This was my first finals since Birmingham 1979? I go to a local show every other year, and since I only live 40 miles from Bloomington... I believe Phantom deserved the win. It wasn't IMHO the best Drum Corps performance I've ever seen, but it was close. The crowd was ecstatic as soon as BD was announced in second. I can only guess, but I'd say about 5,000+ folks stayed for the encore which was way late because none of the other corps wanted to leave the field (except the Cadets, who actually left in formation and marching in step). It was just a big party out there, far different than events past. Madison's bass drums were the last to leave and actually had to be persuaded by a DCI rep before Phantom finally took there encore. And even the encore had an encore with an in-concert of "Elsa's Procession to the Cathedral", by Wagner. Now that was a tear-jerker. Also the massed corps "America the Beautiful" conducted by Phantom's DM - Had to be the loudest unamplified sound I have ever heard!!!
Phantom's two assistant DMs dragging their dead DM to the front line for awards and covering his head with his red cape, then walking away to leave an unattended corpse on the ground to accept awards - brilliant! But he rose from the dead to accept the Disney Award, and many thereafter. What a night! I agree that Bloomington is a wonderful town for Drum Corps with too few hotel rooms. It probably resembles Madison in many ways. Lucas Oil will be something completely different. I hope the acoustics there are as good as they were here tonight. Reminded me of Whitewater only way bigger.
My first post here. Thanks for reading.
Greg