The Mandarins folded (and what this means for DCI)

[craiga]

If it is true that they are over $1,000,000 in debt and they have lost their bingo operation to the Blue Devils, how do they fund their comeback? 

Also, do we know how BD ended up with the Mandarins' bingo? Hostile takeover? Or did they simply give it to them?

[cixelsyd]

59 minutes ago, craiga said:

If it is true that they are over $1,000,000 in debt and they have lost their bingo operation to the Blue Devils, how do they fund their comeback? 

Also, do we know how BD ended up with the Mandarins' bingo? Hostile takeover? Or did they simply give it to them?

If it is true that they have invested in a new business initiative (building the Mandarins Event Center), how big a comeback will that fund?

Also, do we know how the Sacramento bingo operation works now?  Is it really BD bingo, with Mandarins making a venue rental fee?  Or did Mandarins simply hire BD to manage the game, with profits still going to Mandarins?

(Same questions, asked in a different tone.)

[perc2100]

This is a shame, that Mandarins are taking the year off (and in significant debt); it's almost like having Championships perpetually 2000+ miles away from the CA corps is a substantial financial burden.  I know, though: a DCI tour is a substantial financial burden regardless and it's almost amazing that in 2025/2026 the activity still existing feels like a bit of a miracle in and of itself.  But dang things aren't easy for CA corps, huh...

[waliman4444]

i have no observation other than this: over the last two or three  seasons, Mandarins were considered a rising force in this activity, but seemed to go into finals last  year not  gaining on the competition..Was there frustration from expectation?..Expectations  by season's end that might not have been fulfilled and thereby hurt retention?..I don't know..The truth will out. But whether it be money or creative differences,or something else, this leaves me feeling that most corps who appear on solid ground, may not be..and that guessing who's next will become an annual affair..To the mm's of Mandarins, I hope you continue to follow your dreams and find environments where you can lend your talents successfully..peace

[Chief Guns]

4 hours ago, waliman4444 said:

i have no observation other than this: over the last two or three  seasons, Mandarins were considered a rising force in this activity, but seemed to go into finals last  year not  gaining on the competition..Was there frustration from expectation?..Expectations  by season's end that might not have been fulfilled and thereby hurt retention?..I don't know..The truth will out. But whether it be money or creative differences,or something else, this leaves me feeling that most corps who appear on solid ground, may not be..and that guessing who's next will become an annual affair..To the mm's of Mandarins, I hope you continue to follow your dreams and find environments where you can lend your talents successfully..peace

Centerville Ohio show which was nine days prior to prelims, Mandarins were nearly three and a half points behind PR in head-to-head competition. Four nights later at Allentown, Mandarins quietly cut the gap to PR/Crown to around 1.5

So there was some momentum going into Indy.

[Old Guy]

7 hours ago, perc2100 said:

This is a shame, that Mandarins are taking the year off (and in significant debt); it's almost like having Championships perpetually 2000+ miles away from the CA corps is a substantial financial burden.  I know, though: a DCI tour is a substantial financial burden regardless and it's almost amazing that in 2025/2026 the activity still existing feels like a bit of a miracle in and of itself.  But dang things aren't easy for CA corps, huh...

Things aren’t easy for any corps. Different location, different challenges. 
 

California may be far but every world class does travel to Texas. 

[CAtenhut]

On 11/10/2025 at 5:42 AM, craiga said:

If it is true that they are over $1,000,000 in debt and they have lost their bingo operation to the Blue Devils, how do they fund their comeback? 

Also, do we know how BD ended up with the Mandarins' bingo? Hostile takeover? Or did they simply give it to them?

From what I heard, Mandarins are not 1M in debt... It's a lot but not even close to that. And they did not lose their Bingo operations to BD. They closed their Bingo because they were losing money, and then BD showed interest in renting the Mandarins Event Center to expand their Bingo operations to Sacramento. These two things are unrelated. 

Edited November 14, 2025 by CAtenhut