I agree that Michigan City has always been an awesome place for drum corps - the people are great, and as a performer, it's awesome because of the concrete and the fact that the audience is right on top of you.
However, I wonder if the reason MC stands out isn't because of the relative dearth of good area shows during that time. It seems like it's before things really get wound up as far as Regionals are concerned, and in Northern Indiana/Southern Michigan, other than Kalamazoo, there's not a lot happenin'.
I'm just worried that the Prelims are going to be dead. Obviously, Semis and Finals should see good attendance.
I think that the schedule lining up with II/III and I being the same day/same stadium is a home run. I think the Prelims being so far away is going to be... bad.