Marching Band General Information

Quarterfinals: October 20, 2012
Semifinals and Finals: October 27, 2012
 
State Marching Band Championship Manager:
Dr. John Stroube -- (859) 626-5635 -- john@kmea.org
 
Participation Information:
Bands that participate in at least two KMEA Sanctioned contest event within the current marching season are eligible to compete in the Regional Quarterfinals of the State Contest on Saturday, October 20th. The top eight bands from each Regional Quarterfinals site will advance to State Semifinals on October 27th. Semifinals are held at five separate sites during a time window of 10:00 am to 3:30 pm. Four Finalist bands will be chosen from each classification. Finals begin at 6:00 pm at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium on the University of Louisville campus. (see Seating below).
2012 Regional Quarterfinal Draw Order

Regional Quarterfinals tickets: $10.00, available onsite, only.

Group Photography:
Official KMEA Group Photgrapher at Regional Quarterfinals



Semifinals and Finals Schedules and Maps:
Class A Semi-finals-Butler Traditional
  Schedule
  Site Map
  Audience Directions to Papa John's Cardinal Stadium
(different directions are used for buses and equipment)
Class AA Semi-finals-Christian Academy of Louisville
  Schedule
  Site Map
  Audience Directions to Papa John's Cardinal Stadium
(different directions are used for buses and equipment)
Class AAA Semi-finals-Meade County
  Schedule
  Site Map
 

Audience Directions to Papa John's Cardinal Stadium
(different directions are used for buses and equipment)
Class AAAA Semi-finals-South Oldham
  Schedule
  Site Map
  Audience Directions to Papa John's Cardinal Stadium
(different directions are used for buses and equipment)
Class AAAAA Semi-finals and Finals-University of Louisville-Papa John's Cardinal Stadium
  Schedule
  Site Map
  Finals Schedule shell
 
Hotel Accomodations:

A detailed list of hotels offering rates for SMBC bands and attendees can be found by clicking here. Information about the hotels was provided by the Louisville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Ticket Sales: (see above for Regional Quarterfinals tickets)

Tickets are available for purchase in advance fromTBA or on site the day of the event. To purchase tickets in advance please call 859-626-5635 or mail the ticket order form below with payment to the KMEA office: KMEA, P.O. Box 1058, Richmond, KY 40476-1058.


  • General admission tickets to Semifinals are $10.00
  • All Finals tickets are Reserved Seating
  • Regular Reserved Seats are $12.00
  • Premium Reserved Seats are $20.00
  • Children age six and under will be admitted free, but will not be given a ticket. For Finals (reserved seating) children admitted free will have to be held by adults.
  • Finals tickets, unless bought in advance, will be available at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium only (see below)
  • Gates open one hour prior to the first band's performance.

Papa John's Cardinal Stadium Seating Chart
Semi-Final and Finals Ticket Order Form

Finals tickets will be for sale at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium starting at 10:00 am Saturday

  • Tickets at the site are available for cash only
  • On the day of the event they will be available at the Papa John's Cardinal Stadium ticket booth.
  • Will-call, for pre-orders that came in within the last couple of weeks, will also be at the Papa John's Cardinal Stadium ticket booth.
Parking:
TBA

Papa John's Cardinal Stadium Map
Video:

An area at each Semifinals site is reserved for individuals to tape their respective bands. Neither videographers nor their equipment are allowed on the field level. Videographers are not admitted free, but may purchase a ticket or may use one of their band’s Chaperone Passes. NO VIDEO RECORDING IS ALLOWED AT THE FINALS EVENT. Box 5 Productions will produce a video of the Finals that will be offered for sale. (Highlights of the finals will appear on KET later in the year, but the full performances of all the Finals bands will be available ONLY on the for-sale DVDs.
Photos:

Band Photographers are permitted to take pictures during the Semi-finals competitions, but may not photograph the finals competition. The SMBC Finals Officail photographer is Custom Photo. All proceeds of event photo sales are donated to the Jim and Carolyn Fern Music Education Scholarship.
2011 KMEA State Marching Band Championship FInalist Photos

Concessions:
This service is provided by the Band Boosters at the Semifinals host schools and is the one means through which we can reward them for the “extra mile” effort they are putting forth to host our State Contest. Please patronize the Concession stands. Contact Host director to arrange for group meals.
Admission/Passes:
Performing Band Members are admitted free and will have their hand stamped for readmission purposes. One chaperone per 10 performers, Band Bus and Truck Drivers, and Band Directors receive passes or badges. Please note: All Band Staff must be listed on the Application Form in order to receive a badge for admission. No further passes will be available on the day of the event. Equipment handlers will be admitted to the performance area only and during your performance time only. In order to enter the audience area they will need to purchase tickets.
Seating:
General admission tickets to Semifinals are $10.00. All Finals tickets are Reserved Seating. Regular Reserved Seats are $12.00. Premium Reserved Seats are $20.00. Finals tickets, unless bought in advance, will be available at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium only. Gates open one hour prior to the first band's performance. Click on the link for the Papa John's Cardinal Stadium seating chart.
Equipment Shuttle:
All Sites have a paved track in the stadium. Host sites are not required to transport equipment from the designated Staging Area to the front sideline. Shuttles WIll NOT BE AVAILABLE AT REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS, SEMI-FINALS, AND FINALS SITES.
Field markings:

Semifinals:Standard High School markings as per KMEA rules. (hashes 53’4”)
Finals: Collegiate (NCAA) markings (hashes 60’ from sidelines) with High School hash marks (53’4”) marked also.