All 22 of Drum Corps International’s World Class corps will converge on the same locale for the last time before the DCI World Championships, when the 40th anniversary DCI Eastern Classic heads to iconic J. Birney Crum stadium in Allentown, Pennsylvania this weekend.

The event is split over two days, both of which will be webcast via the DCI Live! streaming video platform. The action kicks off at 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT on both Friday, August 5 and Saturday, August 6. Ten World Class corps will compete on Friday, joined by DCA corps Cadets 2, while the remaining 12 World Class corps will enter the fray on Saturday, in addition to the Bridgemen Alumni.

These DCI Live! webcasts will be available for viewing on desktop computers, with mobile streaming available exclusively through the DCI.org iPhone and iPad app, or the DCI.org Android app. The webcasts can be accessed as part of a season-long subscription package or by pay-per-view.

DCI Eastern Classic Day 1
Allentown, Pennsylvania | J. Birney Crum Stadium
Friday, August 5, 2016

Note: All times Central and subject to change

6:30 p.m. Welcome and National Anthem

6:40 p.m. Pioneer - Milwaukee, WI
6:57 p.m. Seattle Cascades - Seattle, WA
7:14 p.m. Spirit of Atlanta - Atlanta, GA
7:31 p.m. Colts - Dubuque, IA
7:48 p.m. Troopers - Casper, WY

8:05 p.m. Intermission (17 minutes)

8:22 p.m. Madison Scouts - Madison, WI
8:39 p.m. The Academy - Tempe, AZ
8:56 p.m. Blue Knights - Denver, CO
9:13 p.m. Blue Devils - Concord, CA
9:30 p.m. Bluecoats - Canton, OH
9:47 p.m. Cadets 2 - Allentown, PA

10:21 p.m. Awards Ceremony

What to Watch: Friday

• One of Drum Corps International’s most historic and storied events, 2016 will mark the 40th anniversary of DCI East events. The last major stop before the kickoff of the DCI World Championships next week, performances in Allentown can set the trajectory for how the competition will shake out in Indianapolis.

• Day one of the Eastern Classic will bring another heated matchup between the Bluecoats and Blue Devils. It’s been almost an entire week since the two corps last faced each other in Atlanta, and Bluecoats held a very slim lead of just 0.225 at that event. In seven times the corps have faced each other this season, Bluecoats have found themselves on top four of those times. However, Allentown can be a magical place for the Blue Devils. It hasn’t been since 2008 that the California corps has finished in any place other than first on its respective night of competition.

• All eyes will be on the Academy as drum corps fans around the world speculate which corps have what it takes to earn a spot among the top 12 that will advance to the DCI World Championship Finals. The Arizona corps has its sights set high for the 2016 season and has already proved it’s a legitimate contender for the 12th spot or higher after the past two weekends of competition in San Antonio and Atlanta. The momentum of a solid performance in Allentown may be just what the corps needs to grab that top-12 position and make history in Indianapolis.  

• Is Troopers on the track to be its own “Hero?” Keep an eye on the Wyoming corps as a viable threat to the Academy’s 12th-place prospects. While the Troop has run more than three points behind the Arizona corps just two weeks ago, a little over a point separated the two corps this past Wednesday in Pittsburgh.

DCI Eastern Classic Day 2
Allentown, Pennsylvania | J. Birney Crum Stadium
Saturday, August 6, 2016

Note: All times Eastern and subject to change

6:30 p.m. Welcome & National Anthem

6:40 p.m. Jersey Surf - Camden County, NJ
6:57 p.m. Pacific Crest - Diamond Bar, CA
7:14 p.m. Mandarins - Sacramento, CA
7:31 p.m. Oregon Crusaders - Portland, OR
7:48 p.m. Boston Crusaders - Boston, MA
8:05 p.m. Crossmen - San Antonio, TX

8:22 p.m. Intermission (17 minutes)

8:39 p.m. Blue Stars - La Crosse, WI
8:56 p.m. Phantom Regiment - Rockford, IL
9:13 p.m. Santa Clara Vanguard - Santa Clara, CA
9:30 p.m. The Cadets - Allentown, PA
9:47 p.m. The Cavaliers - Rosemont, IL
10:04 p.m. Carolina Crown - Ft. Mill, SC
10:21 p.m. Bridgeman Alumni - Bayonne, NJ

10:45 p.m. Awards Ceremony

 What to Watch: Saturday

• With Blue Devils and Bluecoats performing on Friday, Carolina Crown may be the odds-on favorite to win Saturday night in Allentown. The same judging panel will be used both Friday and Saturday nights, however, giving number-crunching drum corps fans the chance to see how those three top-finishing corps stack up coming into the final week of 2016.

• The Cadets, Cavaliers and Santa Clara Vanguard have been in close scoring proximity for a majority of the season, but they’ve found themselves one after the other in identical placements since two weekends ago in San Antonio. With a hometown advantage in Allentown, will the Cadets have enough to push past the Vanguard? Or will the recent placement pattern continue? Stay tuned.

• The Blue Stars made a move past the Phantom Regiment last Saturday in Atlanta for the first time since 2013, and Allentown will be the final time these two Midwestern corps face each other before World Championship action gets underway in Indy.

• Members of the Bridgemen Alumni are on a farewell tour this summer and the corps’ performance in Allentown will be one not to be missed. If you do however, the corps will be making a trip to Indianapolis this coming week to perform as part of the DCI World Championship Semifinals festivities on Friday, August 12 and as part of the SoundSport International Music and Food Festival on Saturday.

Register now to see these two exciting events this weekend broadcast via DCI Live! These are shows you won't want to miss!