BozzlyB Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 I don't like the Indy Colts all that well......oh wait a minute, wrong sport. Sorry. DCI isn't a sport. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Ream Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 Yes. BUT, I'd be willing to take the first 42 years as evidence that Finals can be successful outdoors, considering we're 42-0 on finals not being rained out. Sure, there was a year here or there where a corps got rained on, but overall, I believe the risk for a rainout is well worth it. Those that claim "well, it rained 'x' years ago, or a storm blew down rigging at the State Fair and killed people, so therefore Lucas Oil Stadium saved us all from all dying", well, you're still reaching. But were DCI finals ever in Indianapolis prior to 2009? No. So move it to where it was before -- Madison, Denver, Foxboro, etc. if you want better weather. Indiana is a tossup all throughout July and August for rain. Rotate it around with Indianapolis if you have to. Or open the roof just once. And yes, Southern California would be absolutely fine with me! Signed, Resident of Indianapolis well and let's face it...if you go to Indiana in August, you have to expect nasty storms. it's been that way forever. just like Orlando Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Ream Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 Please. There are professional meteorologists that can tell you when there is a high pressure system around where there is literally a 0% chance of rain at any given point. People monitor these situations all the time at LOS, there is an NFL team that plays there regularly if you haven't realized. And with the ability to close the roof in just over 8 minutes, this is not life or death. You have to be really stupid to open the roof when there is a chance of a popup thunderstorm. There are atmospheric conditions that lead up to situations like that, and all of it is easily avoided with common sense. The Colts have played games in 50 degree weather with the roof open, as they have with it being 88 (generally they use 80-85 as their maximum temperature though). The highest risk of heat being thrust upon spectators was on the north LOWER endzone, not the upper levels. This was due to the direct sunlight beaming down, while the upper edges somewhat blocked out the sun for the upper seats. Trust me, I worked for an Indianapolis News station at the time of the report that covered this story EXTENSIVELY. They interviewed folks in those lower sections, and while hot, it wasn't a magnifying glass or fishbowl effect like you might think. Funny also, I also have Glassmen alumni as very close friends of mine (who are also band directors now), that were there that day and they'll tell you the exact opposite regarding the sound and that the experience was well worth it. Were you there? They all say the dynamics of the entire sound changed according to their reports. And they loved it. So please just stop making stuff up. Seriously. Back to the topic, we should at least attempt to rotate Finals out west or somewhere else once the Indianapolis contract is up. Keep Finals in Indy 2 of every 3 years if you have to. But at least give the west coast some love once in awhile. Rotating makes the most sense for growing this activity further IMO. That is all. well he is right about the drainage. to save $$ they never built a full drainage system in there, so if the stadium was caught by surprise, the field would suck huge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrownBariDad Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 I really like Indianapolis. I know some want other activities outside of drum corps and I can understand their frustration with always being in the same city. However, for me it's all about Drum Corps and I never have plans to go to the zoo, etc. I stay up late at the show, meander back to my room and maybe have a drink and sleep in the next day...get up and get ready for another day of drum corps (hitting the park for warmups, etc.). There are plenty of restaurant options and everything is within walking distance. As for Lucas . . . Meh. I do love the padded seats and controlled environment but it simply can't compare to outdoor stadiums (of which I think that Mile High is the single best venue for drum corps). I agree with Granny -- during Finals week, I'm here for Drum Corps not for museums and such. We usually don't have time for side trips anyway as there are always members to be fed, uniforms washed, etc. We have our favorite hotel and a list of places where we like to eat in Indy. Prices are reasonable for us and it's only a (long) day's drive from our home. We had seats for prelims thru finals in 139 Rows 16 & 18. Not too good for a lot of drill, but close enough to see faces and expressions. Sound was good, but most of the horns were aimed a bit over our heads. Our seats were almost always in line with the right side pit speaker, so we got a lot of pit and voice, but not so much as to be annoying. I will continue to attend DCI events in Indy. If it were to move somewhere else, I really don't know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMcomguy Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 well he is right about the drainage. to save $$ they never built a full drainage system in there, so if the stadium was caught by surprise, the field would suck huge Yes, I agree. That was a DUMB decision to become the ONLY NFL stadium without a drainage system that has a retractable roof. They said the cost would have been under $500,000, which was a drop in the bucket compared to the overall stadium cost (> $700 million). But again, I believe the Colts organization has displayed time and time again with the dozens of games they've played with an open roof that weather can be handled and predicted accurately by professionals. We could even be a little more cautious with our activity if we wanted to, since there have been days where they've opened the roof with a 30% chance of rain. But those were frontal systems that were coming through and not so much a chance of a "popup" storm. They were able to analyze radar and determine the threat was not much and the game played on as it was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMcomguy Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 well and let's face it...if you go to Indiana in August, you have to expect nasty storms. it's been that way forever. just like Orlando Yes, I was at Drums in the Slums when Semis was delayed in '03. That was one of the most memorable nights of drum corps I can remember. Nights like those I talk about, because I have a story about watching the Blue Devils perform at 1:30 AM with a nearly empty section around me on the 50 yard line. It was like my own personal DCI Finals. Then you have nights in LOS where it's just another ordinary show for me and no story to tell. That is where some of us differ on opinions I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Ream Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 (edited) Yes, I agree. That was a DUMB decision to become the ONLY NFL stadium without a drainage system that has a retractable roof. They said the cost would have been under $500,000, which was a drop in the bucket compared to the overall stadium cost (> $700 million). But again, I believe the Colts organization has displayed time and time again with the dozens of games they've played with an open roof that weather can be handled and predicted accurately by professionals. We could even be a little more cautious with our activity if we wanted to, since there have been days where they've opened the roof with a 30% chance of rain. But those were frontal systems that were coming through and not so much a chance of a "popup" storm. They were able to analyze radar and determine the threat was not much and the game played on as it was. really the rain is less an issue than those windows that go up to the roof on the sides. i'd imagine that would make the sound even worse with the roof open. Look I'm not defending the place...I'm really in no hurry to sit in there for a show again. In fact probably when my daughter is old enough I'll be taken against my will. I get why DCI stays there...$$$. and my hunch is attendance was up again this year, so unless attendance at Indy drops A LOT, DCI's not going to be looking at other options anytime soon. Edited August 11, 2014 by Jeff Ream Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMcomguy Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 (edited) really the rain is less an issue than those windows that go up to the roof on the sides. i'd imagine that would make the sound even worse with the roof open. Look I'm not defending the place...I'm really in no hurry to sit in there for a show again. In fact probably when my daughter is old enough I'll be taken against my will. I get why DCI stays there...$$$. and my hunch is attendance was up again this year, so unless attendance at Indy drops A LOT, DCI's not going to be looking at other options anytime soon. FYI - Those windows are retractable as well. http://www.asce.org/uploadedImages/About_Civil_Engineering/Featured_Images/Small-Lucas-Oil-Stadium---bnpositive.jpg Edited August 11, 2014 by IMcomguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Railfan Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 DCI is a sport. It is a competition; a musical competition, a competition just like other sports without physical contact between the competitors. But it is a sport none the less. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMcomguy Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 I guess the thing that bothers me the most is the deal with the devil was signed YEARS before the stadium was even complete. There was significant PR fed to us that claimed this would be THE most acoustically advanced stadium for the marching arts as a whole, with BOA and DCI providing significant input along with the world's best engineers and audio specialists to feed into this design for what people acoustically wanted to see achieved. The stadium was then built and all these modifications still had to be done to make it better (curtains, more curtains, and now the entire back and sideline seats being covered as well) when there shouldn't have been the need to improve anything since supposedly there was significant effort and cost that went into designing this thing to be perfect for the "biggest displays of pageantry and marching arts in the world". I like Lucas Oil Stadium for what it is. It is great for indoor marching band in November when it's snowing outside. I'm comfortable, and it's 15 minutes away from my house. But Drum corps? It's just middle of the road for me, and it likely will always be that way. There's nothing wrong with us seeing differently about this. I just enjoy having that outdoor pop that you don't get in a dampened, yet still echo chambered environment. And sound can still be great if you're in the right spots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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