A First-Timer’s Guide to DCI World Championships (Spirit of Atlanta Edition)
- Jason Burns
- Aug 5
- 5 min read
Every August, thousands of people from all over the country gather in downtown Indianapolis for a weekend most folks wouldn’t believe if they stumbled into it by accident.
What they’d see is this: a stadium full of young (and old) people performing with a level of focus and energy you don’t often find outside of professional sports or symphony halls. No microphones. No second takes. Just 12 minutes of everything they’ve got. And then it’s gone.
This is the DCI World Championships, and if you’ve never been—especially if you’re coming to support Spirit of Atlanta—this guide is for you.
Let’s walk through what you’ll need to know.
Spirit of Atlanta Championship Week Rehearsals Spirit will be back again at Southport High School in Indianapolis, about 15 minutes south of Lucas Oil Stadium. Rehearsals will be Wednesday - Saturday (if necessary) generally in the morning. The public is invited to watch our rehearsals, but please note that Indianapolis schools are in session and we ask that you please be considerate to our hosts and the students while attending. Southport HS
Lucas Oil Stadium - Where It All Happens
The Championships are held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. It’s a massive, domed NFL stadium downtown, and for three days each August, it becomes the center of the drum corps world. Inside, you’ll find a mix of fans, alumni, performers, staff, and parents. Some have been coming for decades. Others are here for the first time, trying to figure out what all the fuss is about.
If you’re just here to see Spirit of Atlanta, I’ll break down exactly when and where you need to be.
Thursday, August 7 – Prelims (Spirit performs at 6:54 PM)
Prelims is the first round of the World Championships. All active corps Open Class and World Class corps —over 30 of them—compete for a spot in the next round. Spirit of Atlanta performs at 6:54 PM on Thursday evening.
If you’ve never seen the corps live in a domed stadium, this is your moment.
No gimmicks, no second chances—just music, movement, and a full stadium hanging on every note. Our members have been rehearsing, traveling, and performing for nearly 80 days straight by the time they reach this point. They’re tired, but they won’t show it. What you’ll see is the best of who they are.
Tips for Thursday:
Experience "The Lot" - Military park is the place to be for the "pregame" festivities. This is where every corps goes to warm before being bused over to the Oil Can (with a police escort none-the-less). These usually begin about two hours before performance. If you go to the lot and want to see the corps perform inside, I suggest leaving the park early. Give yourself at least 45 minutes and maybe Uber to the entrance of the stadium.
Get to the stadium a bit early. The security line can be slow, and you’ll want time to find your seat (it typically takes about 15 minutes to walk from the entrance to the front sidelines).
Be present. It’s easy to get caught up in phones, chatrooms and score predictions. Just watch and enjoy.
If you’re not in Indy, you can still catch the performance in a movie theater through DCI's Big, Loud & Live—a live broadcast of the Thursday evening block. It’s a good way to get the in-stadium feel without the travel.
Friday, August 8 – Semifinals + Spirit Alumni Corps Performance
Spirit will perform again during Semifinals on Friday. Performance times aren’t announced until Thursday night, so you’ll need to keep an eye on DCI.org or Spirit’s social media for updates.
Semifinals is a more intense day. Fewer corps. More focused crowd. The top 12 corps from this round will move on to Saturday night’s Finals.
But here’s the part Spirit fans don’t want to miss:
The Spirit of Atlanta Alumni Corps will perform Friday evening after Semis!!
A few hundred former Spirit members—from the 1970s to just a few years ago—will take the field in full uniform and remind us why this activity matters. It’s not a competition. No scores. Just pride, tradition, and a lot of people who never stopped loving the chance to perform.
You’ll hear familiar music. You’ll see a few tears. And if you’re a first-time fan, you’ll understand a little more about why people stick around this community long after their marching days are done.
If you’re watching from home, Friday night is streamed on FloMarching. The Alumni performance is usually included. It’s not as good as being in the stands, but it’s a close second.
Saturday, August 9 – DCI World Championship Finals
Now we get to the big one. Finals is where the top 12 corps perform one last time. This is the performance the members will remember for the rest of their lives.
You'll want to be in your seat no later than 6:30 PM, but get to the stadium no later than 5:30 PM. The lines to get in on Saturday can be extremely long.
On Saturday night, the energy is just different. The audience isn’t just watching—they’re pulling for these kids. After each corps finishes, the stadium erupts. Not polite applause—real, can’t-sit-still cheering. These performances hit different.
Quick Tips for First-Time Fans
Layer up – It’s warm outside, but Lucas Oil Stadium is kept cold. Bring a hoodie or buy a sweatshirt at the Spirit Store!
Clear bag policy – Lucas Oil Stadium enforces a clear bag policy upon entering the stadium and does not allow outside food or drinks.
Take breaks – It’s a long day. You don’t have to watch every group. Just don’t miss Spirit. Take a walk through merchandise ally and get a t-shirt of two.
Download the DCI schedule – You’ll want to know performance times and results. You can find this daily on dci.org.
Talk to strangers – Seriously. Everyone around you loves this. You might find a new friend or two.
Can’t Make It? Here’s How to Still Be Part of It
If Indy just isn’t in the cards this year, you’ve got a couple solid options:
Thursday – Catch Prelims on the big screen with Big, Loud & Live in theaters.
Friday & Saturday – Watch Semis and Finals from home via FloMarching (subscription required).
Social Media – Follow Spirit’s channels for behind-the-scenes looks, photos, and performance updates.
A Final Thought
Spirit of Atlanta is more than a name. It’s a collection of stories—some old, some just beginning. This week in Indianapolis is where those stories come together in one place, for one last time each season.
So whether you’re watching from section 344 or your living room, take a minute to let it sink in. The music. The effort. The joy. It’s worth your attention.
And if you find yourself getting a little choked up during a ballad, don’t worry about it. That’s normal.
See you at Lucas Oil. Or online. Either way, thanks for being part of the Spirit family.