Robo Appreciation Day
Medal Ceremony & Hockey Celebration
📍 Toyota Arena • Ontario, CA
What Is Robo Appreciation Day?
🎉 Celebrating Our Students!
Join us on March 4th as we honor the hard work, creativity, and achievements of every student who competed at RoboPalooza 2026.
🏒 Ontario Reign vs Tucson Roadrunners • 🏅 Medal Ceremony on Ice
Medal Ceremony
Every competing team will be recognized for their tier-level achievement. Students receive their medals and are celebrated for their dedication to robotics.
Hockey Game
Enjoy a live AHL hockey game — Ontario Reign vs Tucson Roadrunners — right after the ceremony. Hot dog voucher & RoboPalooza swag bag included for the first 500 students who receive their tickets and enter the venue!
Walk on Ice
Students get the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to walk on the ice at Toyota Arena and be recognized on the Jumbotron!
Tickets & Finalized Scores
Complimentary Tickets
As a thank-you for attending RoboPalooza, each family will receive two complimentary tickets to the event. The ticket link has been sent to all participating parents via email — please check your inbox (and spam folder, just in case!) to claim yours.
Finalized Scores
RoboPalooza scores have been finalized and are now available. If you don't see your student's team name, please reach out to us ASAP so we can correct any missing data.
View Finalized ScoresMedal Pick-Up
Pick Up Your Medals
USEL will be set up in front of the Arena main entrance beginning at 4:00 PM. Medals will be available for pick-up from 4:30 PM – 6:45 PM.
Please have your student's team name and expected medal tier ready to make the process quick and smooth. Parents may pick up medals at any point during this window.
Event Schedule — March 4th
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 4:30 PM – 6:45 PM | Medal Distribution (Parents may pick up medals at any point during this block) |
| 6:00 PM | Doors Open to Arena |
| 7:00 PM | Game Begins — Ontario Reign vs Tucson Roadrunners |
| 5-Min Mark, 1st Period | Students meet behind Section 102 to appear on the Jumbotron |
| 1st Intermission | RoboPalooza Highlight Reel |
| 15 Min Before 2nd Intermission | Students meet behind Section 102 for Parade of Champions |
| 2nd Intermission | 🏆 Parade of Champions |
Parade of Champions
🧊 Walk the Ice!
Students will walk around the ice to be congratulated for their RoboPalooza performance — wearing their medals proudly!
Where to Meet
Have students meet at Section 102 at 6:20 PM (40 minutes before game time) so they can go backstage and prepare for the pregame parade.
Ice Waiver Required
All students walking on the ice must have a completed waiver. Please fill it out ahead of time to speed things up on event day!
Fill Out WaiverRoboPalooza 2026 Highlight Video
Relive the excitement from this year's competition!
Parking Information
⚠️ Parking Is Not Free
Please note that parking at Toyota Arena will cost $20 per vehicle for this event. Plan accordingly and consider carpooling with other families!
Questions?
If you have any questions regarding Robo Appreciation Day, the medal ceremony, or anything else — please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We're happy to help!
WRO 2026 FAQ
Everything you need to know about the season
How does a WRO season work?
- The WRO 2026 season follows this structured competition schedule:
- Registration Opens: January 2026
- Game Rules Released: January 15, 2026
- District Championships (School Partners Only): Ontario, CA · April 17–18, 2026
- School National Championships (School Partners Only): Ontario, CA · July 24–26, 2026
- USEL Affiliate Cup: DeKalb, IL · August 7–9, 2026
- Regional Open Qualifier: Chicago, Illinois: Chicago, IL · August 12–14, 2026
- Regional Open Qualifier: Charlottesville, Virginia: Charlottesville, VA · September 5–6, 2026
- Regional Open Qualifier: Ontario, California: Ontario, CA · September 12, 2026
- Open Championship: Americas: Ontario, CA · September 25–27, 2026
- Open Championship: Asia & Pacific: Delhi, India · September 25–27, 2026
- Open Championship: Europe: Zagreb, Croatia · October 13–16, 2026
- International Final: San Juan, Puerto Rico · December 8–10, 2026
How do I register a team for the competition?
- Teams in the Affiliate Program Pathway register for each event directly with the USEL affiliate hosting it. Each event sets its own registration and fees.
- Get official WRO equipment, including competition mats, challenge kits, and table tops, in the USEL Store.
- District Championships & School National Championships: Exclusive to USEL school partners.
- A signed data protection form is required when submitting team member details.
How do I host a WRO event?
- Organizations can become USEL affiliates and apply to host sanctioned Regional Open Qualifiers.
- Every event must be approved by USEL before it is held, and affiliates handle registration for the events they host.
- Each year, affiliates can also apply to host the USEL Affiliate Cup.
- Learn more on the Affiliate Program page.
What is the USEL Affiliate Cup?
- The USEL Affiliate Cup is a national level competition held in DeKalb, IL that awards USA National Robotics Team qualification spots to both the International Finals and the Americas Open Championship.
- The traditional single US Nationals format has been replaced by two championship events: the School National Championship and the USEL Affiliate Cup. Together they form the WRO-USA national qualification structure, and each pathway earns International Final entries under WRO's published Qualification Table.
- International Finals qualification spots from the Affiliate Cup:
- RoboMission – one team from each age group
- RoboSports – one qualifying team
- Future Innovators – one qualifying team
- Future Engineers – one qualifying team
- USEL affiliates can apply to host the Affiliate Cup each year.
How do Regional Open Qualifiers work?
- Regional Open Qualifiers are hosted by USEL affiliates and award qualification spots to the WRO Americas Open Championship.
- All Regional Open Qualifiers must be approved by USEL before being held.
- Important: Regional Open Qualifiers do NOT award spots to the International Finals—only the Affiliate Cup does.
- USEL affiliates can apply to host Regional Open Qualifiers through USEL.
Can a team compete at both the Americas Open and International Finals?
- No. Starting this season, teams are no longer allowed to compete at both events.
- You must choose one path: either the WRO Americas Open Championship or the WRO International Finals.
- The Affiliate Cup awards spots to both competitions, while Regional Open Qualifiers only award spots to the Americas Open Championship.
Do I need my own robot?
- Yes, teams must provide their own robot.
- All robot systems are now allowed in all WRO categories for 2026!
- Each category has specific size and weight requirements (e.g., RoboMission: max 25x25x25cm, RoboSports: max 20x20x20cm and 1.2kg, Future Engineers: max 30x20x30cm).
How much does it cost to participate in WRO?
- Teams register for each event directly with its host, and registration fees are set by each event.
- Official WRO equipment, including competition mats, challenge kits, and table tops, is available in the USEL Store.
- For teams qualifying for international competitions, additional fees apply.
Move-in Date and Time
- District Championships (Ontario, CA · April 17–18, 2026): Day before event from 10 AM - 4 PM OR morning of event from 7 AM - 9 AM
- School National Championships (Ontario, CA · July 24–26, 2026): Day before event from 10 AM - 4 PM
- Affiliate Cup (DeKalb, IL · August 7–9, 2026): Day before event from 10 AM - 4 PM
- Please check specific event details closer to the date for exact times and locations.
How many booths are available for exhibitors?
- District Championships: Up to 15 standard 10x10 booths can fit.
- School National Championships / Affiliate Cup: More space is available, allowing for double the booths.
- Contact USEL for specific booth availability at each event.
Is parking included for exhibitors?
- Yes, exhibitors receive one parking pass. Additional passes can be requested.
Will there be WiFi and electricity?
- Yes, WiFi and electricity will be available at all competition venues.
