Lucas Oil Stadium echoed with applause on August 9 as announcers declared that the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps had been crowned the winners of the 2025 DCI World Championship — an achievement 85 years in the making.

The Boston Crusaders , founded in 1940 and a founding member of Drum Corps International , have spent the 53 years since the competition began chasing the opportunity to be dubbed one of the best drum corps in the world.

The closest the Boston Crusaders had ever come was in 2022 and 2024, coming in second behind the Blue Devils three years ago and the Bluecoats last year.

“Winning this World Championship is surreal,” said Boston Crusaders executive director Chris Holland in an interview with DCI .

“For the performers who made this happen, this is all abo

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