Today's blog comes from Andrea Winegar, FIRST Manager of Field Operations.

Hi there, FRC Teams…

I hope the start of your July has been super!

As Frank and the FRC staff here in NH begin to post the dates for the 2016 FRC season, I’m sure you are eager to learn about when and where each awesome event will occur.  Today’s post is intended to share with you an important, “One-Time Only” event date change:   

The 2016 FRC Palmetto Regional will be held February 25^th-27^th, 2016!  This will be one week before “Week One” of the 2016 FRC schedule.   As you all know, Week One of the 2016 FRC season will begin the first week of March, 2016.  This event season start date is a week later than in the past due to the FRC Kickoff being held on the second Saturday of January, rather than the first Saturday as we most often do, to ensure minimal conflict with the New Year’s Day holiday.  As a result of this change, the Myrtle Beach Convention Center (proud home of the FRC Palmetto Regional) was already booked for all of the dates within our season. 

While these early event dates may seem to be a logical choice, it did not come about without a lot of consideration and evaluation.  In order to hold a single FRC Regional prior to the start of the regularly scheduled competition season, much discussion and careful planning has to occur.  Other alternate options were considered, and all of the South Carolina FRC teams were surveyed for input and feedback.  Throughout this process, the FRC Palmetto Regional Planning Committee, FIRST staff, and the Myrtle Beach Convention Center staff have been in constant contact with ongoing discussions to identify the best option.  With that, we are committed to hosting a terrific 2016 FRC Palmetto Regional beginning in late-February!

One more note to share:  It is important to understand that this change in dates for the 2016 Palmetto Regional is an exception, not an expectation.   The necessary changes for future dates at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center have already been made for the Palmetto Regional. 

Big THANKS to all of the parties involved in this event schedule decision.  See you in 2016!