Venue Specific Info

Everything teams and spectators need to know for the 2026 Rainbow Rumble venue, parking, food, supplies, and nearby lodging.

Venue

Mason High School
1001 S. Barnes St.
Mason, MI 48854

Take the Able Eyes venue tour

Arrival and Parking

Load In and Load Out

Load in will be from the main entrance doors in the South parking lot.

1. If your robot/pit does not fit through the standard size door, a roll up door is available at the loading dock in the small parking lot immediately adjacent to those South main entrance doors.
2. This parking lot will be blocked off other than for trailer unloading. Event staff will be available to assist you in getting to the right spot!
3. Load out will be in the same location on Sunday.

Trailer Parking

After unloading, or at the end of the night on Friday, please move trailers to the West parking lot in front of the school’s main entrance.

Team and Spectator Parking

Teams and spectators should park in the South parking lot. If needed, overflow parking will be available in the West parking lot.

Inside the Venue

• The competition field will be in the Fieldhouse.
• Pits will be in the Gym, the same location used for our district event.
• Team tables for meals should be available in the cafeteria.

Venue-Specific Rules

Our school graciously allows us to host more than five robotics events each year. Please make sure students stay in the appropriate event areas, including pits and the fieldhouse, during the day.

Our custodians love helping with these events because students are polite, respectful, and pick up after themselves. Thank you for helping us keep that tradition going.

New for 2026

We are finally getting air conditioning in our Robotics Center. Unfortunately, that means we will not have access to our practice field this year.

The Mobile Machine Shop will be available during the event. In case of major repair needs, we will also have access to the main shop if needed.

Food

Basic concessions (snacks, drinks, etc) will be available. We will not have access to the kitchen, so that limits what we are able to provide.

Each team will be able to leave non-perishable items at the venue overnight Friday and Saturday. Crockpots are allowed, but plugs are somewhat limited.

Local Restaurants

Breakfast and Coffee

• Bestsellers Books and Coffee - downtown Mason, 517-676-6648
• Biggby Coffee - Cedar St., Mason, 517-676-2280
• Dunkin’ - off 127 and Holt Rd., 517-709-3230
• Mason Depot - 111 Mason St., Mason, 517-676-3344

Subs and Sandwiches

• The Vault Delicatessen - downtown Mason, 517-676-2696
• Westside Deli - near Cedar and Columbia, 517-676-9191
• Subway - Cedar St., Mason, 517-676-2662
• Jersey Giant - in the BP station at Cedar and Columbia, 517-244-0500

Pizza and More

• Westside Deli - near Cedar and Columbia, 517-676-9191
• Marcos - Cedar St. south of Westside, 517-833-4004
• Hungry Howies - next to Westside, 517-676-6622
• Little Caesars - across from Hungry Howies, 517-676-2501
• Klavons - just off 127 at Kipp Rd., dine in or carry out, 517-604-6565
• City Limits - Cedar St. on the north side of town, dine in or carry out, 517-676-2476

City Limits is also a bowling alley with a large arcade and games area.

Local Hardware Stores

• ACE Hardware - Mason, 517-676-4900
• Family Farm and Home - Mason, 517-676-9870
• Lowes - South Lansing, 517-699-2940
• Menards - South Lansing, 517-393-0197
• Home Depot - Okemos, 517-381-0650

Local Hotels

Areas to consider:

• Okemos Rd. off I-96 - Staybridge Suites, Holiday Inn, Best Western, and more
• S. Hagadorn Rd. near MSU - Residence Inn, TownPlace, and more
• Eastwood Towne Center north of Lansing - includes the new Dave and Buster’s