Nca Newbie Question

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Feb 7, 2012
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This is my 13th year as a allstar cheer mom, but my first year at NCA. I have 3 cheerleaders, one is mini 2, one is senior 3, and one is senior 5 restricted. My question is: how will this work at NCA? Is there any chance it will overlap and I could miss one of my teams? Will I physically be running from one arena to another? And I have heard getting a seat is a nightmare, what do I do about this? I don't think there is anyway I can get to these early and scope out seats since the arenas aren't all together. Any suggestions from old pros?
 
This is my 13th year as a allstar cheer mom, but my first year at NCA. I have 3 cheerleaders, one is mini 2, one is senior 3, and one is senior 5 restricted. My question is: how will this work at NCA? Is there any chance it will overlap and I could miss one of my teams? Will I physically be running from one arena to another? And I have heard getting a seat is a nightmare, what do I do about this? I don't think there is anyway I can get to these early and scope out seats since the arenas aren't all together. Any suggestions from old pros?
Im pretty sure they should put all of the teams in your gyms in one arena. I know that's how they do it for most large competitions with multiple arenas. :)
 
This is my 13th year as a allstar cheer mom, but my first year at NCA. I have 3 cheerleaders, one is mini 2, one is senior 3, and one is senior 5 restricted. My question is: how will this work at NCA? Is there any chance it will overlap and I could miss one of my teams? Will I physically be running from one arena to another? And I have heard getting a seat is a nightmare, what do I do about this? I don't think there is anyway I can get to these early and scope out seats since the arenas aren't all together. Any suggestions from old pros?
I only went last year and gyms were not put in the same arena. Most level 5 teams competed in the arena while levels 1-4 competed in the halls. I remember going to multiple halls to see all of our teams. Good luck, hopefully your daughters teams will not conflict.
 
Typically there are 4-5 stages for NCA Allstar nationals.
-The Arena varies but you can pretty much gurantee that level 5 teams will be there for at least finals day, possibly both days.
-A-hall is right next to the Arena, and can have anyone from level 1-4 competing there.
-For the other halls, you will have to go further down the main long hallway (starbucks is at the end). Typically they will have the B-hall floor back to back with another floor (I think its D-hall?) with bleachers on both sides for viewing, which is where they have had many of the level 1,2 & 3 teams in the past couple of years.

My guess would be that your level 5 will be in either the arena both days or a hall for day one and then arena for day two. Level 2 will prob be grouped with level 4 teams in D-hall or A-hall, and minis will be morning-lunch time most likely. Senior level 3 is usually B-hall both days and may be grouped with some level 1 teams, but the past few years small senior 3 has been super early in the morning(8am) and then large senior has been late evening (anywhere from 3pm or later). These predictions are all just based on past experiences however......depending on how many teams there are in each division for each level, how the schedule fits together could be totally different this year. There is a possibility that your children's teams can overlap, however the likelihood of that is slim I would say..... I'd bet more on the teams being close together so that you have to run to another hall/arena to watch.

My reccomendations:
-wear comfy shoes
-make friends with team parents that can attempt to save you seats if you wont have adequate time to get there in advance for one of your child's performances (the arena seating shouldn't be as bad as some of the halls, as there is more seating. Be forewarned though if your level 5 team is performing close to a high profile lv 5 team though. The big divisions such as large senior, medium/large senior coed, etc. draw in big crowds)
-pack your own food (the concessions at DCC are gross,expensive and the line will be ridiculous. DCC doesn't really like it if you bring food in, but if they dont see you bring it in, they aren't going to question it. NCA doesn't police that anyways, so they wont ask you about it even if you come in the front doors with a bag full of mcdonalds or whatever. It's just the convention center staff.)
-make a game plan ASAP once the schedule gets out: where do you need to be/when
-prepare for 2 very fun but VERY long days......have your "momma kit" ready (tylenol, waters, snacks, things to keep the younger one busy, warm ups, maybe even a blanket and pillow.....)

Have fun and if you have any more questions feel free to PM me. I've grown up having competitions at the Dallas Convention Center over the years and have worked comps there as well recently.
 
Here's my take on how the convention center is usually set up, to give you a better idea of how far you travel. Its not exact but its pretty darn close :
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The arena practice rooms are in the A1,2,3,4 peach colored ballrooms usually, and yes that is 2 back to back floors in B hall.
 
Prepare to run!
Take advantage of the FREE refills all day.
Do not try to buy Starbucks on the concourse, the line is crazy.
Pack to move. I don't even bring a purse. I use a seperate back pack for me and use it for our snacks, money, schedule, ect. I don't let my cp bring her blankets or pillows. Anything she wants to bring has to fit in her bag and she has to be able to carry it.
If you want to buy anything in a Youth size make sure you get it on Saturday, those sizes go fast and are usually gone by Sunday.
The arena is insanity and unlike anything you have ever experienced before. By the time Large Senior comes out it is standing room only and intense. Don't try to save seats, someone will freak and a fight will break out. I personally like the top of the arena, I have never had a problem getting a seat.
 
Please keep the tips coming. This is my family's first trip to Dallas as well:)

At NCA one-day last weekend, announcer commented on the huge number of level 5 teams coming, saying they would run from 8am - 9:45pm. Anyone with any insight on at least the division time brackets. Curious as we have a tiny and a Jr 5.
 
Thanks for all the great advice. I have a small minin lvl 2, small senior lvl 3 coed, and small senior restriced coed lvl 5. We are from twist and shout tulsa so hopefully there are plenty of parents from our three locations that can help me get a seat. And to throw a wrench in all of this, I am the team mom for our snior 3 team. This should be fun. My husband is already prepared to be a single dad in charge of the mini for the day!!
 
yeahh its my first time too im competing in the large coed 5 and we also have youth 5 and junior 5 and large senior 5
 
competing at dallas that is lol
Wow, sounds like you guys have a LOT of fulls!!! Good luck, what gym are you with? Our tulsa location has a small sr coed 5, small sr restricted coed 5, small sr 3, small jr 3, small yth 2, and small mini 2. We also have a lot of teams coming from our edmond and midwest city locations, including the Obsession med sr lvl 5 team that won worlds last year. They have already won their bid this year, but our tulsa Diamonds are still needing theirs​
 
From the other thread that was linked, here's this tidbit of information on locations for levels:
"We are adding another performance venue this year, bringing our total to 6 (Dance in the Theater, Most of Level 5 in Arena, Most of L4 in A-Hall, most of L3 in B, most of L2 in D, most of L1 in E). Expect all venues to run past 830-930pm Sun night, but surely the Arena will run the latest w/Awards kicking off after around 10pm Sunday night. "

For any of you that have level 1's, E hall is part of the grey area next to D-hall on my map, unless they are calling B-hall's 1st floor "B-hall" and then the one back to back behind it "D-hall" and so then "E-hall" would technically be in D-hall on the map.......Did that make sense?lol :)
 
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