try a “team lunch” and FIRST games
outside next year to replace the lack social party)
Ok, I didn’t use the machine shop, but I had some feedback from some of my teammates, their answer was that it was adequate. We’re just happy that one was provided, so thanks.
One isuue which I am surprised was overlooked was security. I expected more bag searches since we’re in a conflict with another country.
The orginization of the people who were yelling " Step to the Side" as robots and human players as well as spectators were moving between building was rather mind numbing. It seems there was no communication on how to make this flow evenly. TWO WORDS FOR YOU GUYS " Wireless Radios", get em at Radio Shack for under 20 bucks.
Bring back the TEAM social, we barley had enough time to congrugate with others.
Thats all for now, as soon as I come off of my morning caffeine high I’ll have more I’m sure.
Team 596 had a great time. It was our best performance ever. I didn’t think parking was that bad. The site was pretty good although I don’t think you could have more teams. Food was fine all you had to do was walk two blocks if you didn’t like the vendors. We didn’t use the machine shop. The informal social event put on by 334 was cool. NYC is a blast.
Does anyone know why there isn’t an award for #1 seed this year?? It was a bummer to be the number 1 seed from wire to wire have the 3 highest QP scores and then walk away without anything to show for it.
I am surprised there hasn’t been any mention of the infamous DQ replay from our first elimination match. I think the problem is the scoring and rules for the elimination rounds are terrible this year.
How about this scenario. You win the first match in elimination round and then in next match you have your human players turn off the opposing team robots. Violates everything first is about, but what is the outcome?
[venting] I think the reason that there is no #1 seed award this year is because the teams that are (usually) seeded number 1 are part of the collusion that is ruining this game.[/venting]
I am sure you would be DQ’d if you switched off opposing robots.
I hope everyone knows the disqualification match was purely a mistake. The pius princess’ had not fully understood the rule pertaining to the aformentioned gray area near the ramps. They knew a human player could not touch the gray area but not the box.
We (team 334) and our alliance partners were very sorry for what had happened and as you understand we managed to sway the refs for a rematch after much consideration even though we knew our robot was broken from the last match. We had no intention of moving up by such treacherous ways. We knew we risked moving to the next level, especially by playing with a broken robot but we did it anyway. We knew it was the right thing to do.
I’m sure everyone has their opinion on what originally occured and i thought i just clear that up for those that were there. Maybe i’ll post a recap of the incident later.
again… It was an honest mistake.
~Teddy
I can honestly say that we never engaged in any collusion during any of our matches. I will admit that we had some good scores against some weak opponents, but it was never due to collusion. I would say that the biggest gripe we had was the match pairings since we were never with or against a lot of the low # teams which hurt us in the draft and elims.
I think 334 was the classiest team at NYC. They set up the laser tag provided info on where to go and just plain were nice to everyone. I am sure 1226 didn’t fully understand what their box placement would result in. I think it is a flaw in the rules this year. I have to congratulate 334 on their deft move at the end of the 1st match or the 2nd would have never been an issue. Our driver fell asleep on the hill and you drive around us onto the hill and then lured us off the hill. Congrats on the Chairman’s and good luck in Houston!
My point exactly! You get DQ’d but the way the points work in the elims you would still win and advance. I wasn’t saying that 334/1226 planned it that way, it just happened to expose a serious flaw in the rules. What was so bad about the 2 out of 3 system from last year???
Some great comments…
so far no comments on the referee performance?
(anyone recall the first game of the first match-
wasn’t it a TIE. That was the first tie ever)
Please keep the comments flowing.
Thanks.
I thought the ref’s were great! No complaints. The announcer was solid if not flashy. I have grown to like the woman who announces in the pits also. She is so NY you have to love her.
The other thing I found odd was that the Meeting Co only offered hotels in NJ?? We stayed in the Upper West Side but had to pay more than last year.
yeah i thought it was good.
One thing that could have been improved was the traffic of people and robots between the pits and the arena. It seemed whereever you wanted to get through, you were blocked by one of the “traffic cop” volunteers. This was particularly bad on the first day, though things got better later on.
Perhaps there should have been two separate routes going to and from the arena and the pits, that would have prevented the constant blockages in that narrow doorway.
Apart from that it was a great few days. A big thanks to you Rich, Randy Sheaffer, Deborah Rose and of course Mama Dickson as well as all the other volunteers for a great regional.
*Originally posted by Ed Crammond *
**yeah i thought it was good.One thing that could have been improved was the traffic of people and robots between the pits and the arena. It seemed wherever you wanted to get through, you were blocked by one of the “traffic cop” volunteers. This was particularly bad on the first day, though things got better later on.
Perhaps there should have been two separate routes going to and from the arena and the pits, that would have prevented the constant blockages in that narrow doorway.
Apart from that it was a great few days. A big thanks to you Rich, Randy Sheaffer, Deborah Rose and of course Mama Dickson
as well as all the other volunteers for a great regional. **
Speaking of traffic flow… I failed to understand why you had to go the “long way around” on your way to the field when you are more likely rushing to get there and then on the way back, when you are less conscious about time you chose to use the short route… <me>still puzzled</me>
But… I thought the traffic flow was way better than last year at Columbia… can you say “annoyingly narrow hallways”?? lol
Also, a lesson learned in NYC regional this year was to have the refs notice immediately the position of the human stacks at the beginning of the match before autonomous kicks in… Do we remember the Finals match with the bin under the bot??? lol 
They stole my idea to begin with, but as soon as I saw that happen I knew they were going to be DQ’ed anyways!! :eek: It was a great strategy though… if it had been legal!
Oh well, you live you learn…
481 used the machine shop. I found the driver and the two machinists very nice and very helpful.
One of the machininsts even took me on a tour of the plant while I waited. Do you know they run the huge pump motors partially using reclaimed methane from the waste water? Cooool.
Overall we really enjoyed the regional, and had a BLAST! If I had a complaint…and I’m digging deep here…it’s that the printed schedule of matches was not followed. We were caught a bit off guard when lunch was moved (our bad for not hearing the announcement in the morning).
We’re reconsidering our ‘policy’ of going to different regionals each year. New York may be a keeper.
Eric
481
Your team was the one that stay at the AYH.
How was the acommondations?
Was it difficult to reserve the beds?
How do you guys rate the AYH?
Do you recommend the place to other teams?
How was your team getting around the city?
Bus, subway, or other means?
Thanks for any input.
The hostel was great. Never a problem getting a shower…the staff was friendly…the rooms were clean. You can come and go anytime you please.
The rate was okay at $32 per night/per person. About the same as four in a cheap hotel, BUT…we didn’t have to worry about getting four people in each room, and didn’t have to worry about how many boys / girls were in each room. Also, noone had to share a bed or sleep on the floor. We had the rooms all to ourselves, but they did warn us that they would fill up the empty beds if the rest of the hostel filled up.
We took the subway everywhere. The 1 and 9 stop a safe block from the hostel, and the A and C(?) are about three blocks away (those three blocks were a little questionable at night, though). The M60 stops about four blocks away, and we took that to from the airport.
Lots of good food on Broadway.
Overall, a great time and a great value.
Eric
Was Team 395 there? I hope they did okay if they were…