11 things you ought to know about Winter Guard International Championships by the numbers
Amelia Robinson Staff Writer
The Winter Guard International is taking over Dayton to celebrate its 40th anniversary.
Color guard teams from around the world will perform April 6-8. Percussion groups compete April 20-22. Wind groups competes April 22-23.
Bart Woodley, the director of operations and sponsor relations for WGI, said the event just keeps getting bigger and better.
” We have more participants, more parents and more spectators,” Woodley said.
The result is a two weekend event that has an $19 million impact on the region’s economy.
Events will be held at the University of Dayton Arena, 1801 Edwin C. Moses Blvd., Dayton; Wright State University’s Nutter Center, 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway, Fairborn; BB&T; Arena at Northern Kentucky University, 500 Louie B Nunn Dr.in Newport, Ky and Miami University Millett Hall, 500 E. Sycamore St. Oxford.
WGI has committed to remaining in the Dayton area through 2019.
It is a big deal.
Not only is it entertaining as heck, but competitors and spectators fill local hotel rooms, restaurants and other businesses.
Here is a look at the championships by the numbers:
Cost: Starts at about $25. Click here for event schedule and more info.
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$19 million — the estimated economic impact
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338 — the number of teams that will participated color guard championships
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235 —the number of drum line teams that are participating in percussion championships
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35 — wind groups
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60,000 — the number of people the competitions draw
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31 — the number of years University of Dayton has hosted parts of the championship
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40 — the number of years the championship has taken place
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13,000 — the number of performers in last year’s color guard and percussion championships
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9 to 12 — the number of hours some color guards practice a week (teams practice more weeks when there are competitions.)
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6 — the number of countries that will be represented in competitions this week and next: The United States, Canada, Japan, Sweden, The Netherlands and Thailand
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219 — the number of volunteers that help run the event both weekends