Future DCA Championships.

[Ace Holleran]

I'm going to chip in and say that I think Rochester has been an outstanding host for DCA the past two years.

1) I think the stadium is just fine. Granted, I am on the field most of the time, but I don't understand the cavils here.

2) The city fathers are drum corps friendly and actually are eager to have us there. Can you say that about other burgs?

3) The presentation of the "street" I&E plus the indoor convention venue are superb. It's a short stroll from most downtown hotels.

4) Costs are still relatively sane for lodging, food, etc. Priced a room in Allentown lately?

5) Events go off without a hitch: seamless integration between city, local staff and DCA.

6) There is a certain je ne sais quoi about a cheeseburger garbage plate from Nick Tahou's. No?

7) Most corps are housed within a 10-mile radius, to my knowledge.

But most of all--and I reiterate--you need a hospitable city and an excellent group of local organizers. And we now have that in Ra-cha-cha.

My tenth of a dime.

Ace

[Kay]

Kay, Soldier Field has a seating capacity of 61,500. I'm sure there is ample parking for a couple dozen coaches and trucks. I mean seeing as how there are probably 30-50 coaches full of fans which come to every Bears game.

I ask, I get an answer

[donincardona]

Are the DCA Championships in Rochester again next year?

Or, is it up for bids again?

I know, Rochester, Love's it's DCA Championships.

So now it may be time for all of you who think it should move to:

" Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is. "

So if you want it moved. Let's see those Bids come rolling in!

I know, I would like to see it moved around a bit.

BUT, I also have, No Problem going back to Rochester.

(A place that really seems to WANT to keep it, and also Works hard to Keep it!)

i believe it's in rochester for 2 more years.

[MJH]

I really like Rochester for I&E. I agree the stadum in Scranton was better for seeing/hearing the corps. Lord knows the Rochester airport is more user friendly.

I thought I&E in Syracuse was the worst (remember? no drinking on campus ), athough marching in the New York State Fair parade was pretty cool. I remember the stadium being pretty decent.

DCA finals has been held in New Jersey, right? How was that?

Remember when Winston-Salem submitted a bid? They had a show there in 2005 and were pretty fired up to have finals there the following year. I went to the show there and, as I remember, it was a pretty cool stadium. I wonder if anyone has tried approaching them again?

If it was in the Baltimore/DC area, I could drive up!

[Allen Buell]

Whatever city takes it will have a high standard to top after the job Allen Buell has done. DCI gets 20,000 for their championships. Allen's team has averaged 8000-10,000. The Mayor and the Visitor's Bureau LOVE Allen Buell (future Mayor?)

Thanks Tommy! My number one fan!! The Mayor will love me as long as I don't call him Patrick again in front of those thousands of people I will NEVER forget that moment!!!

[84BDsop]

The fact is the east because of its concentration of corps will probably always remain the main source of All Age corps. But dismissive thinking like the Congo comment I dont think is ever going to help accomplish making DCA a truly national activity. Consider this however, at this point in time only 10 out of the 25 competing corps at Rochester can be considered East Coast. (Not counting Alumni and mini corps) 5 are midwestern (MBI, Govies, Chops, Kilties, Lakeshoremen) 6 are Southern (Corpsvets, Alliance, MCL, Shenandoah Sound, Carolina Gold, Sun Devils) 2 California (Renegades, SoCal Dream) 2 Texas (Gulf Coast Sound, Frontier) Surely that can be considered at least the start of a justification for contemplating Championships in a state not NY or PA.

And you only included the corps that actually GO to DCA....what's the regional breakdown if you include corps like High Country Brass (who don't make the trip) or En Garde (who never PLANS to go)?

Either way, it's VERY clear that the NE is not the be all-end all of the Sr world.

Perhaps if DCA-West gets going we can run a big western regional...

[MJH]

I'm going to chip in and say that I think Rochester has been an outstanding host for DCA the past two years.

1) I think the stadium is just fine. Granted, I am on the field most of the time, but I don't understand the cavils here.

2) The city fathers are drum corps friendly and actually are eager to have us there. Can you say that about other burgs?

3) The presentation of the "street" I&E plus the indoor convention venue are superb. It's a short stroll from most downtown hotels.

4) Costs are still relatively sane for lodging, food, etc. Priced a room in Allentown lately?

5) Events go off without a hitch: seamless integration between city, local staff and DCA.

6) There is a certain je ne sais quoi about a cheeseburger garbage plate from Nick Tahou's. No?

7) Most corps are housed within a 10-mile radius, to my knowledge.

But most of all--and I reiterate--you need

a hospitable city and an excellent group of local organizers. And we now have that in Ra-cha-cha.

My tenth of a dime.

Ace

You hit the nail on the head!

[Tom D'Bomb]

Thanks Tommy! My number one fan!! The Mayor will love me as long as I don't call him Patrick again in front of those thousands of people I will NEVER forget that moment!!!

Don't even get ME started.

Rochester does a good job because 10,000 people show up...period.

They show up (in part) because Empire and Vince Bruni have spent 25 years playing "cheesy" tunes (full 2 hour programs) in every little corner of New York and Canada (okay, Europe and South America too).

Politicians in these little towns would climb all over each other to get their picture taken with the Empire Statesmen at the Yam Festival, or the Apple Festival, or at the unveiling of the world's largest BuckWheat Pancake, or at the "300 days without losing a finger" ceremony at the slaughterhouse. They like it when the champs make a big deal of their town, and they don't want to hear Beethoven at these gigs.

We take pride in the fan base we've built (along with the Crusaders). AND during Empire's 25 year run the Brigs, St. Joe's, Ghost Riders, Hitmen, and Prime Time Brass have reminded people up here that drum corps still exists.

It isn't JUST parking and "the neighborhood."

Trust me, if Memphis had a show and 20,000 people showed up, DCA would be there tomorrow. AND no matter what he says now, Allen Buell would be the first one to lend a hand.

[rwrice]

And you only included the corps that actually GO to DCA....what's the regional breakdown if you include corps like High Country Brass (who don't make the trip) or En Garde (who never PLANS to go)?

Either way, it's VERY clear that the NE is not the be all-end all of the Sr world.

Perhaps if DCA-West gets going we can run a big western regional...

That is the only answer to the problem. Don't wait for DCA to take steps to help facilitate a move to anywhere outside the Northeast for finals, it's never going to happen.

Think nationally. Act locally.

Rice

[Tom D'Bomb]

I'm going to chip in and say that I think Rochester has been an outstanding host for DCA the past two years.

1) I think the stadium is just fine. Granted, I am on the field most of the time, but I don't understand the cavils here.

2) The city fathers are drum corps friendly and actually are eager to have us there. Can you say that about other burgs?

3) The presentation of the "street" I&E plus the indoor convention venue are superb. It's a short stroll from most downtown hotels.

4) Costs are still relatively sane for lodging, food, etc. Priced a room in Allentown lately?

5) Events go off without a hitch: seamless integration between city, local staff and DCA.

6) There is a certain je ne sais quoi about a cheeseburger garbage plate from Nick Tahou's. No?

7) Most corps are housed within a 10-mile radius, to my knowledge.

But most of all--and I reiterate--you need a hospitable city and an excellent group of local organizers. And we now have that in Ra-cha-cha.

My tenth of a dime.

Ace

Ace, the good news: Nick Tahou's now has a guy in the parking lot selling Levitra.