I am still trying to wrap my head around the logic behind Lucas Oil Stadium. DCI has made it clear they will be there for the remainder of their 10-year commitment, despite some obviously serious issues with the acoustical environment.
Their solution?
One possible strategy for the future, Dorritie suggests (via a history lesson), is for each corps to find a way to work with, and not against, the sound characteristics of Lucas Oil Stadium.
I have an idea: how about we hold finals in a stadium that works with, and not against, the music that the corps are performing? DCI had the option to bail after a year, and considering the difference between 2008 and 2009, I think the logical solution is to hold finals in Bloomington, or resume having finals in different venues every year.
When DCI first began talking about Lucas Oil they marketed it as a venue that was being designed with acoustics in mind. That was obviously a lie. Their new approach is to now pretend like that responsibility is that of the design staff of each corps. While any smart corps will tweak their approach to the finals stadium to maximize the recordings, what will we gain from asking show designs to cater to indoor design? 98% of the season is not at finals.
When I watch a drum corps show, I want there to be clarity in the sound. Specifically, I want to hear the same notes that the performers are themselves producing, not a mix of what they are playing and what they played 2 seconds ago. If the stadium hinders that, especially the stadium for finals, why should I continue to spend a large amount of money to travel and attend it, especially if the activity is strapped down there for a decade?