These are just the ones I heard and know off the top of my head right now:
I completely agree - our awards were at 1pm & we had kids eager to stay to hear Level 2 Summit bids. I had 2 in tears because they thought they didnt get one! Even though we were fortunate enough to received an at-large - I hate it that the celebration moment was taken from those kids & parents who earned it!
I wish our team could have enjoyed the VIP viewing area! We are a small location and this was our first time attending a competition this size. Each day there was a very well known large gym that would line up for the priority viewing about 5 teams before their team would go on and take up the entire "holding area". We had to push our way through and finally made it into the viewing area after our CP's team had started. I thought perhaps Saturday they were mistaken about the order, but sure enough the same thing happened on Sunday. The parents and teams before them had to walk into the viewing area the wrong way, or crawl under the dividers to even get to the front because they weren't moving for anybody. I just don't understand this and my first taste of a competition this size left a lot to be desired. (And there is certainly one gym I am not a fan of now!)
I think you and I may have talked while we were waiting there. We had a lot of confused kids. We're a junior team but about 2/3 youth kids, and when they announced all the other levels except ours, they thought they didn't get a bid. Even some of the newer parents were confused and ready to leave. Plus, in our case, many of us also had a 6-hour drive home after waiting all that time.
Don't completely blame the "well known large gym" for this. I used to think the same thing about these gyms - until I realized that the parents, grandparents, sisters, etc of these well known large gyms would actually like to see their loved ones compete and have to claw their way past "adoring fans" from other programs who rush the priority seating area. I have seen first hand kids who obviously do not cheer for the program go into the priority seating, and "security" can't really enforce it. I understand that these kids want to see their favorite team up close, but they force the people who actually belong in priority to have to line up early to ensure their spots. Unfortunately with most competition set-ups it is "every man for themselves" - hate the game and not the player! Now that you have had experience attending a large competition, be prepared and if there is a mega gym on the schedule before yours, plan accordingly. If you have more time to say hello and explain your team is ahead of their team, the people from these big gyms are normally pleasant and accommodating. It is definitely frustrating, but it is just as frustrating for the big gym to have to be put in the position to "fight and defend" a spot to be able to see their team.
GBE Orange small coed restricted 5 - at large
Same with Jamz Slam City in San Francisco, CA. The floor is over an ice rink, and the competition is usually about 60 degrees or below in the arena (which is pretty cold for cali lol).
I was so excited when I saw on Sunday that both these teams got paid...it was kind of the silver lining to the day. Excel is probably my favorite level 3 team ever!
Last year we had a VIP section in Freedom Hall so we liked it much better. I will say that one gym was prepared as there was a parent there in the arena with a bullhorn. First time I have seen one actually allowed to be used at a comp. I feel certain their team heard them from the stands LOL.
