Phantom Regiment is changing the location of its iconic annual drum corps show after more than 50 years at Boylan Central Catholic High School in northwest Rockford.
Starting July 3, 2025, Show of Shows will be held at Guilford High School’s Swanson Stadium. Show organizers, headed by John Baumgartner, are excited about the move as the stadium features newer stands, with more seats closer to the aisles, and the seating faces east instead of west. In addition, all parking is paved and the location is closer to the hotel areas on State Street and East Riverside Blvd.
Drum corps competitions were first produced by the Rockford Fourth of July Committee in the late 1960s at Boylan before being absorbed by Phantom Regiment in 1976 and rebranded as Show of Shows.
Several circumstances led to the decision, with the primary one being that Boylan has a grass field. The inconsistency of a grass field, along with the complexities of a modern drum corps show, have made it so that artificial turf is an expectation, primarily for safety reasons. Many top corps no longer wish to perform on grass fields, making it increasingly difficult to bring a premier lineup to Show of Shows. If Boylan had remained on the tour schedule next summer, it would have been the only grass field on Regiment’s calendar.
Phantom Regiment extends its sincerest gratitude to the Boylan High School staff for its many years of gracious support.
The highly popular Phantom Regiment Alumni Association tent and the VIP tent will continue at the Drum Corps International event, though alcohol cannot be served due to Rockford Public Schools rules. Phantom Regiment leadership is planning several alumni events for the 2025 show and for the alumni performance that will be announced soon.
Change is never easy, and a 50-year tradition even more so.
“I take this transition personally,” said Tim Farrell, Phantom Regiment’s director of operations. “We all know the significance of this show and what it means to our alumni, but it holds even more gravity for me. My dad organized and ran the initial event in 1976, developing the logo and converting the show to a DCI-sanctioned event with top-level drum corps in attendance.”
Tickets for the 2025 Show of Shows will be on sale soon. Watch for upcoming announcements on Phantom Regiment’s social media channels to get early access to the best seating.
