• Enter the parking lots from South Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, through Gate 3
• 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

• Passes Required: Buses and equipment trucks need a parking pass for all BOA events. Use the Parking Pass Form to obtain passes (fees may apply). If you need more after your initial order, submit the form again.
  • Include any vehicle carrying/towing equipment in your truck count on the form.
• Parking Fee: Payment for passes requested can be paid online at the time of order, or sent to the MFA office by check.
  • Price per pass/vehicle: $0
• Staff Parking: Staff parking passes are not available. Personal vehicles (cars, SUVs, minivans) must use spectator lots.
• Delivery & Printing: The parking pass template is uploaded to the event logistics page the Monday of event week. Print only the exact number you paid for/requested; staff on-site will verify.

• Location: southwest of the bus/truck parking lots on the sidewalk, near the boat dock
• Opens 30 minutes after the first parking lot arrival time. See 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

Each Band will receive 31 credentials for adults working with the band (6 laminate name badge credentials, 25 field passes). These are included as part of the registration fee. Each band will be allowed to purchase an additional 10 credentials, for a total of 41 credentialed adults per event. All additional credentials must be purchased 30 days prior to your event by credit card only. Read more information here.

Prelims Session Tickets: $30 
Finals Session Tickets: $30
Day Pass: $50 
Ticketing at this venue is provided by Afton Tickets. Afton Tickets fees will be added to your purchase at checkout. 

• Restrooms: McClain Stadium concourse; access via Band Re-Entry – 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 lot by the boat dock

• It is the responsibility of each band to ensure proper hydration of its members throughout the duration of the event.
  • Review the NFHS Hydration Guide
• 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: outside the stadium near Gate D, southeast corner of the stadium

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: East of bus/truck parking
• SURFACE: Paved
• Separate 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.

BATTERY

• LOCATION: With the band in the Band Warm-Up Area
• SURFACE: Paved

PIT PERCUSSION

• LOCATION: designated area within bus/truck parking lots along the median
• SURFACE: Paved
• Pit percussion moves to the gate 15 minutes before band report time.
• Pit percussion can warm-up with the band, though it’s not recommended due to the distance.

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.

• Motorized vehicles are allowed with a bib (diaper) type covering underneath the engine/battery to protect the field from leaks (acid, fuel, oil).
• Off-road mechanized vehicles can only pull equipment trailers for set-up and take-down.
• Unlock front ensemble carts’ wheels during transport to prevent field damage. Pneumatic or similar-style wheels of sufficient size/rating are recommended for large instruments/props.

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.

BAND, PROP, PIT, PERCUSSION FIELD ENTRY AND EXIT

• Front, Side 2
• Gate is 18’ wide with no height restriction
• the ramp to the field is at an 8-degree incline/decline

• NCAA/Texas High School markings: white, 60’ from the front and back sidelines and 40’ apart.  These are marked every yard.
• Livestream microphones will be placed 1 foot outside the 15-foot line on the 35 and 50-yard lines

• LOCATION: top of Section 106
• ROUTE: Field level stairs on Side 2, 45-yard line

• LOCATION: Judges will be located outside in the terrace level of the seats, under tents
• Adjudication Panel Biographies are posted online on the event’s Spectator Guide. Caption assignments will be released on event morning at Band Check-In.

• Refer to the BOA Procedures & Adjudication Handbook for detailed information on BOA adjudication, procedures, and competition philosophy.
• Review and share the Philosophy Statement on amplification/electronic enhancement with your audio team.

• Bands of America utilizes CompetitionSuite for scoring and evaluation commentary.
• Bands performing will be added to the system in early September.
  • If you do not have an existing account (tied to your primary email address), you will receive an email that your group has been created, and you have been added to it.
  • If you have an existing account, you can modify members of your CompetitionSuite group in early to mid-September.
    
• Bands of America Fall Championship events in CompetitionSuite will typically not appear in your “upcoming events” until the week of the show.
• All scores and recaps will be released after the Finals Awards Ceremony.
• Music for All will provide participating directors with a link to an educational video copy of their band’s performance through BOX5 Media. Read the Educational Video Policy.

• PRELIMS: 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: field level side 1 Endzone seats
• 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 action photos on the field level and awards photos. Ordering information is available online at joleschenterprises.com.

• Outside food and beverage are NOT allowed to be brought into the stadium.
• LOCATION: southeast of bus/truck parking lot and the Baylor Basin
• The stadium will be cleared, and concessions will be closed during the dinner break between Prelims and Finals.
• Food Delivery: There will be a designated food delivery drop-off zone at Gate 4 of the bus/truck parking lot. Bands getting food delivered should prepare to meet the drivers here and bring their food across the pond to the picnic area.