Tournament of Champions

2026 Tournament of Champions

The 2026 Tournament of Champions is Saturday October 17th, 2026. We are excited to have bands from across the region share their pageantry with you. The format of the competition is prelims/finals, with your Pride of the Mountains performing exhibitions at the end of each session. See you all at E.J. Whitmire Stadium on Saturday, October 17th, 2026.

Ticketing Information

Tickets may be purchased at the stadium on the day of the event for $20. Children 5 years or younger are admitted for free. Only a single ticket purchase is required for both prelims and finals performances. Reentry is allowed when obtaining a ticket stub.

For questions regarding group tickets, please email potminfo@wcu.edu.

Spectator Information

All spectators must park in the parking deck through the first entrance on Forest Hills Rd. As mentioned, we will be closing Catamount Rd, so all spectators must enter campus from the intersection of Hwy 107 and Forest Hills Rd, marked on the map.

Highlighted in purple is the shuttle stop for our ADA shuttle. It is next to the accessible parking on the first floor of the parking deck and will be traveling to and from this stop and the stadium throughout the day.

Additionally, we have marked the recommended path from the deck to the stadium on the map.

image of parking map

All spectators must enter the stadium through Gate 1. All other stadium entrances are for bands only.

As indicated on the map, there are 5 entrances to the spectator/West-Side stands. We kindly ask that you do not enter the stands while a band is performing.

There will be signs with QR codes to the Tournament of Champions program, both in the stands and throughout the concourse. In the concourse, you will also find spectator bathrooms, concessions, and vendors (such as the "Pride Store" with Pride of the Mountains merchandise!).

image of stadium map

VENDORS/FOOD OPTIONS

The west side concession stands will open at 10am and be open until 8:30pm. There are plenty of other external vendors that will be present throughout the day as well!

Our educational mission is to provide your program a nationally renowned panel of evaluators who will offer clear, in-depth, and useful commentary. Throughout the evaluator assignment process, we consider each individual鈥檚 background as an educator, creative mind, as well as their ability to provide constructive criticism, delivered in a positive manner to high school students. These individuals are selected on their ability to comment 鈥渂eyond the score sheet鈥� and deliver educational insight to your staff and students that will assist in the growth, improvement, and motivational aspects of your marching band program. We are honored as well as excited to extend you this invitation for participation in the 18th annual 鈥淭ournament of Champions.鈥� We promise to do everything in our power to offer your students, staff, and parents, a first-rate experience coupled with unparalleled educational feedback.

Chief Judge

Neil Underwood
Clinicians: Bob Buckner

Music Judges

Jeremy Spicer
Jon Gomez
Matthew McCready
Doug Thrower
Colin McNutt (Percussion)

Visual Judges

Jamey Thompson
Rick Subel
Marileta Matthews (Color Guard)
Sheldon Frazier (Drum Major)

Registration

Registration will be live on February 10th at 7pm using the link below.