DCI World Championships Finals - Paid Attendance Figures

[Chris Rohn]

I was trying to find a definitive archive of finals attendance figures but had a hard time with it. It's a common enough topic I figured there would be a wikipedia page or something. After a little sleuthing here, on dci.org, and ramd archives I came up with the following. Does anyone (DCI, even?) have figures from the 70's and 80's to fill in the gaps?  1990-present is reliable. Everything with a ~ is an estimate I found. For the years I'm looking for, the rounded +/- numbers from DCI yearbooks or old editions of DCW will suffice.  I don't intend for this thread to be an argument on minute detail because I'm satisfied with the 1990-present numbers I have.

DCI Finals Attendance

1972 Whitewater, WI
1973 Whitewater, WI
1974 Ithaca, NY
1975 25,000 Philadelphia, PA 
1976 24,000 Philadelphia, PA
1977 31,000 Denver, CO
1978 30,000 Denver, CO
1979 32,800 Birmingham, AL
1980 30,000 Birmingham, AL
1981 35,947 Montreal, QUE
1982 28,000 Montreal, QUE
1983 ~13,000 Miami, FL
1984 Atlanta, GA
1985 ~36,000 Madison, WI
1986 ~34,000 Madison, WI
1987 ~32,000 Madison, WI
1988 ~30,000 Kansas City, MO
1989 ~28,000 Kansas City, MO
1990 31,994 Buffalo, NY
1991 24,832 Dallas, TX
1992 27,915 Madison, WI
1993 16,484 Jackson, MS
1994 24,513 Boston, MA
1995 19,100 Buffalo, NY
1996 13,771 Orlando, FL
1997 13,773 Orlando, FL
1998 12,693 Orlando, FL
1999 19,928 Madison, WI
2000 18,423 College Park, MD
2001 16,406 Buffalo, NY
2002 20,230 Madison, WI
2003 18,865 Orlando, FL
2004 22,047 Denver, CO
2005 20,542 Boston, MA
2006 21,232 Madison, WI
2007 24,309 Pasadena, CA
2008 20,534 Bloomington, IN
2009 17,865 Indianapolis, IN
2010 15,765 Indianapolis, IN
2011 17,363 Indianapolis, IN
2012 17,820 Indianapolis, IN
2013 20,381 Indianapolis, IN
2014 21,378 Indianapolis, IN
2015 22,085 Indianapolis, IN
2016 22,200 Indianapolis, IN
2017 23,342 Indianapolis, IN

Edited September 14, 2017 by Chris Rohn
Updated attendance numbers based on contributed posts in this thread.

[waliman4444]

What's the reason for the apparent drop in attendance? Is it fewer corps and therefore fewer fans or other factors (i.e. economics) that have overwhelmed the less fortunate corps?..( I'm referring to the 80's numbers in particular)..did drum corps reach it's zenith in the 80's or did the transfer from neighborhood activity to international  touring activity effect attendance?

[cixelsyd]

Good luck with your quest.  You will need it.

Publicly announced figures on attendance are a mixture of "paid" attendance, "total" attendance, and everything in between.  Even in recent years, DCI has reported different types of numbers in different years.  This is done deliberately.  Press releases are spun to highlight (or create) good news, not to provide us with a true apples-to-apples dataset for historical analysis.

For instance, the 2013 and 2014 numbers were described as "paid attendance", further qualified as not including "corps and staff members who entered the stadium after performances with wristbands or staff/VIP credentials".  The number you posted for 2015 (24,638), however, was described as "including paid and complimentary tickets".  An earlier DCI press release described 2015 finals attendance as follows:

"The exceptional statistics throughout the season led perfectly into the 3-day finals in Indianapolis where a record-setting 22,085 fans reveled in an electrifying finish at the Saturday night finals – up an incredible 18.7% over 2014."

Not only does that affect your 2015 number - do the math on what 2014 would have to be to make that statement true.

[Chris Rohn]

Thanks for clarifying the 2015 number - I didn't find that number and I was previously confused about claims of consecutive year-over-year increases.

[xandandl]

5 hours ago, Chris Rohn said:

I was trying to find a definitive archive of finals attendance figures but had a hard time with it. It's a common enough topic I figured there would be a wikipedia page or something. After a little sleuthing here, on dci.org, and ramd archives I came up with the following. Does anyone (DCI, even?) have figures from the 70's and 80's to fill in the gaps?  1990-present is reliable. Everything with a ~ is an estimate I found.

DCI Finals Attendance

1972 Whitewater, WI
1973 Whitewater, WI
1974 Ithaca, NY
1975 Philadelphia, PA 
1976 ~24,000 Philadelphia, PA
1977 ~30,000 Denver, CO
1978 ~30,000 Denver, CO
1979 Birmingham, AL
1980 Birmingham, AL
1981 35,947 Montreal, QUE
1982 Montreal, QUE
1983 ~13,000 Miami, FL
1984 Atlanta, GA
1985 ~36,000 Madison, WI
1986 ~34,000 Madison, WI
1987 ~32,000 Madison, WI
1988 ~30,000 Kansas City, MO
1989 ~28,000 Kansas City, MO
1990 31,994 Buffalo, NY
1991 24,832 Dallas, TX
1992 27,915 Madison, WI
1993 16,484 Jackson, MS
1994 24,513 Boston, MA
1995 19,100 Buffalo, NY
1996 13,771 Orlando, FL
1997 13,773 Orlando, FL
1998 12,693 Orlando, FL
1999 19,928 Madison, WI
2000 18,423 College Park, MD
2001 16,406 Buffalo, NY
2002 20,230 Madison, WI
2003 18,865 Orlando, FL
2004 22,047 Denver, CO
2005 20,542 Boston, MA
2006 21,232 Madison, WI
2007 24,309 Pasadena, CA
2008 20,534 Bloomington, IN
2009 17,865 Indianapolis, IN
2010 15,765 Indianapolis, IN
2011 17,363 Indianapolis, IN
2012 17,820 Indianapolis, IN
2013 20,381 Indianapolis, IN
2014 21,378 Indianapolis, IN
2015 22,085 Indianapolis, IN
2016 22,200 Indianapolis, IN
2017 23,342 Indianapolis, IN

If this old coot remembers correctly from having worked on the field crew for the first two at Whitewater, back then it was called Warhawk Stadium which could accommodate no more than 12,000. The fact that there were up to 10, 000 plus at Finals was considered quite the accomplishment both years, even with the tornado which skirted the field the first years's Retreat. I believe there may be a quote from Don Warren and a reference in C. Foutz' book about Don Warren and the Cavaliers, Building the Green Machine.

For Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., I would check the Birmingham Times for that week each year. Legion Field used to have an upper deck which has since been dismantled. The stadium has gone through tremendous changes over the years; at it's max it once sat 81.000. But before anyone divides that in half, know that those were two of the hottest and most humid summer days I have ever experienced anywhere. Numbers were probably closer to those of later Jackson, MS, another hot humid, and rainy place.

Edited August 30, 2017 by xandandl

[ouooga]

Wow, thank you. I actually woke up realizing I need this info for a meeting this week. Great timing!

[Liahona]

5 hours ago, Chris Rohn said:

I was trying to find a definitive archive of finals attendance figures but had a hard time with it. It's a common enough topic I figured there would be a wikipedia page or something. After a little sleuthing here, on dci.org, and ramd archives I came up with the following. Does anyone (DCI, even?) have figures from the 70's and 80's to fill in the gaps?  1990-present is reliable. Everything with a ~ is an estimate I found.

DCI Finals Attendance

1972 Whitewater, WI
1973 Whitewater, WI
1974 Ithaca, NY
1975 Philadelphia, PA 
1976 ~24,000 Philadelphia, PA
1977 ~30,000 Denver, CO
1978 ~30,000 Denver, CO
1979 Birmingham, AL
1980 Birmingham, AL
1981 35,947 Montreal, QUE
1982 Montreal, QUE
1983 ~13,000 Miami, FL
1984 Atlanta, GA
1985 ~36,000 Madison, WI
1986 ~34,000 Madison, WI
1987 ~32,000 Madison, WI
1988 ~30,000 Kansas City, MO
1989 ~28,000 Kansas City, MO
1990 31,994 Buffalo, NY
1991 24,832 Dallas, TX
1992 27,915 Madison, WI
1993 16,484 Jackson, MS
1994 24,513 Boston, MA
1995 19,100 Buffalo, NY
1996 13,771 Orlando, FL
1997 13,773 Orlando, FL
1998 12,693 Orlando, FL
1999 19,928 Madison, WI
2000 18,423 College Park, MD
2001 16,406 Buffalo, NY
2002 20,230 Madison, WI
2003 18,865 Orlando, FL
2004 22,047 Denver, CO
2005 20,542 Boston, MA
2006 21,232 Madison, WI
2007 24,309 Pasadena, CA
2008 20,534 Bloomington, IN
2009 17,865 Indianapolis, IN
2010 15,765 Indianapolis, IN
2011 17,363 Indianapolis, IN
2012 17,820 Indianapolis, IN
2013 20,381 Indianapolis, IN
2014 21,378 Indianapolis, IN
2015 22,085 Indianapolis, IN
2016 22,200 Indianapolis, IN
2017 23,342 Indianapolis, IN

So here are the total number of corps for each of these years.  It would be interesting if there is any correlation between attendance numbers and the number of corps that actually attended Nationals/Championships.

This list includes ONLY corps that actually attended Nationals/Championships. The International division is excluded.

For example: 2008 there were actually 46 fielded corps, 20 WC, 26 OC, 1 new, 3 folded, only 43 attended Championships. I'm just using 43 (instead of 46).
 

Classes/Divisions definitions

1972-1974: Open Class

1975-1982: Open Class, Class A, and all-girl

1983-1984: Open Class and Class A

1985-1991: Open Class, Class A, Class A60

1992-2007: Division I, Division II, and Division III

2008 - Present: World Class and Open Class

Class and Division Membership Limits

• Open Class (1972–92) had a membership limit of 128.
• Class A generally had 90 members or fewer although the actual limit was 128.
• All-Girl Class was for corps with membership restricted to girls only: there was no such class for corps restricted to all-boy membership; the membership limit was 128.
• Class A60 and the later Division III had a maximum of 60 members; a controversial minimum of 30 members was added later.
• Division II had the same membership limit as Division I but a generally lower level of competitive expertise.
• Division I went from an original membership limit of 128 to 135.
• World Class, the current Open Class, and International Class all have a membership limit of 150.
   

1972 - 39 corps OPEN                              = 39 total

1973 - 48 corps OPEN                             = 48 total

1974 - 57 corps OPEN                              = 57 total 

1975 - 46 corps OPEN //  19 corps Class A //  9 All-girl         = 74 total

1976 - 47 corps OPEN //  25 corps Class A //  9 All-girl         = 81 total

1977 - 45 corps OPEN //  26 corps Class A //  7 All-girl         = 78 total

1978 - 43 corps OPEN //  19 corps Class A //  5 All-girl         = 67 total

1979 - 43 corps OPEN //  18 corps Class A //  5 All-girl         = 66 total

1980 - 44 corps OPEN //  19 corps Class A //  9 All-girl         = 72 total

1981 - 49 corps OPEN //  21 corps Class A //  8 All-girl         = 78 total

1982 - 48 corps OPEN //  43 corps Class A //  7 All-girl         = 98 total

1983 - 30 corps OPEN //  22 corps Class A                = 52 total

1984 - 27 corps OPEN //  25 corps Class A                = 52 total

1985 - 26 corps OPEN //   19 corps Class A //  15 corps Class A60    = 60 total

1986 - 26 corps OPEN //   13 corps Class A //  20 corps Class A60    = 59 total

1987 - 25 corps OPEN //   13 corps Class A //  23 corps Class A60    = 61 total

1988 - 26 corps OPEN //   16 corps Class A //  24 corps Class A60    = 66 total

1989 - 25 corps OPEN //   12 corps Class A //  23 corps Class A60    = 60 total

1990 - 25 corps OPEN //   19 corps Class A //  23 corps Class A60    = 67 total    

1991 - 29 corps OPEN //   19 corps Class A //  14 corps Class A60    = 62 total

1992 - 27 corps DIV I //    18 corps DIV II //  29 corps DIV III    = 74 total

1993 - 29 corps DIV I //    15 corps DIV II //  21 corps DIV III    = 65 total

1994 - 24 corps DIV I //    18 corps DIV II //  36 corps DIV III    = 78 total

1995 - 23 corps DIV I //    13 corps DIV II //  41 corps DIV III    = 77 total

1996 - 25 corps DIV I //    13 corps DIV II //  31 corps DIV III    = 69 total

1997 - 26 corps DIV I //     9 corps DIV II //  35 corps DIV III    = 70 total

1998 - 24 corps DIV I //    12 corps DIV II //  25 corps DIV III    = 61 total

1999 - 26 corps DIV I //    12 corps DIV II //  31 corps DIV III    = 69 total

2000 - 24 corps DIV I //    14 corps DIV II //  32 corps DIV III    = 70 total

2001 - 23 corps DIV I //    12 corps DIV II //  26 corps DIV III    = 61 total

2002 - 22 corps DIV I //    12 corps DIV II //  28 corps DIV III    = 62 total

2003 - 23 corps DIV I //     9 corps DIV II //  24 corps DIV III    = 56 total

2004 - 24 corps DIV I //    10 corps DIV II //  18 corps DIV III    = 52 total

2005 - 24 corps DIV I //    10 corps DIV II //  18 corps DIV III    = 52 total

2006 - 23 corps DIV I //    11 corps DIV II //  17 corps DIV III    = 51 total

2007 - 22 corps DIV I //     6 corps DIV II //  15 corps DIV III    = 43 total

2008 - 20 corps WORLD //     23 corps OPEN //                = 43 total          

2009 - 22 corps WORLD //     19 corps OPEN //                = 43 total
    
2010 - 23 corps WORLD //     16 corps OPEN //                = 39 total
    
2011 - 24 corps WORLD //     17 corps OPEN //                = 41 total

2012 - 21 corps WORLD //     14 corps OPEN //                = 35 total

2013 - 23 corps WORLD //     13 corps OPEN //                = 36 total

2014 - 23 corps WORLD //     14 corps OPEN //                = 37 total

2015 - 24 corps WORLD //     14 corps OPEN //                = 38 total

2016 - 22 corps WORLD //     16 corps OPEN //                = 38 total
    
2017 - 23 corps WORLD //     16 corps OPEN //                = 39 total
 

 

[lowend]

In the south, the corps always swing through here during our band camps and finals are after school has started for most of us.  I would love to go to finals, but I can't miss three or four days right when school starts, so I just stream it for my kids in the band room.  Free popcorn and cheap pizza.

Edited August 30, 2017 by lowend

[xandandl]

12 minutes ago, lowend said:

In the south, the corps always swing through here during our band camps and finals are after school has started for most of us.  I would love to go to finals, but I can't miss three or four days right when school starts, so I just stream it for my kids in the band room.  Free popcorn and cheap pizza.

and for us in the Northeast, Pacific West, and California DCI tour season begins before schools close the last week of June. This means kids have to miss the last month of high school (sometimes proms and graduations) to march DCI.  It's one reason that Open Class tour  (usually a younger cohort than World Class) begins so much later locally and nationally. Besides the Atlantic temperatures are the warmest in September. April and May are not beach weather; June catches up on the snow days missed during the winter. And of course  Summer doesn't begin until June 20th and ends September 21st. So now we have a full month of summer AFTER DCI finals.

Supposedly we accommodate the South and central States because your kids were needed for farming harvests. But we know that fallacy is history long ago and its the (TV) football schedule and football money that drives the school schedules. With Indiana, especially Marian County/Indianapolis starting school August first and causing the loss of practice fields and housing, it's no wonder that DCI season seems to grow shorter and shorter. Nothing like the year DCI was in Montreal for August fifteenth and the snow flurries at Olympic Stadium.

Edited August 30, 2017 by xandandl

[BRASSO]

5 hours ago, waliman4444 said:

 did the transfer from neighborhood activity to international  touring activity effect attendance?

 No. The local neighborhood/ Church Parish Drum Corps began to expand beyond these neighborhoods in the early to late 60's, and thus predates the formation of DCI in 1972. The DCI national touring model however perhaps might had a negative effect on the loss of so many Corps in the 70's/ 80's, as the costs of travel were beyond the ability of many Corps that folded to raise sufficient funds for them to incur such all summer long national travel costs. The sheer numbers of Corps that folded in the DCI years of the 70's/80's also perhaps negatively effected attendance as a goodly percentage of family, friends of marchers decided to no longer follow DCI once their family/ friends were no longer in their favorite Corps, once that favorite Corps ceased to exist. Finally, the enormous changes in the activity no doubt turned off thousands who once followed the activity, and they left. To some degree, newer fans that enjoyed the newer offerings replaced them. But not in sufficient in numbers to replace the lost fans numbers. DCI Drum Corps today now has less shows, less Corps, less attendance, no TV exposure now compared to ( for example ) the 70's/ 80's. However, on a brighter note, DCI Regionals and Championships week's attendance the last few years is up compared to the the earlier 2000's years attendance.

Edited August 30, 2017 by BRASSO