Jx2 Productions • FIRST Robotics Competition • International Kickoff
FIRST Robotics Competition International Kickoff — 2017–2023
Jx2 Productions designed and produced FIRST Robotics Competition’s international Kickoff ceremonies beginning in 2017 and continuing through 2023, with the exception of 2021 when no Jx2-produced Kickoff event took place.
Manchester, New Hampshire • International FRC community2017–2023 production history
Design the event first. Then engineer the experience.
Jx2’s FRC Kickoff production relationship began in 2017 with the FIRST STEAMworks season. Across the produced Kickoffs, Jx2 was responsible for more than an audiovisual package: the assignment included event concept, overall feel, production design, show-flow assistance, script review, and the live and webcast experience.
Jx2 then translated that creative direction into the physical and technical production—audio, video, rigging, staging, set, scenic, drapery, prompters, cameras, presenter systems, and an interactive webcast for FRC students and teams around the world.
Season archive
The FRC seasons launched during Jx2’s Kickoff production run.
Jx2’s first FRC International Kickoff production season.
Watch the 2017 season reveal →View 2017 Kickoff photos →
View 2017 Founders Reception photos →
International Kickoff production by Jx2 Productions.
Watch the 2018 season reveal →Presented by The Boeing Company. International Kickoff production by Jx2 Productions.
Watch the 2019 season reveal →Powered by Star Wars: Force for Change. International Kickoff production by Jx2 Productions.
Watch the 2020 season reveal →The 2020 season was played again in a virtual environment because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Jx2 did not produce a Kickoff event in 2021.
Presented by The Boeing Company. Jx2 returned to FRC International Kickoff production.
Watch the 2022 season reveal →Presented by HAAS. Final FRC International Kickoff produced by Jx2 Productions.
Watch the 2023 season reveal →2017 photo archive
2017 FRC International Kickoff — FIRST STEAMworks.
Jx2’s first International FRC Kickoff production year launched the 2017 FIRST STEAMworks season in Manchester. These images document the stage environment, audience, audio production, camera workflow, and show-site technical systems from that event.
2017 Founders Reception
Production support for the Founders Reception.
As part of the 2017 international Kickoff program, Jx2 also provided production assistance and audiovisual services for the Founders Reception at FIRST founder Dean Kamen’s personal residence. This gallery is intentionally kept separate from the main Kickoff gallery so the two event environments remain distinct in the archive.
Jx2 scope
From creative concept through international webcast.
Develop the overall event concept, visual feel, stage experience, and production direction.
Assist with show-flow development and script review so content, timing, technical cues, and the live program work together.
Integrated audio, video, presentation, playback, camera, and show-control systems required for the production.
Rigging, staging, set elements, scenic production, and drapery supporting the physical event environment.
Prompter systems and technical support for presenters delivering a highly scripted international launch program.
An interactive webcast serving FRC students and teams around the world alongside the live-event experience.
Global program scale
A Manchester show site serving an international robotics community.
During Jx2’s production period, the broader FIRST Robotics Competition community included more than 80,000 participants and more than 3,000 teams globally.
Those figures describe the scale of the participating FRC community during the period. They are not presented as Kickoff webcast viewership; no published global Kickoff viewership total is being claimed on this case study.
COVID-era adaptation
2021 was different—and Jx2 did not produce a Kickoff event that season.
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the normal FRC competition cycle. In 2021, FIRST replayed the 2020 Infinite Recharge season in a virtual environment rather than mounting another Jx2-produced international Kickoff event.
Jx2’s produced Kickoff run therefore consists of six event seasons: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023.
Founders Reception
Supporting the wider Kickoff experience at Dean Kamen’s residence.
As part of the international Kickoff program, Jx2 was also tasked with assisting in the production of the Founders Reception at FIRST founder Dean Kamen’s personal residence.
Jx2 provided event-production assistance and audiovisual services for the reception, extending the production relationship beyond the main Kickoff ceremony into an associated leadership and community event.
Production transition
Jx2’s International Kickoff production run concluded after 2023.
Jx2 led event concept and feel, supported show flow and script review, and delivered the live, technical, scenic, staging, presenter, and interactive-webcast production package in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023.
Beginning in 2024, FIRST internalized the production and transitioned its global FRC Kickoff ceremonies to a completely virtual format. Jx2’s international Kickoff production role ended after the 2023 event.
Historical archive
2017 is documented. Five additional produced Kickoff seasons remain to build out.
The 2017 FIRST STEAMworks Kickoff and 2017 Founders Reception galleries are now part of this case study. As the remaining archive is organized, the page will be expanded with year-specific imagery, video, event layouts, and production details for the 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023 produced Kickoff seasons.
International live events start with the show—not the equipment list.
Jx2 can help develop the event concept, show flow, technical design, stage environment, presenter systems, broadcast workflow, and show-site execution as one integrated production.