UIL to alternate the SMBC weeks for 1A/3A/5A and 2A/4A/6A every year…

[LeanderMomma]

As I had hoped, UIL will alternate the timing of the state marching band competition so that one year your band will compete the week before BOA SA, and the next year your band will compete the week after. I think this is definitely the most fair way to handle it if UIL is going to insist on hosting every class, every year. Here is the schedule for this year and for the foreseeable future:

2023 2A/4A/6A Contests: October 30, 31, November 1 (Contest Pending, Site To Be Determined)

Session 1: Monday, October 30 : 6A Prelims (morning, afternoon, evening)
Session 2: Tuesday, October 31: 2A Prelims (morning), 6A Finals (afternoon)
Session 3: Tuesday, October 31: 2A Finals (evening)
Session 4: Wednesday, November 1: 4A Prelims (morning and afternoon)
Session 5: Wednesday, November 1: 4A Finals (evening)

2023 1A/3A/5A Contests: November 6, 7, 8 (Contest Confirmed, Alamodome)

Session 1: Monday, November 6 : 5A Prelims (morning, afternoon, evening)
Session 2: Tuesday, November 7: 1A Prelims (morning), 5A Finals (afternoon)
Session 3: Tuesday, November 7: 1A Finals (evening)
Session 4: Wednesday, November 8: 3A Prelims (morning and afternoon)
Session 5: Wednesday, November 8: 3A Finals (evening)

Future Dates

November 4, 5, 6, 2024: 1A/3A/5A Contests (dates tentative and site tbd)
November 11, 12, 13, 2024: 2A/4A/6A Contests (dates tentative and site tbd)

November 3, 4, 5, 2025: 2A/4A/6A Contests (dates tentative and site tbd)
November 10, 11, 12, 2025: 1A/3A/5A Contests (dates tentative and site tbd)

November 2, 3, 4, 2026: 1A/3A/5A Contests (dates tentative and site tbd)
November 9, 10, 11, 2026: 2A/4A/6A Contests (dates tentative and site tbd)

November 1, 2, 3, 2027: 2A/4A/6A Contests (dates tentative and site tbd)
November 8, 9, 10, 2027: 1A/3A/5A Contests (dates tentative and site tbd)

October 30, 31, November 1, 2028: 1A/3A/5A Contests (dates tentative and site tbd)
November 6, 7, 8, 2028: 2A/4A/6A Contests (dates tentative and site tbd)

 

 

[ReveriesOp24]

I wonder how this’ll affect participation at state because the whole reason they went to every other year was to increase participation. They did it because a lot of bands couldn’t afford to go to state every year which lowered state participation. This will definitely affect the West Texas bands since they are so far away from the main part of the state

[LeanderMomma]

On 4/2/2023 at 5:44 PM, ReveriesOp24 said:

I wonder how this’ll affect participation at state because the whole reason they went to every other year was to increase participation. They did it because a lot of bands couldn’t afford to go to state every year which lowered state participation. This will definitely affect the West Texas bands since they are so far away from the main part of the state

It’s looking like it’s going to affect BOA San Antonio far more than it will UIL now unfortunately. 

[Hard Core Band Fan]

4 hours ago, LeanderMomma said:

It’s looking like it’s going to affect BOA San Antonio far more than it will UIL now unfortunately. 

Which is a shame as this competition has rivaled the Grand Nationals in the past. If I could only watch State or BOA SA, I would always choose BOA SA. For me, it is the complete marching arts package. 

[LeanderMomma]

8 hours ago, Hard Core Band Fan said:

Which is a shame as this competition has rivaled the Grand Nationals in the past. If I could only watch State or BOA SA, I would always choose BOA SA. For me, it is the complete marching arts package. 

Agreed with you 100%!  

[northtexasshawty]

On 4/4/2023 at 8:25 PM, LeanderMomma said:

It’s looking like it’s going to affect BOA San Antonio far more than it will UIL now unfortunately. 

yeah, my band is doing BOA SA every other year from now on 😕

[Miyazuu]

On 4/5/2023 at 12:55 AM, Hard Core Band Fan said:

Which is a shame as this competition has rivaled the Grand Nationals in the past. If I could only watch State or BOA SA, I would always choose BOA SA. For me, it is the complete marching arts package. 

I wish we could see a push to turn BOA SA into something like "Grand Nats South" instead of a super regional given how big the turnout usually is and how heavy the competition is. Plus, so many good bands miss out on Nats because it's hard for them to afford or put the time aside.

[AlphaOmega]

From what I've heard, UIL loses money hosting State, which makes me wonder why they switched to every year. Bands who make State are required to go. I can't remember if they are allowed to opt out of Area. If you were a 5A band going to Nats and State this year, your students would be missing an entire week of school plus the Friday of BOA San Antonio. I did Grand Nats twice in high school. Catching up after missing three days sucked. I can't imagine a week or more. 

I could understand if UIL wanted to do Area every year and just determine an Area champion on non-state years. State every year for everyone just seems like a huge hassle. 

[Samuel Culper]

23 minutes ago, AlphaOmega said:

From what I've heard, UIL loses money hosting State, which makes me wonder why they switched to every year. Bands who make State are required to go. I can't remember if they are allowed to opt out of Area. If you were a 5A band going to Nats and State this year, your students would be missing an entire week of school plus the Friday of BOA San Antonio. I did Grand Nats twice in high school. Catching up after missing three days sucked. I can't imagine a week or more. 

I could understand if UIL wanted to do Area every year and just determine an Area champion on non-state years. State every year for everyone just seems like a huge hassle. 

No bands are required to participate at any level by UIL.  Their districts or schools may require it, but the UIL does not.

[TexasStrangers]

I think with State now being every year it's going to hurt the smaller programs or the programs that are under funded. A lot of the smaller schools simply don't have the budget to be able to compete at a high level every year with the exception of a few schools that have heavily involved Boosters.  I think the big names you see all the time will just keep on ticking with no problems. 

[JazzRun]

Tentative dates for State for the next few years…

[LeanderMomma]

52 minutes ago, JazzRun said:

Tentative dates for State for the next few years…

November 4, 5, 6, 2024: 1A/3A/5A Contests (dates tentative and site tbd)
November 11, 12, 13, 2024: 2A/4A/6A Contests (dates tentative and site tbd)

November 3, 4, 5, 2025: 2A/4A/6A Contests (dates tentative and site tbd)
November 10, 11, 12, 2025: 1A/3A/5A Contests (dates tentative and site tbd)

November 2, 3, 4, 2026: 1A/3A/5A Contests (dates tentative and site tbd)
November 9, 10, 11, 2026: 2A/4A/6A Contests (dates tentative and site tbd)

November 1, 2, 3, 2027: 2A/4A/6A Contests (dates tentative and site tbd)
November 8, 9, 10, 2027: 1A/3A/5A Contests (dates tentative and site tbd)

October 30, 31, November 1, 2028: 1A/3A/5A Contests (dates tentative and site tbd)
November 6, 7, 8, 2028: 2A/4A/6A Contests (dates tentative and site tbd)

 

I’m just reposting my post from last year so I can compare these and see if anything has changed. 

[LeanderMomma]

Nope, no changes. (Yet!)