2010 Kickoff

2010 Kickoff Begins “the” Build!

Mark the date, January 9, 2010! That’s Kickoff for the 2010 FIRST Robotics Competition season. Like last year, we’ll be in two places on the University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities Campus: Northrop Auditorium and the Great Hall in Coffman Union.

Registration of team members, mentors, volunteers and guests will begin at 7:30 AM in the lobby of Northrop Auditorium. Plan on being in your seats at 8:30 AM for opening remarks from a couple of guest speakers. The NASA webcast starts promptly at 9:00 AM and will go until about 10:30 AM.

From there, teams will move to the Great Hall in Coffman Union for Kit of Parts distribution and viewing the field elements. Teams should bring a cart in order to carry all of the 2010 KOP bins and boxes.  Be advised that at least two of the bins weigh 70 pound apiece. This year, we strongly-recommend that teams have at least one mentor or adult present to walk-through the KOP distribution line.

At registration, teams will need to submit the FIRST 2010 Consent and Release Forms. New this year, FIRST is piloting online submission of Consent and Release forms for students-only. Team leaders, you will need to print out a list of the students that have filed online consent forms and bring this printed list to Kickoff registration.

For students not completing the online Consent forms, as well as all team leaders, team mentors, parents, volunteers, other team adults, FRC alumni, guests, you will need to download and sign the 2010 form in order to attend Kickoff and the regional competitions. Click here to download the 2010 FIRST Consent and Release form. Bring this signed form with you to Kickoff.

After turning in all required forms and lists, a team leader will be given a Kit of Parts (KOP) receipt. Do not fill out the KOP receipt until after you have received all of the KOP boxes. Rookie teams, you will receive an extra box containing the cRIO. The Kit of Parts will be given out only after the broadcast concludes.

Here are some links to the University of Minnesota facilities and parking.

http://www1.umn.edu/twincities/maps/NMA/

http://northrop.umn.edu/visit/parking-and-directions/northrop-parking

http://www1.umn.edu/twincities/maps/CMU/

http://www.coffman.umn.edu/about/directions.php

Directions

Northrop Memorial Auditorium
84 Church Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455 
http://www1.umn.edu/twincities/maps/NMA/Directions

Parking
The nearest parking ramp to Northrop Auditiorium:
Church Street Garage, 80 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455

How to get there

  • 35W to University Ave. East on University to Church St SE. South on Church St 1 1/2 blocks.
  • I-94 to Huron Blvd. Huron Blvd. to 4th St SE. 4th St SE to 17th Ave SE. South on 17th Ave SE to Church St SE. South on Church St SE 1 1/2 blocks.
  • 15th Ave SE to University Ave. East on University Ave to Church St SE. South on Church St SE 1 1/2 blocks.

Immediately after the Kickoff Broadcast, teams will register and receive the Kit of Parts. 
The Kit Of Parts will be distributed at the Great Hall, Coffman Union.

Coffman Memorial Union
300 Washington Ave., SE
Minneapolis, MN  55455-0110

Directions

From the south: Take I-35W to the U of M/3rd Street Exit. Follow the East Bank Sign. Merge onto Washington Avenue. Once you cross the Mississippi River, Coffman will be the second building on the right. Turn right onto Church Street and then right onto Delaware Street. Coffman’s south entrance and drop-off locations will be on the right. Entrance into East River Road Garage is on the left.

From the north: From I-35W, all traffic must exit onto the University Avenue/4th Street exit. Turn left at University Avenue and head toward the East Bank. Turn right onto Oak Street, then right onto Washington Avenue. Coffman is five blocks ahead on the left. To park or drop-off, turn left onto Church Street and right onto Delaware Street. The south entrance will be on the right.

From the east and west: Take the Huron Boulevard exit from I-94 (north exit only). Turn left onto Washington Avenue. Coffman is approximately seven blocks ahead on the left. Turn left onto Church Street and right onto Delaware Street. Coffman's south entrance and drop-off locations will be on the right. Entrance into East River Road Garage is on the left.