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

• New for 2025: Enter the parking lots from Biddle Street, via SOUTHBOUND N. Broadway. This is the ONLY way into the parking lots.
• 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

Friday Parking Pass (PDF)
Saturday Parking Pass (PDF)

• Location: inside the Broadway Central Entrance of the Dome
• Opens 30 minutes after the first parking lot arrival time. See Prelims Schedule.
  • On Friday, Band-Check-In will be open until all Friday bands have checked-in (typically 7:00 PM). There will be a BAND APP notification on Friday evening to communicate the exact closing time.
  • Saturday bands are welcome to check-in on Friday, if they are in town.
• 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: Inside the Dome, access as a group via Gate C
  • NOTE: Student wristbands distributed at band check-in are required for stadium entry, even to use the restrooms.
• Limited number of portable restrooms will be available in the bus/truck parking lots

• 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 refilling station.
  • LOCATION: Baer Plaza near the Jolesch photo area
• This water station will be equipped with a water horse and continuously flowing water. Bands of America will NOT PROVIDE CUPS HERE.
• NOTE: There will be small water bubblers with cups near the music warm-up rooms and outside band exit in the foyer.

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.

BAND WARM-UP

• LOCATION: inside the building (see Site Overview Map)
  • Start in physical warm-up (15 min.) prior to music warm-up (30 min.)
• SURFACE: Physical is on tile and music is in carpeted meeting rooms
• 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.

COLOR GUARD WARM-UP

• Color guard will be with the band for physical warm-up, but move to a separate area during the music warm-up time (see Prelims Schedule and Stadium Map).
• Guard will warm-up in the America’s Center Courtyard. To access, proceed to the doors at the back of Physical Warm-Up (see Stadium Map). 
• This is an outdoor warm-up. Should inclement weather occur, you have the option to move to Pre-Function A.
  • NOTE: Pre-Function A has low ceilings and tossing will not be possible.

BATTERY

• LOCATION: outside on Cole Street, west of the loading dock entrance
• SURFACE: Paved
• The battery warm-up area is NOT with the band
• Battery will be with the band for physical warm-up, and move outside for music warm-up (30 minutes)
• NOTE: Your battery MAY warm-up with the pit percussion. However, they will forfeit their physical warm-up and must follow the pit percussion schedule

PIT PERCUSSION

• LOCATION: outside on Cole Street, east of the loading dock entrance
  • NOTE: This area does not have electrical power
• SURFACE: Paved
• Pit warm-up is only allowed during your designated pit warm-up time (30 min.)
• Pit percussion moves to the gate 15 minutes before band report time.

WIRELESS SYSTEMS AND ELECTRONICS

• 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: We will move the band to the GOAL LINE. BOA staff will count down the start of your 4-minute set-up time.

Take the Field: 4 minutes before show time, enter the field as you have rehearsed. All setup (prop staging, warm-up, etc.) MUST be within these 4 minutes.

• Props: Rehearse field entry with prop movers for a smooth performance day.
• 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 (or be making substantial progress towards the exit side) – all props, personnel, and parents.

• BOA’s prop rules apply regardless of venue’s gate and tunnel dimensions. See Adjudication Handbook.
• NOTE: The entrance path for band and color guard into the stadium for warm-up is through doors and includes a short flight of stairs.

BAND AND GUARD FIELD ENTRY

• Front, Side 1
• Gate is 9’5″ wide with a 7’10” height restriction

BAND AND GUARD FIELD EXIT

• Front, Side 2
• Gate is 9’5″ wide with a 7’10” height restriction

PIT PERCUSSION FIELD ENTRY AND EXIT

• Side 2
• Gate is 9’5″ wide with a 7’10” height restriction

PROP/EQUIPMENT ENTRY AND EXIT

• Side 2
• Gate into the turf is via the loading dock: 15′ wide with a 14′ height restriction

NOTE: The outside edge of the endzone on side 2 has a small metal lip. You will need to move rolling items to the corners of the turf.

• There will be 3 sets of hashmarks on the field.
• 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 yard.
• High School field markings: white, 53’4” from the front and back sidelines and 53’4” apart. These are marked every yard.
  • 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: Top of 100 level of seats, in Section 113
• ROUTE: Field level stairs on the 50-yard line

• LOCATION: Section 314
• ROUTE: Broadway Central Elevators
  
• 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 suite.
  • You must request 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 return to your band as they are exiting the field.  
• Band staff who remain outside of their allotted timeframe will be subject to a penalty.  

• LOCATION: Judges will be located above the ribbon board in Section 314
• Adjudication Panel Biographies are posted online on the event’s Spectator Guide. Caption assignments will be released on event morning at Band Check-In.
• 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: Media room located inside the Broadway Central entrance. (Band Check-In location).
• 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 Band Re-Entry – Gate C. 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.

• Outside food and beverage are NOT allowed to be brought into the stadium.
• LOCATION: Baer Plaza
  • Dumpsters will be in the bus/truck parking lots.
• The stadium will be cleared, and concessions will be closed during the dinner break between Prelims and Finals.
• Food Delivery: A designated drop-off location will be on N Broadway. (See Site Overview Map.) Bands getting food delivered should prepare to meet the drivers here and bring their food to the picnic area.

Music for All and Potbelly Sandwich Works have teamed up to offer participating bands low-cost, individual boxed meals to assist in meal plans for lunch or dinner on event day.

Contact – Megan Coss from Potbelly can provide quotes and order confirmations.
megan.coss@potbelly.com      Call: 847-954-7125

Easy Ordering – Order forms are available online HERE. Just complete the order form and send to Megan 10 days before event day.

Delivery- Potbelly will deliver your meals to your band’s point of contact on event day, at the designated food drop-off location.