2025 State Championship Tournament

Step-by-Step Instruction Guide

• Register your team by the Friday after your tournament. If you team is choosing NOT to attend, please email Kate. Regardless of holidays or spring breaks, your registration MUST be completed.  We cannot schedule the tournament without your registration. Go to ryt.destinationimagination.org to complete your registration online.
• To make the day complete, order tournament t-shirts, pins, and activity wristbands (complementary activity wristbands are available for each team member, only purchase wristbands for siblings and guests). Adults do not need wristbands. To order online, go to Destination Imagination CO Store.
• Payments for tournament registration and any merchandise orders are due March 22, 2025. If payment cannot be made by this time, you must contact Kate to make arrangements.
• The tournament schedule will be published by 6:00 p.m. on March 26, 2025. Remember to block the entire day for this event.
• If you have questions about anything in this packet, please call the DICO office at 720-542-3637 or email Kate D or Kim M.

For State Registration instructions, Click Here!

2025 State Championship

Everything You Want to Know about Tournament but are Afraid to Ask!

Prior to the Tournament Day:

1. Have a team/parent meeting to discuss competition logistics such as:
   1. Travel plans, especially if you are coming from outside the Denver Metro area.
   2. Global Finals and what your team’s decision to attend or not. (see below).
   3. Location and possible times of Team Challenges and Instant Challenge competitions.
   4. T-shirt and pin purchases.
   5. Meal plans for the day.
   6. Where and when the team should meet on competition day.
   7. Unloading/parking/loading plans.
   8. Behavioral expectations of Team Members, Team Managers and parents.
   9. Back-up plans if you get separated or if the competition runs late.
   10. The Awards Ceremony.
   11. Emergency Contact Information.
2. State Championship Schedule:

Tournament times will be posted by March 26, 2025. Times will be posted online only; you will not receive a mail or email notification. Please remember that we schedule all regions evenly. Each region will have teams starting first thing in the morning and late in the afternoon.

Due to the scheduling nature of this large tournament, teams usually have between two and three hours between their Team Challenge and Instant Challenge. There are many activities at the State tournament to participate in during the day.

Teams may have their Instant Challenge first or their Team Challenge first.

This is a new tournament location, maps will be posted on our website and will be available at tournament check-in. Please locate your Challenge, prop drop-off areas, and the closest parking prior to coming to tournament.

3. Talk with your parents, school, and school district about the possibilities of attending Global Finals.

As has been discussed, only teams that qualify can compete at Global Finals.  Discuss how your team might arrange quick financing to Global Finals held at the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, MO with arrival before opening ceremonies the evening of .  Your cost per team will be $5,500 plus room and board. This should average to $2,000 per student and adult traveling for teams with 2 team managers and 5 team members. Most years DICO invites the top three in each level and challenge if that helps you to make your decision. From my experience, any Colorado team in the top six will be competitive at Global Finals.

4. Check our website

We regularly post updates on our website!

5. Make reservations for overnight accommodations, if needed.

We have secured a $115 rate for 2 doubles or a king with pull out. We have 30 double rooms and 10 king rooms available for each Friday and Saturday nights. There is no breakfast included.

Courtyard by Marriott, Cherry Creek

6. Order Tournament T-shirts, and Pins! We are offering two different sets of four pins this year. You can view the pins and t-shirts at the Destination Imagination Colorado Store.
   1. Wristbands for outdoor activities are free for team members. Additional wristbands for friends and siblings are available for $5 a piece. You will be able to bring your team and others into an activity area for added fun!
7. More information to come as we get closer to the event.

Tournament Day

1. Bring with you:
   1. Your tournament schedule
   2. Cameras – remember that some teams may not allow pictures or video-taping
   3. Extra extension cords or power strips if your team needs them (each site will have access to one extension cord).
   4. Repair kit
   5. Small First Aid kit
2. Ensure that your team parents and other spectators have the following information:
   1. Team name
   2. School name
   3. Challenge name and level
   4. Challenge location
   5. Parking information
   6. Performance time
3. Parking
   1. Parking , Please carpool. Parking is limited.  Suggested spots are the lots on the South and East sides of campus. Parking Map
4. Food
   1. We have 2 great food trucks as well as a yummy dessert truck. See more details below.
   2. There is an Auroria campus Subway in the Tivoli Center.  Historically wait times have been long here.

This is information only on eating options.  We can not predict or control line lengths.

5. Bring your Destination Imagination spirit and positive attitude
   1. Please remember that all of the people working at our tournament are volunteering their time to support your team.
   2. If your team has a question about scoring or tournament procedures, ask to speak with the Head Appraiser.
   3. If you feel that your issue has not been resolved to your satisfaction, team managers and/or team members can request a Dialogue with the State Challenge Master, the Tournament Director and other tournament officials. Team parents are NOT included in this process.
6. Plan to stay and enjoy the day
   1. WATCH OTHER TEAMS
      1. See what other teams are doing
      2. Cheer on teams from your region
   2. DI STORE
      1. Gifts, trinkets, and new 2025 pins will be available for purchase at the DI store
      2. There will be a FEW state t-shirts available for purchase, if your team does not pre-order
      3. We accept credit cards and cash

1. Activities
   1. Outdoor recreation activities will include a giant inflatable slide and obstacle course. Wrist bands are required. They are free for team members, $5 for siblings and friends.
   2. “Escape Room,” scavenger hunt and other activities are being planned. More information to follow. Pre-Sign up required this year – information below.

After the Tournament

1. Take your props home. Campus dumpsters are NOT available for our props. Do not destroy your props until you hear the tournament results.
2. The celebration party will begin before the award ceremony. We will open the doors at TBD. We have a dance party scheduled for elementary and middle school teams.
3. High School party begins at TBD. Registration is required, but this is a FREE event for our High School students. More information to follow.
4. Awards Ceremony will take place by TBD. We must allow late performing teams time to review their scores and the score room to finalize scores, so the start time may run a bit late. Please be patient. This time is subject to change and you will be notified.  You will be given double the amount of tickets for the number of team members you have present. Ex: You are a team of 5, you will get 10 tickets. Everyone entering the space needs a ticket. The kids, the team manager and any supporter. There are no extra tickets. If you are the team manager, and you don’t have a child on that team, you need to make sure you get a ticket and you can distribute the tickets in any way that works for you after that. I can’t set aside any extra tickets. I would suggest that for older teams middle level and high school level, that teams and team managers come without parents.
5. Mandatory Global Finals Celebration meeting for all Team Managers going to Global Finals
   1. This meeting will take place on Sunday, April 6, 7:00 PM via Zoom.

Check in at the State Championship Tournament

Team Check In

• Check in will be open from TBD in the Atrium of the PE Center. You can go here at any point of the day. It is not a requirement to check in before your Challenge. At check in you and your team will pick up:
  • Maps
  • Team Manager Gift
  • Pins, t-shirts and wristbands

Check In for Central Challenge

• All Teams must be at their Challenge Site Prep area 20 minutes prior to their performance time.
• Tournament sites might run late, but they will not start early.

Check In for Instant Challenge

• All Teams must be at Instant Challenge (IC) check-In 20 minutes prior to their IC time.
• The waiting area for Instant Challenge is in the Plaza outside.  Please dress appropriately.
• Please do not arrive more than 20 minutes before your scheduled time.

State Championship Food Trucks & Entertainment

Click here for the menu

Click here for the menu

Click here for the menu

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Escape Room Sign-ups: Sign ups begin TBD

Sign Up TBD

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As in years past, there will be bouncy houses AND rock climbing walls located near the food trucks!

State Championship Hotel Information

We have a new hotel for our Destination Imagination Teams.

We have secured a $115 rate for 2 doubles or a king with pull out. We have 30 double rooms and 10 king rooms available for each Friday and Saturday nights. There is no breakfast included.

Courtyard by Marriott, Cherry Creek

GLOBAL FINALS INFORMATION

GLOBAL FINALS ELIGIBILITY 2025

1. Your team must qualify for Global Finals by finishing in the top 3.

Before the tournament, you MUST meet with your parents, school, and school district about the possibilities of competing at Global Finals. You MUST accept or decline your invitation by Tuesday, April 9 END OF DAY. Discuss how your team might arrange financing to the tournament. The cost of the event is $5,500 per team exclusive of room, board, and travel. Please email Kate with invitation response.

Teams in 4th-6th spots should keep their props. Team spots that are declined will pass to the 4-6th place teams respectively.

All registrations, and deposit for Global Finals are due by April 17, 2025.

Next Steps

1. If your team chooses to represent Colorado at the Global Finals Tournament on May 22– May 25, 2025, Kansas City, MO, with arrival by the evening of May 22 – ensure you have enough time for registration and check-in before it starts, you and your team will need to raise about $5,500 per team plus room, board and transportation.
2. Team managers will be invited to attend a Zoom information meeting for information and to ask any questions.

When: Apr 6, 2025 07:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)

1. This meeting will take place on Sunday, April 6, via Zoom.

Register in advance for this meeting.

Please open for a detailed look at where to find your challenge locations.

2025 Challenge Locations TBD

Please park any school buses and U-Hauls in the parking lots at the back of campus (Cherry, Elm, Spruce, Walnut are options).  You will need to pay for 2 parking spots.

Schedule

State Schedule

To Be Determined.

Our Award Ceremony and Dance Party will be at the PE Building beginning at TBD PM.

We will start awards TBD

Technical: Breaking Point 2025 State Team Manager Letter

Scientific: Worlds Beyond 2025 State Team Manager Letter

Fine Arts: Less Is More 2025 State Team Manager Letter

Improv: Are we there Yet? 2025 State Team Manager Letter

Engineering: High Wire Act 2025 State Team Manager Letter

Service Learning: This or That 2025 State Team Manager Letter

Instant Challenge: Instant Challenge: Everyone Read

Tournament Data Form Tips