I am working on an illistutive example for some scouting stuff with made up data, but am feeling a little weird using high level teams that are still very much competing.
This had me thinking, what teams are the most recognizable that have closed up shop? Covid had to have knocked a few out unfortunately. Ultimately I am looking for recognizable that are no longer competitors, not necessarily “best win record” (although I am sure the latter can be queried).
7179 - Crossfire - Only around for 2 years but were on everyones radar during those two years (a very small group of teams can say their last official match was on Einstein)
1311 - Kell Robotics - Made it into the Hall of Fame in 2018, announced a gap year for 2024 to reorganize and refocus but did not sign up for this season so the gap is already larger than anticipated and may be permanent
23 certainly has an interesting history as an early-years HoF team. They’ve disbanded 3 times now, having competed 1995-1999, 2012-2013, and 2018-2020.
Easily one of the most dominant rookies to make the transition from VEX/FTC/VRC, and potentially the first to make the switch?
Also, I have to add how much I loved 842 mentioned above already.
Older more iconic ones that come to my mind are 64 Gila Monsters and then similarly team 39 which iirc was the remnants of team 64.
Team 121 Rhode Warriors is definitely one of the most iconic NE teams - they live on as team 78 Air Strike due to a team split more than a decade ago. Before the split, they were one of the best teams coming out of NE.
When 1251 showed up to an event, you were probably a fool to ignore them–doubly so in the mid-2000s. Double banners in 2019, they showed up to the Thursday of the 2020 Orlando Regional for the first of three planned regionals, they got sent home as everyone did (FIRST stopped everything globally that Thursday morning), and you never saw them again.
Others with a bit of history that ended that day: 945, 1065 (who did at least register for 2021 but didn’t submit anything), and 1382.