Information for Directors
Directors, please read this information carefully and share with all of your staff, chaperones, pit crew,
and others who may need to be in the loop with the event's logistical information.
Arrival and Check-In
Parking
All buses and equipment trailers MUST enter campus via the Hickory Ridge Road entrance. Your GPS will likely bring you to campus via Stallings Road, but PLEASE DO NOT follow those directions. That entrance is blocked because of participant equipment entering and exiting the stadium. Please refer to the provided maps for directions. To assist, there will be signs to campus placed at various spots along the route to campus. When you arrive on campus, our parent volunteers will assist your group with bus and equipment truck parking. All personal vehicles will be required to park in the spectator lot.
Check-In
Event registration is located near the front of the school and alongside the bus parking area. All directors, students, staff, and bus drivers will receive a wrist band and a packet of event information at check-in. The number of wrist bands you receive has been allotted based upon the most recent information you provided. Additional passes can be purchased at the box office for $10 per adult.
Guides
Each band will be provided with at least two guides. They will greet you at the registration table at your "dress time" and remain with you until your band returns to the parking area after your performance. They will be responsible for taking your band from location to location, and will ensure that the event moves smoothly and stays on schedule. Please know they are just doing their job when they ask to remain on schedule and to move from location to location. If you have any issues please us know.
Dressing
Rooms
If you plan to use the dressing areas, we require that at least one male and one female chaperone from each visiting band accompany their students to the changing rooms. Your guides will show you to these areas. We will also have parents check the areas after each band exits to ensure there are no items left behind and to ensure the area is properly taken care of.
Performance Logistics
Performer
Field
Entry
Bands will enter and exit the field from the same gate on Side B. Unfortunately, this gate is very narrow so you should plan to enter and exit the stadium in either a single-file or double-file line. There is no timing penalty or minimum performance time for our show, so once you enter the stadium gate you may reassemble into your field entry formation on the track.
Front
Ensemble and
Prop Entry
All props and front ensemble equipment will enter and exit from a gate on Side A (the opposite side of the performer entrance). Our track is concrete so vehicles can pull onto the track. Also, please be advised that the entry area into the stadium for props and front ensemble equipment is gravel and may be difficult to navigate for any equipment or prop with small wheels or casters. We have additional trailers on hand to assist you with transport should this be an issue.
Field
Surface
Our field has recently been renovated to a turf surface; therefore, no vehicle may be driven onto the performance surface. All field percussion equipment and props should be pushed on. Any instrument, prop, or equipment which would potentially damage the host field is prohibited. Any such damage due to use of these items will result in a charge to the band which causes the damage.
Field
Power
All units are encouraged to provide their own field power supply. Our stadium has a single-outlet with an extension cord that will run from the stadium to the field and available for use, but we don't supply power strips, additional cords, etc. We can not be responsible for any loss of power associated with using our outlet or cords. We do not have on-field electrical outlets, so please be mindful that this extension cord should be your last option.
Awards Information
Awards
Drum Majors and student leaders, as well as directors and staff, are invited to come to the field for the awards ceremony following the host band’s performance. First, second, and third place awards will be given for band placement in each class. First and second place awards will be given in the following captions: music performance, visual performance, overall effect, percussion, drum major, and guard. In addition, there will be a spirit award and grand champion trophy for Division I (1A-3A) as well as Division II (4A-6A).
Ties
In the event of a tie, the music performance score will be used as a tie-breaker. If this does not break the tie, the overall effect (music and visual) score, followed by the visual performance score will be used to determine the placement..
Recap
Packets
Recap packets will be available at the trophy table immediately following the awards ceremony. Each band will receive a full recap of all classes, all judges’ sheets, and all air grams in this packet. Judges commentary and a performance video will be sent to you via Google drive.
Awards
Logistics
With a large number of bands participating in this year's event, and with the knowledge that this is a long day for all involved, we will do our absolute best to move the awards ceremony along at a timely pace. We will send out an awards staging sheet to you prior to the event so that awards can be presented more quickly and efficiently. While we encourage your students to enjoy the well-deserved moment of receiving an award, we do ask that salutes be created with time restraints in mind. In addition, we will announce the recipient of the next award immediately following the exchange of each trophy.
Additional Information
Outside
Food
No outside food or drink will be allowed inside the stadium or to any other area of campus, including the parking lots. We will have great food at reasonable prices in both our concession stands and our on-site food trucks, so please ask your parents and students to visit our concession stands just inside the stadium. This is a fundraiser for us, and our concessions are how we help fund adjudicators, trophies, a catered director hospitality area, and many other things. We thank you for your adherence to this request.
Admission
All seating is general admission and tickets are $10.00 per person and 5.00 for children (under 3 free). Souvenir programs will be available for free digital download. All band members, chaperones, and other members of your traveling party are asked to sit the visitor stands.
All Cabarrus County schools operate on a "no bag" policy for all spectators and general public. No bags are permitted in the stadium, with the exception of medically necessary equipment and diaper bags for infants. Both of these require inspection before entrance.
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The use of tobacco, alcohol, or drugs is prohibited on Cabarrus County Schools campuses, including the stadium, restrooms, parking lots, and warm-up/performance locations.
Director
Hospitality
There will be a hospitality area in the Side B end zone area of the field for directors and staff. We will have a catered meal beginning at 1:00pm and continuing throughout the day. Please feel free to stop in and enjoy a meal on us.
Inclement
Weather
In the event of rain, we are not able to offer indoor standstill performances. In the event of inclement weather, we will postpone as much as we can in order to continue the show. Of course, the safety of all performers is paramount and will be a large factor in determining whether or not the show will go on. In the event of cancellation prior to the event, we will contact you as soon as possible to make you aware of the decision.