Posted by Elaine Anselm.
Engineer on team #191, X-Cats, from Jos Wilson High School and Xerox.
Posted on 4/22/2000 6:16 PM MST
In Reply to: Disney Press posted by Jason Rudolph on 4/22/2000 12:57 PM MST:
I think you are right on here. When the FIRST competiton was inside Disney in 95 and 96 there was a great deal moe Disney advertising than there is now. I remember it being listed months ahead on the Disney web site.
Posted by Lewis Sussman.
Coach on team #95, Lebanon Robotics Team, from Lebanon NH HS, Hanover NH HS, Hartford VT HS and CRREL/CREARE.
Posted on 4/24/2000 1:44 PM MST
In Reply to: Disney Press posted by Jason Rudolph on 4/22/2000 12:57 PM MST:
Say what you will about the lack of publicity on Disney’s part, but I was still in awe of what they DO for us. I’m not that upset that they wouldn’t actively promote something that would be in direct competition for people who might be visiting Epcot instead of gawking at us. If we want more publicity, WE should do it ourselves, and the best way to do it is through continued growth and gracious professionalism. The media will come to us. Besides, where would we put more people if they did come?
Posted by Jason Rudolph.
Student on team #168, The Flashbacks, from North Miami Beach Senior High and Velda Farms/FedEx/ETC/HPE Automation.
Posted on 4/24/2000 3:39 PM MST
In Reply to: Re: Disney Press posted by Lewis Sussman on 4/24/2000 1:44 PM MST:
I completely agree. I think that what disney does is absolutely fantastic. I was just trying to explain where they are coming from to all the people who have complained about the lack of press coverage.
Jason
Posted by Matt Leese.
Student on team #7 from Parkville High School and NASA, Black & Decker, AAI, Raytheon.
Posted on 4/24/2000 2:12 PM MST
In Reply to: Disney Press posted by Jason Rudolph on 4/22/2000 12:57 PM MST:
I think Disney gave us pretty good press this year. Did anybody else realize that the reason that ABC News and Goodmorning America were at the competition was because Disney told them to? Remember Disney owns ABC. AFAIK, that’s the best national press we’ve really had to date (correct me if I’m wrong). I don’t think we should complain about Disney giving us press.
Matt Leese
Posted by Andy Baker.
Engineer on team #45, TechnoKats, from Kokomo High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.
Posted on 4/18/2000 11:39 PM MST
In Reply to: To Disney or not to Disney… that is the question posted by Andy Baker on 4/18/2000 11:02 PM MST:
Here are some alternatives that I’ve heard over the years… I’m sure there are others.
…others?
So, have at it people… chew on this for a while and let’s see what churns out at the end.
Andy B.
Posted by Andy Grady. [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]
Coach on team #42, P.A.R.T.S, from Alvirne High School and Daniel Webster College.
Posted on 4/19/2000 9:30 AM MST
In Reply to: Nationals - Alternatives posted by Andy Baker on 4/18/2000 11:39 PM MST:
Just an idea, how about this scenario:
The top 8 teams (or alliances) from each regional will qualify for the national tornement. The rest of the teams will compete in a smaller tornement. (also held at epcot or wherever). The competition expands to 5 days, day 1 will be practice. Days 2 and 3 will be for the smaller tornement, days 4 and 5 will be for the national tornement. At the conclusion of day 5 awards and the team party and stuff will be held for all teams. And why not for the hell of it pit the winner of the smaller tornement vs. the national champions, kinda like the superbowl.
Also for added effect, i loved the idea of the alliance lottery so I say before each regional a lottery is held. The teams stick together for the duration of the competition. Then the top 8 teams move on to the nationals together as a team, to see how they fare against other teams. This could get some very interesting matches in, and maybe even solve some age old questions like who is tougher, the New England teams or the Midwest teams and so on. So now teams could battle for local pride also =)
Just a thought
Andy Grady, DWC/Alvirne HS, Team 42
Posted by Ryan Shanley.
Student on team #191, The X-Cats, from Joseph C. Wilson Magnet High School and Xerox.
Posted on 4/19/2000 10:42 AM MST
In Reply to: Re: Nationals - Alternatives posted by Andy Grady on 4/19/2000 9:30 AM MST:
Regarding the thought on a lottery, I wouldn’t like to spend my senior year building a really good robot, then get stuck with a not-so-good ally for the whole tournament, and not do as well as we could.
And the other possible flaw is that a five day national would be out of many teams’ price ranges, especially those that couldn’t make it to (or barely made it to) this year’s three-day nationals. I know a lot of teams can’t go to regionals or can only go to regionals (and not nationals) because the expense is already so great.
…but, just throwing out thoughts. It’s definitely a good thing to be brainstorming on this
Posted by jack.
Student on team #126, Gael Force, from Clinton High School and Nypro.
Posted on 4/19/2000 12:17 PM MST
In Reply to: Nationals - Alternatives posted by Andy Baker on 4/18/2000 11:39 PM MST:
instead of limiting what teams qualify for the nationals why don’t we make it into a season. the reionals would be like regular season games, and as you go to the nationals start the playoffs, this way you could make conferences like midwest, and northeast. that way everybody has a fair chance, and it could also be double or whatever elimination that way if you get beet once it doesn’t decide your fate, also for the rookie teams you have the possibility of wild card. so basically i’m saying break it down like any normal sports league make conferences and have teams seed in the regionals and procede to the playoffs. like a normal season
Posted by Chris Dibble.
Student on team #102, Dexterous Gearheads, from Somerville High School and Ortho Clinical Diagnostics.
Posted on 4/19/2000 7:06 PM MST
In Reply to: Nationals - Alternatives posted by Andy Baker on 4/18/2000 11:39 PM MST:
: 1. Limit the ‘openness’ of Nationals. Turn Regionals into ‘qualification tournaments’.
I have thought of that alternative, but I believe it is not in the spirit of FIRST- what i mean is that most of the emphasis in the national is not placed on the winner of the robotics competition, but on the winner of the Chairman’s Award, which has nothing really to do with building a robot. FIRST is about teamwork and real-life education, not competition. But, I’m not saying it is not a competitive event.
: 4. Move the event location…Atlanta?.. or some other centrally located large city.
That’s not a bad idea I must say. But there’s something about Epcot that is different than anywhere else.
: 5. No Nationals … (did I say that!!!) and focus more on Regionals.
I dont’ really think that’s a good idea. The nationals is good way to see what people all across the country are doing.
Just my 2 cents… tell me what you think.
Posted by Sam Lindhorst.
Engineer on team #240, Mach Vee, from Jefferson High School and Visteon.
Posted on 4/22/2000 2:10 AM MST
In Reply to: Nationals - Alternatives posted by Andy Baker on 4/18/2000 11:39 PM MST:
Right now alternatives for teams:
Book you own rooms on International Drive without going through Disney and save a bunch. Rent 15 passenger vans for team transportation. Bring your own lunch. If you have an afternoon off, go to Kennedy Space center, it’s an hour away. You can go to Disney with a single park ticket, or Universal or Sea World for less. Eat dinner on International Drive or 192 and get better food, more food, cheaper food, or maybe all three. You have more options (hot? Wet n’ Wild!), access to those places you might need anyway (Home Depot, Disney have a bus going there?), and freedom to stay as late, come as early as needed.
I went early this year and spent a little time looking around Kissimmee and Orlando before the competition. so I was oriented. We stayed off-park, and I not only don’t regret it, but you will have a hard time convincing me to ever stay in Disney again. International Drive is great, I never had a meal that wasn’t very good in a week there, despite trying everything from Buddy’s Bar-B-Que to Landry’'s to a family owned Chinese buffet. And when we needed something, anything could be bought in a 10 minute radius.
I thought last year that the teams that stayed off-park did better at team presence in the pits. We were certainly better this year, than when we were on-park last year. Although this year our team booked through Disney, I am recommending we book-it-ourselves next year. I bet we save half.
Sam
: Here are some alternatives that I’ve heard over the years… I’m sure there are others.
: 1. Limit the ‘openness’ of Nationals. Turn Regionals into ‘qualification tournaments’.
: 2. Turn the current 3 day competition into two smaller 3 day competitions (back to back weekends).
: 3. Move the arena location… to a permanent facility (O-rena?) that is better $$ spent for Disney’s, FIRST’s and our dollar.
: 4. Move the event location…Atlanta?.. or some other centrally located large city.
: 5. No Nationals … (did I say that!!!) and focus more on Regionals.
: …others?
: So, have at it people… chew on this for a while and let’s see what churns out at the end.
: Andy B.