Each BAND is event specific. Join the 2025 BAND here.

PERFORMANCE PARKING

• • Enter the South Lot of Lucas Oil Stadium via Gate 10 off of McCarty Street
  • the earliest vehicles may enter is 2 hours prior to performance, as indicated on the prelims schedule
  • vehicles must exit the South Lot 1 hour and 15 minutes after the start of your performance, unless otherwise indicated on the schedule
• BOA staff will be on hand to meet you and give your drivers parking instructions
• There is no eating, warm-up, or stretching allowed in the parking lots
• BOA does NOT provide bus driver hospitality areas

NON-PERFORMANCE PARKING

• parking while not in performance is available in the IFA Event Lot 650
  • Address: 542 Abbott Street, accessible from West Street
  • this is a short walk to the stadium – Band Re-entry is the South
• There is no eating, warm-up, or stretching allowed in the parking lots

OVERNIGHT PARKING

• Overnight parking is NOT allowed in the South Lot of Lucas Oil Stadium
• Vehicles may park overnight in the IFA Event Lot 650  at no charge
• Vehicles must depart the IFA Lot by 6:00 AM on Sunday morning

Parking Pass (PDF)

• Location: inside south east entrance on the main concourse
  • Saturday bands are welcome to check-in on Friday, if they are in town
• Opens 30 minutes after the first parking lot arrival time. See Prelims Schedule.
• Closes when the last band enters the SW Tunnel, per the Prelims Schedule
• Each band must check in to receive their check-in packet (final schedule, participant segment patches, and event credentials) and complete the Pre-Draw for Finals

• Restrooms: Concourse; accessible via Band Re-Entry – South Gate
• Limited number of port-a-lets will be available in the South Lot

• It is the responsibility of each band to ensure proper hydration of its members throughout the duration of the event.
• Bands of America will provide a potable water bottle filling station.
• These water stations will be equipped with water horses, and continuously flowing water. Bands of America will NOT PROVIDE CUPS.
• LOCATION: fill in info here.
• NOTE:
  • There will be small water stations with cups in and around the warm-up rooms.

Bands of America defers to the weather policies and safety protocols of the facilities in which we operate. On-site updates will be provided via the BAND app for this event.

• Props will be unloaded in the South Lot.

• There is LIMITED space in this lot for prop assembly. Bus and truck parking is the first priority.
  • If you require additional space or time, we encourage you to seek and use “off-site” resources in the immediate vicinity of Lucas Oil Stadium. 

• Follow the instructions of the BOA staff to determine the amount of space for prop assembly. 

• Props taller than 8’ or wider than 10′ MUST enter through the Pit/Prop Entry Tunnel  – Missouri Street Dock (see Site Overview Map).

• Lucas Oil Stadium has a FieldTurf© playing surface. You may tape tarps or other equipment to the field ONLY if it does not leave a residue. Any damage to the field or cleanup fee will be at the band’s expense. 

• There will be TWO points of entry for groups.  Performance Zone credentialed access is in affect at the bottom of the ramp. All adults entering the stadium must be credentialed appropriately.

• Each Band has a specific report time to the top of the ramps per the performance schedule. Bands may NOT enter the tunnel before their scheduled report time or without BOA staff approval.

• REPORT TIMES FOR BOTH THE SOUTHWEST RAMP AND MISSOURI STREET DOCK ARE AT THE SAME. Please be prepared to move in two separate groups. 
  • SOUTHWEST TUNNEL: Pit percussion MUST be in FRONT of the winds, percussion and guard as you report to the Southwest Tunnel from the South Lot.
  • MISSOURI STREET LOADING DOCKS: Large Equipment and Props not going to warm-up rooms will enter via this tunnel and stage in the loading dock.
    • Props should exit the South Lot via GATE 1 into the lane closure on Missouri Street. You will proceed North in the lane until you reach the top of the Missouri Street Loading Dock Ramp.
    • Equipment and props should be fully assembled prior to moving into the lane closure and into the Stadium. The staging area is small, and you will not have room to assemble. 
    • Equipment must enter prior to the next band’s scheduled entry or risk loss of priority in the flow.
    • If you have students assisting with the equipment who need to go to warm up, they may continue through the dock ramp door and down the hall to the warm-up area. You must have parents stay with your equipment to continue it through the hallways in the staging process. 

BAND WARM-UP

• LOCATION: Exhibition Halls 1 and 2, inside the stadium
  • Each band starts with a 15-min physical warm-up and then moves to a 30-min music warm-up
• SURFACE: indoor, concrete surfaces
  • Optional musical warm-up rooms are carpeted
  • Exhibition hall is divided into 2 sections for physical and musical warm-up with a curtain
• Seperate area for Pit Percussion
• Groups MUST report to their assigned warm-up at their scheduled time, as BOA doesn’t provide guides. Late arrivals cannot extend their time.
• BOA staff will monitor time and direct groups to the gate, providing 15 and 5-minute warnings. Groups must exit by the end of their time, starting to move out at 2 minutes.
• New groups can enter as the previous one exits, following BOA staff directions.
• Warm-up/rehearsal on-site is only allowed during the assigned time and location.

Physical Warm-Up

• Each band has 15 minutes for Physical Warm-Up. 
• Space is limited – plan your activities accordingly
• Only handclaps will be allowed in Physical Warm-Up. 
• Due to sound bleed the following are NOT permitted: Dr. Beats, Jam Blocks/woodblocks, instrument playing, drumming, long rangers/Megavoxes/loudspeakers, and recorded music 
• The band will then proceed to Musical Warm-Up. 

Musical Warm-Up – Two locations available

• Each group has  TWO locations for Musical Warm-Up 
  • Back section of an exhibit hall with 27’ high ceilings and concrete floors (shared space)
  • A standard meeting room with 15’ high ceilings and carpet (private)
• Bands have the option of using one or both spaces during your designated Musical Warm-Up time only. 
• Musical Warm-Up spaces may NOT be used during your Physical Warm-Up time. 
• Your Battery may warm-up in either of your assigned Music Warm-Up locations but ONLY during your assigned Musical Warm-Up times per the schedule.
  • NOTE: If you choose the optional room, your battery will lose some warm-up time due to transitions between areas.  
• During Musical Warm-Up you may use woodblocks or Jam Blocks only. 
• Amplified Electronic devices will not be permitted in the large warm-up halls.

PIT PERCUSSION

• LOCATION: private meeting room
• SURFACE: carpet
• Carts used to transport equipment can NOT exceed 67″ in width at floor level. At 36″ from the ground, the narrowest point is 64″.
• Battery may warm up with the pit percussion, but they must follow the Pit Percussion schedule and report time.
• Pit percussion moves to the gate 15 minutes before band report time.

WIRELESS SYSTEMS AND ELECTRONICS

• There can be no sound bleed into the performance area.
• Wireless microphone transmitters, wireless networks, and audio and/or lighting control devices may not be used in warm-up areas.
• Wired instruments, including guitars, keyboards etc. may be used in warm-up at reasonable volumes or while not amplified.

• A small repair kit and limited number of instruments will be available at Band Check-In.

The full entrance sequence and announcement examples are listed in the BOA Adjudication Handbook.

THE SEQUENCE

At the Gate: Band arrives at the gate per schedule (no band guides). Explain your setup to BOA Staff for clarity.

Goal Line: Just before pre-set, we’ll move the band to the GOAL LINE. BOA staff will countdown the start of your 4 minute set-up time.

Take the Field: 4 minutes before show time, enter the field as rehearsed (drum taps, pre-show music, etc.). Short warm-ups are allowed within this time. All setup (props/staging) MUST be within these 4 minutes.

• Props: Rehearse field entry with prop movers for a smooth performance day. No extra time for prop movement/assembly.
• Front Ensemble: A BOA official will coordinate this entrance at the same time as the band entrance.

Announcement: At 3 minutes 15 seconds (of the 4 minutes), the announcement begins. BOA Staff can cue your drum major(s) for the announcement and salute (optional).

• Note: The BOA announcement does NOT ask, “Is your band ready?”

Perform: Begin after the announcement. All adults must be off the field at this time.

Clear the Field: You have 2 minutes after your show to clear the field – all props, personnel, and parents.

• BOA’s prop rules apply regardless of venue’s gate and tunnel dimensions. See Adjudication Handbook.
• x

BAND FIELD ENTRY – Northeast Tunnel

• Back, Side 1
• Gate is 10′ wide with a 8′ height restriction

PIT PERCUSSION AND PROP FIELD ENTRY – Northwest Tunnel

• Front, Side 1
• Gate is 15’ wide with a 12′ height restriction
• This is shared with another band’s pit/props during your staging time

FIELD EXIT – Southwest Tunnel

• Front, Side 2
• Gate is 14’ wide with a 12′ height restriction

• At the conclusion of your Prelims performance, bands will exit side 2, and take the field level stairs to the South end zone seating area for a group photo taken by Jolesch Enterprises. 
• Students with limited mobility should utilize the Family and Players Suite Elevator bank directly past Field Exit and take it up to Street Level. Upon exiting the elevator bank, go out the glass doors, and turn left. Pass through the pipe and drape and join your band in the Jolesch Photo Area. 
• Pit equipment and props will be taken out the Southwest Tunnel by parents due to limited storage space. 
  • Students who assist in transporting props & equipment will have a small area to drop equipment in the Southwest Tunnel so they can proceed up the stairs immediately to the band photo area. 
• Please note there is plenty of time to allow for full band, small group, and sectional photos prior to your Lot Departure Time. However, we encourage you to have color guard and percussion take small group photos first so that they may return to the Tunnel to help clear any remaining equipment that has not exited. 
• Groups will exit the building on street level via the South doors.
  • Those needing to return to the field level to collect equipment will be directed through the stairwell located inside the Family and Players Suite Elevator bank in the SW corner near section 132.

• There will be 3 sets of hashmarks
• Professional field markings: white, 70’9″ from both sides. These are marked every yard.
  • Professional numbers (full) are marked every 10 yards.
• NCAA/Texas High School markings: yellow, 60’ from the front and back sidelines and 40’ apart.  These are marked every 5 yards.
• High School field markings: white, 53’4” from the front and back sidelines and 53’4” apart. These markings will be placed every yards.
  • Small dashes to indicate the top/bottom of the HS numbers are marked every 10 yards.
• Livestream microphones will be placed 1 foot outside the 15-foot line on the 35 and 50-yard lines

• LOCATION: lower level in section 139 (rows 22, 23, 24) near the 50-yardline
• ROUTE: Field level stairs

• LOCATION: Upper Suite Level
• ROUTE: North west Elevators to US Level. Proceed down the hall until you see the suite signage.
  
• This area is available ONLY for competing band staff DURING YOUR BAND’S PERFORMANCE to help direct and control audio levels.  
• Each band will be allotted up to TWO passes per band authorizing entry to the Upper Suite Level.
  • You must receive the proper credentials from band check in.
• You will be allowed into the suite ONLY when your band takes the field, and you must leave the room and the Upper Suite Level as your band is exiting the field.  
• Band staff who remain on the Upper Suite Level outside of their allotted timeframe will be subject to a penalty.  

• LOCATION: Judges will be located in the Upper Suite Level – above the Lucas Oil Stadium neon lights
• Adjudication Panel Biographies
• All scores and recaps will be released after the Finals Awards Ceremony.

• PRELIMS awards take place on Saturday afternoon. This is a Drum Majors ONLY ceremony.
• A Finalist Directors Meeting will be held right after Preliminary Awards. Drum majors are encouraged to attend. You’ll receive the finals schedule, field passes, and Finals Awards information.
  • LOCATION: Meeting Rooms 9/10 on event Level (near front ensemble warm-up rooms)
• FINALS: full band Olympic-style retreat.
• Class champions not advancing to finals are invited to perform in exhibition and the Finals Awards.
• Read the Awards Ceremony Walkthrough.
• Finale Staging Map (PDF)

• LOCATION: Students should enter as a group at the Band Re-Entry gate. See Site Overview Map.
• Students receive wristbands at band check-in for spectator entry (Prelims AND Finals)
• Only clear bags and emergency bags will be permitted.

Jolesch Enterprises will be on-site taking group, section, and field-level action photos and awards photos. See Site Overview Map for group photo location.

Ordering information is available online at joleschenterprises.com.

• There is no picnic area available at this event.
  • We recommend using the Circle Center Mall Food Court, Arts Garden and local establishments.
• Outside food and beverage are NOT allowed to be brought into the stadium.
• The stadium will be cleared, and concessions will be closed during the dinner break between Prelims and Finals.