Thousands of spectators came to Agganis Arena this weekend to catch a highly anticipated athletic event, hosting teams from the East Coast that have been preparing for six weeks.

In the stadium that houses the Boston University hockey and basketball squads, 50 high school teams fiercely competed to be the one to stack the most inflatable tubes onto a pole. Using robots.

Gov. Deval Patrick urged team members to continue their scientific innovations at the robotics competition, hosted by For Inspiration ‘ Recognition of Science and Technology, a national organization that sponsors annual robotic events to encourage students to study science and engineering.

“You are all part of a legacy of innovation going back hundreds of years,” Patrick said. “Your gracious professionalism is the next important step in continuing that legacy. I’m so looking forward to seeing what future you create for all of us.”

After the Jan. 6 regional kickoff at the Sargent Activities Center gymnasium, hosted by team members from BU Academy — the private BU-affiliated high school on the Charles River campus — teams had six weeks to build their robots from scratch.

In this year’s competition, matches pitted two alliances of three teams each against each other. Each team’s robot picked up circular inflatable tubes with a remote-controlled arm. Robots then stacked the tubes on poles, scoring points based on how many tubes they could string together.

The BU Academy team, Overclocked, competing in its eighth year, was eliminated before reaching the finals but was rewarded with the Engineering Inspiration Award, the competition’s second-highest honor.

Overclocked spent $55,000 — other teams averaged $15,000 — on its robot, raising money through fundraising and sponsors, said coach Gary Garber. The increase in funds will allow Overclocked to attend the April national robotics competition in Atlanta.

“We are excited to compete there, and we are looking forward for a chance to use the same machine,” Garber in an email.