INDIANAPOLIS — The year-long wait is over to see some of the world's best marching music ensembles compete in Lucas Oil Stadium.
Forty teams filled the Indianapolis Colts home stadium with beautiful ballads and stunning visuals for the preliminary round of the 52nd Drum Corps International World Championship.
In last year's championship, the reigning champion Blue Devils from from Concord, California, won its 21st DCI World Championship, but if the semifinal and final round are anything like the prelim, we'll have a new world champion.
The Bluecoats from North Canton, Ohio has maintained a stunning streak of high scores this season, and continued that streak Thursday with a 97.525 to separate from the competition by almost an entire point!
As the last year's runner-up, the Bluecoats are back and better with the production of "Change Is Everything." The show features a sea of yellow and red uniforms paired with the ethereal sounds of the band Son Lux, who made the popular song "Change Is Everything."
The 2023 champion Blue Devils didn't fall too far behind though, with a score of 95.875. That score landed them in third behind the Boston Crusaders.
Here is a list of the top prelim scores from Thursday, Aug. 8:
- 1st - Bluecoats - 97.525
- 2nd - Boston Crusaders - 96.600
- 3rd - Blue Devils - 95.875
- 4th - Carolina Crown - 94.313
- 5th - Phantom Regiment - 94.275
- 6th - Santa Clara Vanguard - 93.000
- 7th - Mandarins - 91.225
- 8th - Blue Stars - 90.550
- 9th - Colts - 89.350
- 10th - The Cavaliers - 88.212
- 11th - Troopers - 87.963
- 12th - Madison Scouts - 86.575
Will the Bluecoats be able to continue its hot streak in the semifinal and final Friday and Saturday? Check back in here to find out.
Tickets are still available for the semifinal and final online. Physical tickets will not be sold.
To get your tickets to this year's DCI World Championships, click here.
For a full schedule of the ensembles competing, click here.