Diamond in the Desert

Agenda

>>Subject to Change<< 

Link To Agenda

We would love help setting up at 9:00 AM

Sunday, December 28

• 2:00 PM: Doors Open
• 2:00 PM: Team Check-in and Inspection Opens
• 3:00 PM - 5:30 PM: Skills Open
• 5:30 PM: Venue Closes

Monday, December 29

• 7:00 AM: Doors Open & Inspection Opens
• 8:00 AM: Inspection Closes
• 8:05 AM: Opening Ceremony / Drivers Meeting
• 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Qualification Matches, Skills, Judging initial interviews (auditorium)
• 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Lunch
• 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Judging initial interviews (auditorium)
• ALL TEAMS MUST COMPLETE THEIR INITIAL INTERVIEW BEFORE 4 PM 
• 1:00 PM – 6:45 PM: Qualifying matches and Skills
• 7:00 PM: Venue Closes

Tuesday, December 30

• 7:00 AM: Doors Open
• 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM: Qualification Matches and Skills Resume
• 9:30 AM: Alliance Selection
• 10:15 AM: Teams Exit Pits Area
• 10:15 AM: Alliances Move to Main Hall
• 11:00 AM: Elimination Tournament and Awards Ceremony

Wednesday Dec 31

New Year's Eve Party: Family Fun:

https://diamondinthedesert.us/entertainment

$39.99 at the door. Ring in 2026 at Golfland! Enjoy a full night of fun in a family-friendly environment. Pay one price for unlimited access to all attractions! December 31st - 6pm-1am Unlimited video games, mini golf, bumper cars, laser tag and race cars.

Volunteer

To help us coordinate with all volunteers before the event, we’re managing sign-ups through the QCRF website.

You’ll need to create an account using a valid phone number and email address.

Once registered, you’ll receive updates and important information leading up to the event.

Sign up to volunteer at the QCRF website: https://qcrf.org/volunteer

Thank you for being part of this effort—we couldn’t do it without you!

Emergency/Bad Weather Policy

As we are in Arizona, it is extremely unlikely the event will be cancelled due to weather. If an emergency occurs, we will notify everyone registered.

Refund and Payment Policies

If the Event Partner cancels the event: 

Due to the high costs involved with this event, a refund will only be offered after all the event expenses have been paid. 

If a Coach/Mentor completes registration for the event, then chooses to withdraw or not attend:

Payment is due at the time of registration unless a special arrangement has been made with the Event Partner.

Payment is due at the time of registration unless a special arrangement has been made with the Event Partner. Teams that have registered but have not paid or submitted immediately, if registration is after 12.4, will be moved to the wait list unless the event partner is contacted and arrangements are made.

No Refunds for teams withdrawing after 12.1

Date: 28-Dec-2025 - 30-Dec-2025

Travel Info

Hotel: Delta Hotels by Marriott Phoenix Mesa - Book Here

Location & Appeal
Nestled adjacent to the Mesa Convention Center, this stylish hotel offers seamless access to local attractions—including the Mesa Amphitheater, Mesa Arts Center, spring-training baseball stadiums, museums, shops, and more.

Comfort & Amenities

• Rooms & Suites
  Updated, pet-friendly guestrooms and suites feature smart TVs, complimentary Wi-Fi, daily bottled water, air conditioning, refrigerator, safe, laptop-friendly workspace, and modern décor.

• On-Site Perks

  • AZ Brew Coffee Bar (serving Starbucks, breakfast pastries, lunch, dinner, cocktails)

  • Grab-and-go market for snacks or quick bites

  • Outdoor heated pool with lounge area and whirlpool—complimentary towels and 6 AM–10 PM access

  • 24-hour fitness center with cardio and weight training equipment

  • Restaurant & bar/lounge offering à la carte, buffet, and local specialties

  • Free self-parking, meeting/event spaces, business center, laundry facilities, concierge, and 24-hour front desk

This combination of thoughtful amenities and location makes it perfect for business travel, events, and family stays.

Getting to the Mesa Convention Center from the Airports

From Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA)

• Drive or Taxi/Uber/Lyft: Around 20–30 minutes to the hotel and convention center.

• Shuttle Options: Shared-ride shuttles start at approximately $29–$37 one way.

Note: There are no direct public transit routes from AZA to the Mesa Convention Center.

From Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)

1. PHX Sky Train to Valley Metro Rail

   • Board the free PHX Sky Train from your terminal to the Valley Metro light rail station (44th Street Station).

   • From there, switch to the Valley Metro A Line heading east toward Mesa.

2. Disembark Options Near the Convention Center

   • Center/Main St Station: Just a 1–2 block walk from the Mesa Convention Center—most convenient option.

   • Other Nearby Stops: Alma School/Main St (~12 min walk) or several bus stops a 5–10 min walk away (e.g. Center St & 1st St, University Dr & Center St)

3. Rail Frequency & Hours

   • The light rail runs every 12–20 minutes and operates approximately 18–22 hours per day—very reliable for travel.

Flight Tag

Webcast

Vex V5 Middle School 2025 - Diamond in the Desert - Part 1

Vex V5 Middle School 2025 - Diamond in the Desert - Part 2

Judging Format

Digital Engineering Notebook Submissions / In Person Team Interviews: Team interviews will be conducted in-person at the event. Engineering notebooks will be submitted digitally for evaluation via a link found within the "My Account" panel of the team contact on RobotEvents. Digital Engineering Notebook submissions must be submitted by midnight, December 8, 2025.

Judging schedule:

• Monday 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM Judging initial interviews (auditorium)
• Monday 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Judging initial interviews (auditorium)
• ALL TEAMS MUST COMPLETE THEIR INITIAL INTERVIEW BEFORE 4 PM 

Signature Event Early Bird Policy

All Signature Events will have a specific Early Bird Registration that is independent of all local/regional Early Bird systems.

• Each team starts the season with three (3) opportunities to register during the Signature Event Early-Bird period.

  • A Signature Event Early-Bird opportunity is not taken away if a team registers for a tournament hosted by their school or organization (where the team’s coach is the Event Partner).

  • If a team registers during the Standard Registration period, a token is not taken away.

• The official Signature Event Early Bird policy can be found on the REC Library.

• To find out how many Signature Event Early Bird tokens your team(s) have remaining, select the "My Teams" option in RobotEvents.