INDIANAPOLIS - It was well worth the long day for 10 Michigan City residents that attended the Drum Corps International finals Saturday in Indiana's capital city.As a reward for the Michigan City Summer Festival committee's role in the 2011 DCI season, five members of the committee rode a Blue Chip Casino bus to the event in Indianapolis with family and friends."It was well worth it," said Mayor Chuck Oberlie, who joined committee chairman Joe Doyle, members Bill Greene, Ron Hamilton and Mike Hale and family/friends Cathy Hale, Mike Greenlaw, Becky Greenlaw, Charmian Kalk and bus driver Kim on the ride. And thanks to Doyle, the News Dispatch was invited to come along. The day began early and ended late. Doyle and Bill Greene began packing the coolers with refreshments well before the bus left the Blue Chip Casino at 10 a.m Saturday morning.At 2 a.m. the next day, they unpacked. Everything in between provided a fun-filled atmosphere, from the morning stop at Jimmy John's in Michigan City to massive rain storm that grazed across Indiana on the way home. Doyle was excited on the way to Indianapolis to see the "best drum corps in the world," but the would-be-perfect ride down highlighted by comfortable seats, Bloody Mary drinks using some of the best tomato juice in the Midwest and delicious Jimmy Johns sandwiches was a bit tampered by an air conditioning malfunction after a pit stop in Lafayette. The well air conditioned Lucas Oil Stadium was on everyone's minds as the bus rolled down Capitol Street in Indianapolis, but even after Oberlie went to will-call to retrieve the tickets, the crew had to wait in the sun until 3:30 p.m. for gates to open.
The waiting would not be over even as the doors opened, as seating was off-limits until 4:30 p.m.That angered some Drum Corps fans, one who visited all the way from texas and said he paid more than $400 for his seat. But not Doyle, who knew that the show would be worth it once they did get seated. He said the hour time-frame after the doors opened and before seating was available was the cover costs. "It gives people an extra hour to spend money at the concessions and the Drum Corps souvenir shops," he said. When the stadium was open, the Michigan City crew was treated to access the Lucas Oil Stadium press boxes, where Mike Hale seemed to be excited about seeing "where ESPN goes," and "where the (NFL) calls get overturned."And nearly anyone outside the crew that heard 'Michigan City,' had a positive reaction.
"I love Michigan City," said Christina Mavroudis, DCI Individual Ensemble event coordinator and writer for DCI.com. "The Dairy Queen across from the stadium (Ames Field) rocks!"But even better than the journey was the destination. The Michigan CIty visitors were treated to seats at the 50-yard line, which would seem to be the perfect spot for a DCI fan, since many of the shows involve the entire field. The shows itself were thrilling displays of entertainment. Oberlie pointed out the difference in the top five and latter seven corps. "They are on a whole other level," he said, referring to the Cadets, Blue Devils, Cavaliers, Carolina Crown and Phantom Regiment. It was not until the bus ride home when anyone on the trip began to get tired.
"We had a good day," Doyle said as the bus entered the casino just before 2 a.m. Good show, good stadium, good ride and good company. It was a day well worth the months of hard work the committee members put in not only for the two Michigan City drum corps events, but all the summer activities planned and organized by the group.
Photo: Michigan City Summer Festival committee chairman Joe Doyle (right) looks over the program before the Michigan City crew enters Lucas Oil Stadium. Summer Fest committee and school board member Bill Greene (left) looks on.
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