BOSMarcher

Hopefully there will be a big crowd for the CV show. That would make at least three shows in DCA South that were very well attended this year (not sure about how full Sun Devils' show was).

All music ensemble scores were low in comparison to the captions. I guess he was just upset that day. In regards to Alliance, I am sure their staff knows how to teach properly. Their bios looks pretty full. My guess is the hornline is still gassed. Douglasville will tell a lot for this group. Fun battle back and forth with Carolina Gold and Alliamne. After last weekend, I did not see Alliance passing them so quickly.

Agreed. Whether they should have had it on the field by now or not is a different conversation. I am guessing it will be similar result this week since they have such a short turn around for their next performance (Friday).

I guess we will see what happens this year... they seem to have the same staff as 2009 and 10, so I guess they are just slow out of the gate.

Yep... got me there! The northern groups didn't rise in score like I thought they would.

Also, it looks like Alliance got a 6 point penalty (ouch!) and won percussion. Carolina Gold swept the other captions, it appears.

Thanks for the review. From what I was told, Alliance did not perform their closer yesterday (sounded like it was only their second or third run of that entire show segment). Not really an excuse, though I am glad to see another southern corps back out there... wish Shenandoah Sound a speedy return. Thanks again!

You are probably right. I was basing it on about what they received from their last show (in terms of score increase). Based on the reports, many people seemed to think that the scores between them and Bucs were tighter than it should have been, so that is why I leaned towards a higher score.

Agreed. I am just excited that it feels like there is an actual race for Finals this year. It was disappointing when there were only 11 Open groups a couple of years ago. With that being said, I would like to see a little more swapping of placement to keep things interesting. Yes, the Cabs have beaten the Bucs, but other than that everyone is in about the position they started this season.

Several shows this weekend, including finally having all of the Open Class corps with a score (Alliance competing this weekend). How do we think the weekend will turn out? My rankings are based on semi-educated guesses, video clips and general trends thus far this season. Kiwanis Open 88.50 Caballeros 87.75 Buccaneers 85.25 Fusion Core 79.50 Hurricanes 73.75 Skyliners 73.00 Sunrisers 71.25 Windsor Regiment Carolina Gold Southern Classic 77.50 Alliance 73.45 Carolina Gold 67.50 Sun Devils

Cadets 2 are my surprise. I was expecting them to be a little more hot out of the gate. I know they are typically slower to start, but I was thinking that by the third year they would start off stronger.

I doubt there were 8,000. I looked up the capacity of the stadium and it is 13,768. Even if half of the stadium was full (which would include half of the end zone side), that would still only be 6,884. I was at finals that year and there were plenty of seats in the upper deck around me, so I know we did not hit that mark. Plus, the finals crowd is always padded with groups that don't make it into the final performance. My guess is the that 5,000 paid is pretty close. It would be great to be 8,000, but my guess is that number was probably an estimate you overheard. My only point behind arguing this is for us to realize that it is not necessary to draw an 8,000 member crowd to host Championships. It would certainly be nice, but my guess is that a crowd at about half that size of paid admission is not as detrimental as some might say. Still, to redirect a bit... a regional hosted in the Cincinnati area would be good start towards expanding DCA's footprint outside the northeast. With good advertising and a solid line-up, I think it could be successful. Even if none of the northeast corps show up, I think you could have a solid line between Central and Southern corps.

Regardless, it appears that Cincinnati Tradition is interested in hosting a show and I believe that is a good start. Perhaps enough southern and central corps will join to create a great regional for the future. You seem to be harping on my comment about the Northeast, but my main point to the discussion was to create a regional that would see different groups competing (rather than traditional regions). I think Cincinnati is the geographically central point to do that. I am confident this will happen in the next year or two. Not sure if MBI will decide to jump on board, but I think it is possible. Also, you may have been making a point about the Corpsvets not being able to host larger corps, but that really was not a point I was attempting to make. You have no argument from me... why spend money on other corps when you can use that money to go to them. No corps can support other corps travel like that.

I honestly think DCA Championships only draws about 5,000 paid fans. It looks bigger from corps who do not make it into Finals, I believe. I realize that number is bigger than 3,500... with the right amount of rain, I could see that happening in Rochester.

Probably because I complemented Crown and BD in the same post :)

Ego or not... they are going to listen to the judges and do what they think is best... for everyone who hates the trampolines there are probably others that talk about how they like them. Still, if they did not believe they were working, they would not keep the trampolines just because fans liked them... same goes the other way around.

I am a Crown alumn, but I feel like there are a lot of people that think Crown will win each night because their brass are so good... and most fans are partial to brass. I know they have changed a lot about their show, but I feel they are going to be a later season push. Also, based on what I have seen from BD, I am not sure if anyone will be beating them this season...

It answers the question that a show sponsor should not spend that kind of money to get groups to their show. It also tells me that times have changed because most of the shows in South are better attended. The two that have happened in Georgia have good turnout (not amazing, but good). Maybe it is about time that we tried something again... after all, it has been almost 10 years since an effort like this was tried. Again, no one needs to go into debt, but I feel like corps can make it work if they want to. Southern corps spend $14,000 on a trip every year to championships. I realize it is the "bed the lie in" but it also proves that it can be done.

Also, looking back at the groups that attended the WInston-Salem show, it would be great to see that happen again. Not sure how they got the Renegades that year, but somehow they were able to attract three northeastern groups.

Well, as you said, nothing will be considered without a successful regional. That is the point of this thread. I get it... the northeast corps don't have any money to travel outside their area. With that being said, every other corps that I have listed will have traveled a similar amount this season (or in recent seasons). So, it would mean that no-northeastern corps could come. It would still give a line-up of 8 or so groups and that is a good regional. I personally feel the currently "regional" is a joke. All it is currently serving is another Northeast show... not sure how it is much different than what they are already doing. I am hoping the director of Cincinnati Tradition looks at this thread and gets the idea to make this happen with DCA. I realize there are plenty of naysayers that say this cannot happen. My point is that most of these corps do at least one major travel like this each year anyway - with the exception of the northeast groups. I believe corps will travel where the competition is, and over time, some of the others from the northeast might try and make it happen. Now, I will go ahead and say that I do not believe this regional would work very well without MBI joining it, but I believe this is the step towards building a good fan base to create bigger picture opportunities in the future. Another poster stated that they would not want Cincinnati hosting this until they hosted a regular show. To be completely honest, I do not see how putting the title of regional on something is any different than hosting a regular show... it is just a title. They already have a local fan base for their corps, with connections on how to get the word out. If Sun Devils can host a successful show with three corps, then I am sure Cincinnati could do it with eight. Also, a regional does not have to be held in a massive stadium. I just needs to be a quality location. Just my opinion. I understand the idea of "just be grateful," but I also believe that staying stagnant will not get us anywhere. The economy is turning around, but if we fail to do anything to promote the activity, then the next recession could wipe out the remainder of the circuit. Continuing to host only small shows and attract only about 5,000 people to Championships is not it. Again, this is a discussion on how to make a regional or larger show happen that is NOT Championships. I believe that is the first step.

I was reading a thread in the DCI forums that spoke about the frustrations of not having more eastern corps travel west during the DCI tour. It got me thinking about the regional exclusivity of DCA. There are some exceptions, where southern or mid-western corps travel to the northeast (an early season treat for northeastern fans), but it is never the other way around. Now, I do not want to start a complaining session - that horse has been beaten - but I would like to open a dialogue of what could be done to make an incentive to get corps mixing it up a bit more the regular season. I think it would be in DCA's best interest to find incentives to get corps to travel to other locations outside the northeast so that it can expand its market. As good as many of the southern corps have become, it would be great for the fan base in the south to be able to see one of the top five groups at a show. I also believe that getting different corps to compare to would give a more accurate read going into finals weekend. I realize that the current format makes for large place jumps, but at the same time, I feel like we are competitively stunting the groups outside of the northeast. Again, not a complain session, but what I would like to see is another regional created. Perhaps one in Cincinnati so that corps from multiple regions can particiapte. You could have a line-up of the following: Open Class Alliance (6 hrs 42 min.) - similar to their Carolina trip Buccaneers (8 hrs 5 min) - a bit of a stretch Cadets 2 (8 hrs 26 min) Carolina Gold (7 hrs 17 min) - no longer than the Florida show they traveled to this year CV (6 hrs 42 min.) - less than a northeast trip Kilties (5 hrs 45 min) MBI (10 hrs 29 min) - far, but closer than northeast shows Shenandoah Sound (8 hrs 7 min) Skyliners (8 hrs 50 min) Class A Cincinnati Tradition (host) Govenaires (11 hrs 15 min) White Sabers (7 hrs) Honestly, the groups with the worst drives are ones that have made even longer trips in the past. Is there anyone at DCA that is interested in putting something like this together? If we start expanding the market with quality shows, the market will grow (both in fans and people interested in participating). I thought the regional in Scranton was a great start, but it is still just another northeast show. Cincinnati could be considered the Mid-South regional. That fact that there is a corps local to the city makes it much easier hammer out logistics and ensure there is an audience for something like this. I think if you could get this many groups in one location it would make the trip worth it for everyone. It would provide the very best read for everyone at that point in the season. Not to mention it could be huge for DCA. Who wouldn't want to go see a line-up for 12 corps before Championships (several of which are contenders)? Thoughts?

Times must have changed. There are probably a good 2,000 or 3,000 people in the stands when I have been there at the beginning. With that being said, even that large number will look smaller in a large stadium.

I think everything will be similar in placement to the end of last season. Cavaliers may be stronger this year than the past couple, so that might be interesting.

I'd like to see them do a broadcast of at least these two (in addition to Prelims and Finals): Southern Showdown: Atlanta CV Carolina Gold Alliance Sun Devils Cincinnati Tradition Shenandoah Sound Drum Corps Grand Prix Sunrisers Windsor Regiment Hurricanes Bushwackers Fusion Core Cadets 2 Buccaneers Atlanta CV Caballeros That covers the majority of the of the Open Class groups and many of the Class A groups. I suppose there is no way to get everyone On Demand at least once.

The declaration deadline is approaching. Which corps do you think will declare Open? I would also say, "who do you think will declare Class A," but I figured process of elimination would do that for us. It seems there is going to be some real competition in Open Class this year and the declaration deadline is just around the corner. This is who I am guessing (hoping): Alliance Buccaneers Bushwackers Caballeros Cadets2 Carolina Gold CV Fusion Corps Hurricanes Kilties MBI Skyliners Sun Devils Sunrisers Windsor Regiment 15 corps in Open Class would really make getting into finals mean something again!