We are a rookie team looking to build as much of the playing field as possible. We have gotten local businesses to generously donate a lot of the lumber and PVC piping but we are running into problems with the carpet. We’ve been allowed to build the playing field in a college gym, but because the gym will be used for other things we will have to set up and remove the field every few days. I know that traction on a carpet is very different from traction on a floor so we will probably want to carpet as much as possible. Unfortunately carpet is very expensive. A local carpet store has offered us a $5/sq. yard price, which seems to be very good, but the carpet is basically felt with a latex-like backing. Will this be okay or will the robot tear it up? What carpet does FIRST use at the competitions?
Thanks,
Gabriel
Team 1409
funny you should ask!
I was at Home Depot this morning, and happened to find two reminants of the type of carpet first uses. Its really inexpensive stuff, normally $4/sq yd at Home Depot
there should be official manufacturer and name/type in the field construction documents
the two pieces I got this morning were 12x20 feet, enough to make (almost) half the playfield - and they were marked down to $44 each - less than half price
so I got enough for half a field for $88
good thing is this stuff will last your team for a few years
Thank you!
Could you please tell me more specifically where the information on the carpet type/manufacturer is? I checked the field layout documents and couldn’t find it.
well me and my team have been with first for 3 years (2001-2003) and there carpets have always been the same standard carpet not to fancy or anything just the kind of carpet ud find in businesses or schools or libraries or goverment buildings , probably not like the stuff you got at home(assuming u have some carpeting) Home depots a good bet if your Buying it on your own but then again there always the chance for a large donation from a local or maybe not so local Carpet venues 
While i was writing this i got an idea and i found the contact info and site for the official FIRST Carpeting
Playing Field Carpet
S.S. Mills, Inc.
PO Box 1568
Dalton, GA 30722
Phone: 800-241-4013
Fax: 706-277-3677
Web: http://www.ssmills.com
thats from the Docs and Updates of Last year and i believe they would still be the same for this year 
Answers! Answers! Answers!
Okay the phone number for S.S. Mills has changed. It is now 1-800-363-9061 The exact carpet FIRST purchased is Seqouia 20, it comes at $4.08 a square yard for over 100ft and $5.08 a square yrd for under 100 square feet. The rolls are 15 ft wide and the carpet will be delivered in 7-10 days.
Also remember that you really don’t have to go for asthetics on this one. If you can find the same carpet cheaper in a less-popular color, go for it.
Good luck!
-Jessica B
Also carpet installers that do lots of corporate work usually have large chunks of carpet they throw away. I would suggest instead of asking carpet resellers ask companies that do installation if they have any large chunks they dont need. The carpet first uses is cheap bulk stuff they use for cube farms and the like. If they dont have any new scraps, ask them if they are removing used carpet that you could take (doesnt have to be pretty to work).
you could also ask fellow teams that have been around that are located by you. they may have some excess playing carpet that they don’t use given to them by the regionals coordinators / national coordinators
you have alot of choices go to the carpet installers to see if they have any they would be willing to donate (SPONSORSHIP)
you could go to home depot and buy the amount needed
or you can ask a local team located by u if they have an extra piece to share with you or if you can go to where they’re at and use there playing field. 
This is where we find out how dedicated you are to your team - whether you are SERIOUS about FIRST or not.
Wife comes home, goes down stairs, comes up from basement with puzzled look!
Wife: Honey? what happened to the carpet in the basement?
Husband: Uh Ummmmmmm…!
Wife: what happened? did the basement flood? did something get spilled on it?
Husband: Err Ummmmmmm…
Wife [eyes bugging out] WHERES THE CARPET!!!
no u didn’t did u lol di u acvtually remove the carpet from the basemnt for ure team to do d\field practice lol she must have been pretty upset hehe : )