So if Teams are using Velcro to handle hatch panels, how fast will the Velcro wear out with use? I see this as being a problem in the later games. Will Field crews be able to change it out fast enough on the panels if it becomes an issue?
yes 
It WILL wear out and they WILL replace it when the FTA/field reset team sees it fit.
We use Velcro most years (climbing 2017, battery retaining strap 2017,18,19) and we always have to replace it multiple points in the season due to wearing out. We are also running 12 matches an event, the field piece velcro will be seeing use 80+ times an event.
I’m hoping this doesn’t become similar to 2017s gear peg springs. I can recall at our first event that year that they weren’t replaced often enough and there was actually a larger noticeable difference between the red and blue side.
Not only will the velcro on hatch panels wear out, but I have a feeling we’ll see some velcro on the hatches themselves that will get dirty and may need cleaning.
2019 Hatch panel Velcro will be the new 2017 gear pegs
Broken all the time and never being replaced, but that’s just my best guess.
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You nailed it right on the head. It will be a huge source of complaints and lots of replay requests.
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The springs in 2017 is a great comparison, I hope that it’s not that bad of a problem.
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W clips To to delete them
It shouldn’t take nearly as long to change the Velcro.
Agreed. Even in the worst case this won’t be as bad as the airship springs. I was at events where a volunteer was dedicated pretty much for the whole event to putting points on springs and assembling those carriages. And I’d expect availability of hook tape to be better than that of a specific arbitrary spring.
When the hook tape needs to be replaced on a hatch, they’ll just cut it to length, take the old one off, and stick the new one on.
And if the loop tape on a hatch cover becomes too worn, the cover will just be replaced with a new one.
As with all events you need to design your robot and strategy knowing that not all aspects of the field will be ideal. But I’m sure that the tape is something that Field Supervisors will be keeping an eye on, and I don’t think it’ll be as bad as people may fear. FIRST is pretty good for the most part about erring on the side of sending extra consumables along for each event to ensure they don’t run out.
I’m sure there will be enough white gaffer’s tape for each event for recreating the alignment lines as well.
The velcro will be my springs of 2017 Ed haha 
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Sadly, like any material (especially fasteners, which is what Velcro is), it will most definitely wear out. I believe, sooner or later, FIRST will give Field crews instructions on how to change it out quickly. If not, this could be a problem.
Springs in '17 had a relatively annoying attachment method requiring tools and time. Hook tape can simply be peeled off and another place carefully placed. Who knows - they may even be in pre-cut lengths to save more time.
I don’t expect it will be as big of an issue as the springs. The primary spring problem was only partially about the springs getting bent/damaged/worn out themselves, and just as much about the shortage of the specific spring stock material that was used for it. Events had extremely limited supply of extra springs to use and had to ration them, resulting in many matches being played with effectively useless springs.
I would be very surprised if we manage to generate a velcro shortage of that magnitude. I definitely expect it to be a problem, and there to be requests for replays due to it, etc, but I don’t think we’ll end up in the same situation of rationing field parts to make it through the season.
I agree that it will be a lot easier to replace hook & loop than the springs, but I advise all drive teams to be on the look out for bad tape. If you see bad tape before a match, TELL FIELD RESET. We got burned in a qualification match for steamworks because the springs were all broken (none of our robots could score) and the Refs told us we had to talk to field reset before a match started if we wanted it fixed.
And if you happen to see one not sticking perfectly, point it out to field reset after your match so the next one works fine.