NYC FIRST Robotics Competition - Spectator Tickets

Join us for an exciting weekend of fun and robots while watching 50 student-built robots compete in the largest NYC robotics competition of the year! Open and free to the public — no tickets required. Come explore the event, speak to participants, and watch some robot matches! For the best experience, come between 11am and 4pm any day of the event.

The competition will be exhilarating and inspiring. As many as 50 teams will compete, including 40 teams from the five boroughs. Moreover, approximately 2,000 students will participate. The winning teams will qualify for the World Championships in Houston, Texas.

Each year, NYC FIRST’s programs are significant drivers of equity and excellence, impacting the lives of thousands of students and teachers. NYC FIRST programs serve as the leading edge of STEM-focused workforce development, helping to develop the next generation of workers, inspiring and guiding students to pursue STEM fields in college and career, thereby helping to bolster New York City’s future economic and civic base.

Robotics is an ideal vehicle for building a young person’s overall awareness. NYC FIRST programs present students with complex, technical challenges to build solutions to solve real-world problems, and help kids design and test solutions they can create using advanced fabrication equipment and computing. Robotics takes an idea in a young person’s mind and transforms it into something real. Thus, for them, this is pure magic.

Lights, camera, STEAM! This 2023-2024 arts-inspired robotics season, FIRST® IN SHOWSM presented by Qualcomm, celebrates the roles our STEM skills play in the arts and design. In CRESCENDOSM presented by Haas, FIRST Robotics Competition teams will use their STEM skills and creative power to turn up the volume as they design, build, and program their robots for action-packed game play.

Combining the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology. FIRST Robotics Competition has been called the ultimate Sport for the Mind. High-school student participants call it “the hardest fun you’ll ever have.”

Under strict rules, limited time and resources, teams of students are challenged to raise funds, design a team "brand," hone teamwork skills, and build and program industrial-size robots to play a difficult field game against like-minded competitors. It’s as close to real-world engineering as a student can get. Volunteer professional mentors lend their time and talents to guide each team. 

NYC FIRST sponsors and volunteers come from some of the leading organizations in the area.  Sponsors provide resources including time and talent from professional mentors, services, equipment, financial contribution, and volunteers. 

About NYC FIRST

NYC FIRST is a not-for-profit organization that inspires and empowers students from diverse communities across New York City to engage with STEM and robotics in meaningful and joyful ways. We create authentic learning experiences that encourage young people to think critically and creatively and persevere. NYC FIRST is investing in New York City’s future by preparing the next generation of innovators and leaders.=

About The Armory Foundation

The Armory Foundation is a New York City non-profit institution, with the mission of "Keeping Everyone on Track." Each year, The Armory – the proud home of the Millrose Games – hosts more than 100 track & field meets and welcomes more than 300,000 visits. Along with its many community sports and educational programs, including the acclaimed Armory College Prep program, and the Seniors AIM High Program, The Armory runs the leading collegiate indoor track meets with the Dr. Sander Invitational Columbia Challenge and the HBCU Showcase sponsored by KPMG. Some of the country's largest high school indoor track meets including the Hispanic Games, the Officials Hall of Fame Invitational, the Nike Indoor Nationals, the Coaches Hall of Fame Invitational and the Marines Corp Holiday Classic are all held at The Armory. The Armory runs the CUIMC Team Relay Marathon, which is the world’s largest indoor marathon relay. The Armory is also the home to the National Track & Field Hall of Fame and dozens of very large education-focused events. For more: Please visit Armory.NYC and ArmoryTrack.orgFor more: Please visit Armory.NYC and ArmoryTrack.org. 

Host or Publisher NYC FIRST