[Dan Balash]

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Interesting to note is the fact that class cutoffs will change for 2012.
Class A: 1-600
Class AA: 601-1225 (was 601-1220 in 2009 class redo)
Class AAA: 1226-1674 (was 1221-1750.)
Class AAAA: 1675+ (was 1751+)

Sept. 22, 2012
Louisville, KY - University of Louisville (Site Tentative)
Monroeville, PA - Gateway H.S. (Site Tentative)

Sept. 29, 2012
Kettering, OH - Kettering Fairmont H.S.
Denton, TX - University of North Texas (Site Tentative)

Oct. 6, 2012
Conroe, TX - Woodforest Bank Stadium (Site Tentative)
Pontiac, MI - Silverdome

Oct. 13, 2012
Akron/Canton Area - Site TBD
Jacksonville, AL - Jacksonville State University (Site Tentative)

Oct. 19-20, 2012
SUPER REGIONAL - Indianapolis, IN - Lucas Oil Stadium
SUPER REGIONAL - St. Louis, MO - Edward Jones Dome

Oct. 20, 2012
Mid-Atlantic - Site TBD

Oct. 26-27, 2012
SUPER REGIONAL - Atlanta, GA - Georgia Dome

Oct. 27, 2012
Southern California - Site TBD

Nov. 2-3, 2012
SUPER REGIONAL - San Antonio, TX - Alamodome

Nov. 3, 2012
St. George, UT - Dixie State College

Nov. 7-10, 2012
GRAND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - Indianapolis, IN - Lucas Oil Stadium

[Devon Gordon]

That's a lot of Comps in between the Indy Super Regional and Grand Nats this year. I look forward to another great Bands of America season.

Also, is there a particular reason for them tweaking the classes?

[thewho]

Denton, TX - University of North Texas (Site Tentative)

This is the 3rd time that they are hosting a BOA event, and the last time was 1996. 

Pontiac, MI - Silverdome

   I'm not sure why BOA keeps coming back to this site.  It's a pretty terrible location overall for hosting a BOA major event.

Oct. 19-20, 2012
SUPER REGIONAL - Indianapolis, IN - Lucas Oil Stadium
SUPER REGIONAL - St. Louis, MO - Edward Jones Dome

I'm not exactly happy about this, although we all knew it was something unavoidable.  As I'm thinking over it, a BOA forum poster pointed out that many of the upper-western bands would most likely skip out on the St. Louis and go to Indy instead.  I'm not crying foul, or complaining (in fact, I'm pretty happy about it ), but this draws a lot of attention away from St. Louis.  Following that note, I'd imagine that there would be many invitationals throughout the whole state.  Think about having the regional during that time.  Simply put, the consequences are bad- a good chunk of potential money lost for many bands, especially most of the bands today have become quite needy.

Also, is there a particular reason for them tweaking the classes?

This is purely speculation, but recently this year Blue Springs from Missouri was placed as AAAA at the St. Louis regional.  Come Grand Nats, they were bumped down to AAA, and did pretty well in terms of placements- they got 2nd in AAA competition (their overall placement was 16th-ish() in the semi-finals).  I'm assuming by lowering the class cut-offs, they are lowering the chances (drastically) of that happening again.

It's a shame, too.  Center Grove's going to be stuck in AAAA forever now. 

I'm looking forward to 2012, though.  By speculation and known patterns, Grand Nationals is going to be killer this year (aka 2010 plus new, elite bands!).

[Dan Balash]

This is the 3rd time that they are hosting a BOA event, and the last time was 1996. 

UNT just got a shiny new stadium, so why not?

  I'm not sure why BOA keeps coming back to this site.  It's a pretty terrible location overall for hosting a BOA major event.

New owners of a humongous stadium with nothing to put in it except for monster truck rallies and (occasionally) drive in movies.  They offer BOA a heck of a deal, and that's why they keep going back.  I've been told they're persistent in trying to get Grand Nationals to come back, but that won't happen, because there is literally nothing to do at the site.

[Erik W.]

It would be interesting to see if some of the Indiana bands go over to St. Louis for the Super Regional. That could be a nice little change-up.

[Todd Clevenger]

It would be interesting to see if some of the Indiana bands go over to St. Louis for the Super Regional. That could be a nice little change-up.

I doubt that will happen. Travel cost and a chance to get into LOS before State and Nationals. How can you turn that down?

[Dan Balash]

Also, is there a particular reason for them tweaking the classes?

Better balance between 2A-4A.  See below for why.  (Note: This spreadsheet doesn't take into account bands that did more than one BOA event.  In other words, it is done by regional).  If you take out the Texas regionals (which are basically 3A/4A shootouts), you get a total of 51 A bands, 119 AA bands, 108 AAA bands, and 78 AAAA bands.

[Kevin Pogue]

The 2012 SoCal Regional is scheduled for Chino Hills H.S.

However, that school district just went through a budget massacre, with nine elementary school music positions eliminated and the band director at Chino Hills being let go (a wholly political, not budgetary, maneuver that annoys me to no end). Not sure if Chino Hills will still be a viable site this fall, as the school's administration seems very anti-performing arts right now.

Ayala (also in Chino Hills) also has a nice stadium... but I don't know if it's big enough for a BOA Regional (plus, Ayala already hosts a show, and I'm not sure the band director and administrators would want to add a second).

Once again, who knows what's going to happen with BOA in Southern California.

[Jeremy Snyder]

It would be interesting to see if some of the Indiana bands go over to St. Louis for the Super Regional. That could be a nice little change-up.

I'm guessing the opposite actually - I bet the Indy Super Regional will be full of Indiana bands (being the week between Regional and Semi-State). 

[Josh Hines]

Will Northwestern be joining the party by chance Jeremy?