May 6th 2023
May the Bots Be With You
Welcome to our May 6 event, May the Bots Be With You!
Competitor registration for this event is closed.
See the list of signed-up competitors here.
Note that we are introducing a new registration limit on 3lb bots. Details are here.
Brackets
Here are Round 1 Qualifiers matchups for all weight classes.
Here are our brackets:
3lb: https://truefinals.com/tournament/nhrl_may23_3lb/info
12lb: https://truefinals.com/tournament/nhrl_may23_12lb/info
30lb: https://truefinals.com/tournament/nhrl_may23_30lb/info
We are using True Finals, our new bracket platform, to run this event. The bracket will start the day showing placeholders. We will start populating each bracket after that weight class' Boss round is complete, and it will periodically update.
In addition to showing the bracket, True Finals will let you see which bot is in which cage, and you will be able to see all fights, including qualifiers and grudges.
You can see all non-bracket fights in the "Exhibition" page. Despite the name, this is where Qualifier fights will show up.
The "Players" page shows a list of bots, plus the placeholders for the day. If a bot is listed as "not participating," that simply means it hasn't made the bracket yet. This will be updated during the Qualifier rounds.
Our predictions challenge is open! Try to predict the top 4 bots of each weight class.
Here is how our fans have voted so far.
Food Trucks
Here are the food trucks confirmed for the May 6th 2023 event.
| Name | Kind of food | Time |
|---|---|---|
| The Chamo | Venezuelan | 12 pm - about 7 pm |
| Crazy Taco-Mex | Mexican | 12 pm - about 7 pm |
| CT Cocktail Car | Adult beverages | 12 pm - about 7 pm |
| Daniel's Food Truck | Guatemalan-American | 12 pm - about 7 pm |
| Eco Evolution | Breakfast & Coffee | 7 am - about 7 pm |
| Greek Style Grill | Greek | 12 pm - about 7 pm |
| Ringside Grill | American/Italian comfort food | 12 pm - about 7 pm |
| SpaceCat Brewing Company Tales | Adult beverages | 12 pm - about 7 pm |
| Waffle Cabin | Waffles | 1 pm - about 5 pm |
New for May
In light of our technical difficulties during the March event, and out of a need to regulate the number of competitors in our event, we are potentially limiting the number of bots from the same builder at the May event. This will very likely only affect the 3lb bracket and, as things stand, only the May event.
If we exceed 160 bots in a bracket and you bring multiple robots, you may be asked to choose which bot or bots to keep in the bracket and which to remove. This makes sure everyone gets a chance to compete, and keeps the number of bots per builder even.
When we remove bots from the bracket, we will start by asking for volunteers to remove their bots from the bracket. If we still have over 160 bots at that point, we will remove one bot from the builder with the most bots. We will always ask these builders which bot they would prefer to have removed, but if we don’t hear back, we will remove bots qualified for November first, and choose randomly from there.
We will keep removing until either we get under 160 bots, or every builder has only one bot in the weight class.
If your bot gets removed from the bracket tournament, your deposit for the bot will be refunded, and you will still be allowed to fight that bot in Freestyle, so long as it passes safety. If registration has closed, we will give you a couple of days to decide if you want to enter a different weight class.
This tweak will help us manage the number of bots at the event, while still remaining accessible and open to as many builders as possible!
Just like previous events, registration will be open until April 22 at 11:59 pm EDT. You must pay a $25 deposit per bot. You'll get your deposit back as long as you check with your bot(s) at the event, or withdraw from the competition before registration closes.
What to expect at NHRL
Whether you attend NHRL as a competitor or as a spectator, it's an unforgettable experience! Here's what to expect.
We have eight cages where robot fights happen, in two different areas!
One area is the Steel Arena, which contains Cages 1 and 4, for 12lb and 30lb bots, and Cages 2 and 3, for 3lb bots.
Another area is the Titanium Stage, which contains Cages 5, 6, 7, and 8 both for 3lb bots.
We have a bunch of other great things that all our spectators can check out.
- Our Bot Museum, with notable bots you may have seen on TV.
- An outdoor patio, with plenty of food trucks with delicious offerings.
- The Brett Experience, where you can try your hand at driving Brett the Brick.
- The Sparky Store, where you can buy souvenirs like t-shirts and stickers.
- A sign-making station, where you can support your favorite competitors.
Spectator tickets run as low as $15. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian 18 or over. Children 4 and under get in free.
If you're a competitor, you're in for a treat! We welcome competitors of all backgrounds and skill levels. Here's what you can expect...
- An enormous pit area on the second floor.
- A large workshop filled with all sorts of tools to help fix your bot.
- An amazing, supportive, and helpful community.
- No registration fees! (There is a $25 per-bot deposit that's refunded after you attend the event.)
- The best competition in the world!
Watching NHRL Online
All NHRL events are livestreamed on our YouTube channel.
Spectating at NHRL
Come see some robot carnage up-close and personal! Click here to buy tickets for any of our upcoming events!
All NHRL events are open to public spectators. Adults and children over the age of 4 can purchase an all-day access pass for $10. This will give access to all of the spectating areas around all the fighting cages, as well as the spectator lounges, Bot Museum, and other fun combat robotics attractions. Spectators under the age of 4 are admitted for free. Any spectator under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a guardian over the age of 18.
Also, look for our VIP tickets, where you can relax in our lounge, experience our fights close-up, and go on a behind-the-scenes tour!
Read more about our spectator experience.
Competing at NHRL
Want to come fight at NHRL?
NHRL is open to competitors of any experience level. Before building/bringing a bot to NHRL, make sure to review our bot design rules!
There is a $25 deposit for each bot you register. As long as you check in for the event, you'll get your deposit back a few business days later. Signups close 2 weeks before the event.
