The DCI Eastern Classic has been a staple of the Drum Corps International Summer Tour for more than 45 years.
Most often set over the course of two nights under the lights of iconic J. Birney Crum Stadium, the Allentown, Pennsylvania event series serves as a key final stop before corps make their way to the DCI World Championships.
Here's a look back at the five highest-scoring corps of all-time in Allentown.
Two-night ticket pakcages to the 2024 DCI Eastern Classic, August 2 and 3, are now on sale through the DCI Box Office!
5. 2008 Cavaliers | 95.950
One of two corps on this list who didn't end up taking home gold medals, The Cavaliers made a statement at 2008's Allentown event, nearly breaking 96 points during one of the more memorable late-season competitive races in DCI history.
The Cavaliers snapped a Blue Devils winning streak, besting 2008's eventual silver medalist head-to-head by a slim margin of 0.25 points.
The Green Machine ended up landing in third overall at season's end, following a late surge by Phantom Regiment, who scored just 0.075 points behind The Cavaliers' Allentown mark on the second day of DCI Eastern Classic competition.
4. 1998 Santa Clara Vanguard | 96.000
The 1998 edition of Santa Clara Vanguard, much like the 2008 Cavaliers, saw its close Allentown advantage falter by season's end, but posted what was a jaw-dropping and record-setting score at the time, breaking 96 points.
On separate nights of Allentown competition, Vanguard outscored The Cadets — 1998's World Champion — by 0.7 points.
3. 2022 Blue Devils | 96.050
It's a close race for third on this list, as the 2022 Blue Devils take the cake by a slim margin of 0.05 points.
One of three corps on this top-five list to end up winning a DCI World Championship, Blue Devils earned standout marks at 2022's Allentown event, going head-to-head with eventual co-silver medalists Bluecoats and Boston Crusaders and winning by over a point and a half, sweeping all captions except color guard in the process.
READ: Blue Devils continue streak Friday night in Allentown
Listen: 2022 Blue Devils, "Tempus Blue"
2. 2005 Cadets | 96.225
In 2005, The Cadets became the second-ever corps to break 99 points at season's end — a list that now includes four entries. At the time, The Cadets' final score of 99.150 tied an all-time record with the 2002 Cavaliers.
At 2005's Allentown event, The Cadets handedly won the second day competition, toppling second-place Phantom Regiment — who went on to take that year's bronze medal — by nearly two full points.
Watch: 2005 Cadets, "The Zone: Dreamscapes in Four Parts with a Door"
1. 2014 Blue Devils | 96.825
Blue Devils' 2014 season was one for the record books, as the corps went on to set an all-time record score of 99.650 — and its Allentown output was no exception. While the Concord corps' record-setting final score is half a point higher than any other final score ever recorded, its score at the DCI Eastern Classic has even more of a cushion atop the record list, 0.60 points.
Untouchable across the scoresheets, the Blue Devils dismantled the field at the Friday portion of 2014's event, outscoring the second-place Santa Clara Vanguard by an impressive 2.75 points.
Watch/Listen: 2014 Blue Devils, "Fellniesque"
