What would you change about ND Stadium?

[edgesofsanity]

One Foot Down has put up a brief essay celebrating the recent Sporting News ranking of ND as #2 (which you can read about their experience here), and then asking if things will ever change inside Notre Dame Stadium to improve upon the experience. Short but nice little read.

Personally, I could definitely get behind the awnings over the top deck to redirect the sound in towards the field. As an additional bonus, it'll block out that infernal sun that always blinds me when I'm sitting on the south side during the late 3rd quarter.

 

[Lou Holtz]

UM style scoreboard in the not touchdown Jesus endzone with a jumbo tron

 

[Junkhead]

UM style scoreboard in the not touchdown Jesus endzone with a jumbo tron

It would be nice to be able to see replays, I agree.

 

[IHateMarkMay]

I would line up the Stadium to Touchdown Jesus. Maybe it is my OCD coming out but since a kid I have wanted that.

 

[irishnd31]

Not as many old people.

 

[jonesman]

JUMBOTRON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All the old school traditionalist need to wake up and move into the freaking 21st century. It can go at the opposite end as TD Jesus so it does not ruin that great view. With the $$ ND alums have, we do not need some corporation to pay for the screen, so no commercializing of the stadium. That is the biggest reason some are against it.

Only other suggestion, tell the old farts who yell at you when you stand up to stay home and watch the game on TV. Part of a home field advantage is being raucaus toward the other team.

Just my thoughts.

 

[Rocket89]

One Foot Down has put up a brief essay celebrating the recent Sporting News ranking of ND as #2 (which you can read about their experience here), and then asking if things will ever change inside Notre Dame Stadium to improve upon the experience. Short but nice little read.

Personally, I could definitely get behind the awnings over the top deck to redirect the sound in towards the field. As an additional bonus, it'll block out that infernal sun that always blinds me when I'm sitting on the south side during the late 3rd quarter.

Thanks for linking my story edge!

I'm surprised that there hasn't been any negative comments yet, I'm kind of glad to see you guys behind some of these changes, although I wouldn't say they all need to happen.

The worst part about this dicussion IMO, are the people who degrade others for wanting to improve the experience...I hate that. The way I look at it, I want to keep the tradition but improve the overall Notre Dame experience, and I think it can be done.

It's a fine line in some instances, but I hate how some people think that if we suddenly put up a jumbotron that literally does nothing but shows replays, then somehow the ND experience and tradition has been totally ruined forever. I don't buy that at all.

*Enclosing the tunnel seems a little bit more wacky to me than I previously thought, especially because the tunnel isn't shaped like I thought it was in my head, but it could be a neat idea.

*A lot of people seem to like the shillelagh idea...some have commented at OFD that Coach Kelly should run out with it and give it to the leprechaun. That could be a cool new tradition, certainly more visible than the players coming through the student section for warmups.

*Someone else wanted bagpipes in the stadium to welcome the team out...why not have the ND bagpipe band blasting away as the team gathers in the tunnel? I've said in the past that they should blast a bagpipe song over the PA system to signal the Irish are about to come out.

Keep the ideas coming!

 

[IHateMarkMay]

Doesn't Duke's BB court have the student section as the first 8 or so rows and goes all the way around the court.... that'd be nice.

 

[Jerry]

I like the bagpipe idea. I'm not totally against the jumbotron idea. But obviously would like it to fit into the stadiums ambiance as much as possible. I have a feeling we're all going to be watching replays on our cell phones in a couple years so jumbtrons might not be as essential as we think.

I wish they could space the seating out or do something in lower bowl. I mean I'm not a giant (6'2") but I must of apologized to the kid sitting in front of me 10 times at the Purdue game for hitting my knees into his back. But really I doubt there is anything they can do.

 

[BestBIrish47]

It is hard to answer this one for me. Notre Dame Stadium is a very special place, and like a priceless painting, it is hard to improve on that. With that being said, we have to face the fluid situation that is College Football. The genesis of Irish Football is actually rooted in a "progressive" tradition. If you look back to the utilization of the Forward pass, multiple shifts, and traveling nation wide to play games, The Irish have always been able to evolve and stay ahead of the curve. I think similar to the addition of the 30,000 seats, any changes that are made need to be subtle.

 

[Rocket89]

It is hard to answer this one for me. Notre Dame Stadium is a very special place, and like a priceless painting, it is hard to improve on that. With that being said, we have to face the fluid situation that is College Football. The genesis of Irish Football is actually rooted in a "progressive" tradition. If you look back to the utilization of the Forward pass, multiple shifts, and traveling nation wide to play games, The Irish have always been able to evolve and stay ahead of the curve. I think similar to the addition of the 30,000 seats, any changes that are made need to be subtle.

Great point.

It's important to remember that Notre Dame has a huge progressive streak as part of its tradition too. Does anyone really think Rockne would love the atmosphere inside the stadium just because it was "old-school"?

I have a hard time believing that he wouldn't be making some changes to get the crowd pumped up, especially subtle changes.

 

[Rocket89]

I like the bagpipe idea. I'm not totally against the jumbotron idea. But obviously would like it to fit into the stadiums ambiance as much as possible. I have a feeling we're all going to be watching replays on our cell phones in a couple years so jumbtrons might not be as essential as we think.

I wish they could space the seating out or do something in lower bowl. I mean I'm not a giant (6'2") but I must of apologized to the kid sitting in front of me 10 times at the Purdue game for hitting my knees into his back. But really I doubt there is anything they can do.

Ahh yes the cell phones. They'll continue to be used more and more. My last game I was kind of pissed at the amount of people playing on their phones, seemingly not even paying attention to the game.

Baseball is having a lot of the same problems. Half the crowd just sits there and plays with their phones, drinking, not really there to watch the game per se.

Definitely get that vibe sometimes at ND.

 

[BestBIrish47]

Great point.

It's important to remember that Notre Dame has a huge progressive streak as part of its tradition too. Does anyone really think Rockne would love the atmosphere inside the stadium just because it was "old-school"?

I have a hard time believing that he wouldn't be making some changes to get the crowd pumped up, especially subtle changes.

I agree with that 100%, The strange thing for me is, it seems when we added the additional seats...the stadium became more accessible to more fans (Which should be a great thing) but it also seemed the energy level decreased as well. The thought that 57,000 seems louder than the 80,000 is kind of mind boggling.

 

[chadder20]

The crowd needs to get more involved in the game. I think they need to do more things like Green Outs and so on to get the crowd pumped up. The wine and cheese comment is a perfect fit for what the crowd is like and it needs to be more like other places such as TN. I think the stadium construction is part of why the games are quiet like that. SCUM's stadium is the same way. But at ND most of the people dont even stand up during the game. I guarantee its louder in most living rooms watching the game than it is at the stadium. The excitement needs to come out in the crowd at the games, not just at home. I know I feel out of place there in the stadium when I want to cheer or yell at a bad play.

 

[RallySonsOfND]

I would rather add suites and seats in the style of UM than awnings. Of course the suites would not block TD Jesus that endzone would remain the same, but the opposite endzone could incorporate a jumbotron too. Incorporate the press box within the suites on that same side to be able to add more seats.

 

[BestBIrish47]

If we are going all out, we should install a jumbo tron that is fixed on Touch Down Jesus the entire game other than replays... that would be sweet sauce

 

[edgesofsanity]

Thanks for linking my story edge!

I'm surprised that there hasn't been any negative comments yet, I'm kind of glad to see you guys behind some of these changes, although I wouldn't say they all need to happen.

The worst part about this dicussion IMO, are the people who degrade others for wanting to improve the experience...I hate that. The way I look at it, I want to keep the tradition but improve the overall Notre Dame experience, and I think it can be done.

*Someone else wanted bagpipes in the stadium to welcome the team out...why not have the ND bagpipe band blasting away as the team gathers in the tunnel? I've said in the past that they should blast a bagpipe song over the PA system to signal the Irish are about to come out.

Keep the ideas coming!

Thanks for writing such a great article! It's great to see all these ideas flowing.

I gotta concur with the bagpipes - I think that would be an excellent addition. When we have a moniker as unique and dynamic as the Fighting Irish, we should be trying to embrace it as much as we can. I think it'd be sweet if we had some Celtic bodhran's in the student section - are there any NCAA rules about instruments in the crowd?

 

[TerryTate]

Jumbotron and a PA System. Pleaaaaaaaaaaaase

 

[rocket31]

*Someone else wanted bagpipes in the stadium to welcome the team out...why not have the ND bagpipe band blasting away as the team gathers in the tunnel? I've said in the past that they should blast a bagpipe song over the PA system to signal the Irish are about to come out.

this. although i want the bagpipes to begin playing between the 3rd and 4th quarters. maybe have students line up around all four corners of the stadium and play?

i just like the pre-game as it is...but the bagpipes would be a nice addition at sometime during the game.

YouTube - Celtic Bagpipe Music - The March of The Cameron Men

 

[theclassickiller]

Not as many old people.

BINGO! The last two games I've gone to (Navy last year, Pitt this year) I sat with the old money below the pressbox. It was TERRIBLE. I mean the shade is swell and all, but old people kill football. They don't give a crap. The ladies sit around and talk to eachother and the guys never stand up and constantly are sitting spread eagle causing 2 seats to become 1. At USC last year I sat on the end by the student section and I left with a migraine (for reals, my brother had to drive back). THAT'S football.

And also I like the idea of bagpipes. I've always loved bagpipes because nothing stirs up the emotion of fear like those alien sounding out-of-pitch bagpipes. The undertone that never stops is pretty intimidating and I think we could use it to our advantage. Covering the tunnel would add to the whole intimidation factor with the Irish charging out after the bagpipes march.

The jumbotron would have been nice 10 years ago, but by this point I can text my brother and ask him what the correct call was or what happened and he can tell me before the officials make a decision. Which is disappointing because 90% of the time the officials seem to call the opposite.

 

[irishtrain]

Not as many old people.

With all due respect to the older folks, if you cant bring it then do something different. Cheer or pound something but make some noise. The stadium from what I hear is not the house of horrors that it used to be. I'm 58 and when I am privilaged to get my hands on tickets I'm into it. Bring back home the advantage these guys deserve because when they are on the road they get the business. DO YOUR PART.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

*Jumbotron
*Less old people. Do something to keep them away like blare the big band music they hated when their kids were young.
*If they ever expand make a 20,000 seater steep-as-**** 2nd level on the side opposite of the scoreboard just to make it cooler/louder

 

[delt1147]

Jumbotron would be a great addition. My verizon phone will not even work in the stadium so there goes that replay idea. I will say the accoustics are weird in the stadium. At the Michigan game I sat in the row behind the student section and it never seemed loud. Not saying people were not in the game it just seemed like I was in a dead spot for sound. But then last year I sat in the bleachers in the end zone for the Navy game and could not hear myself talk any time the crowd got a little loud. It does get loud on the field but hard to tell even half way up in the stands. Btw that USC game was loud as hell.. then again I sat by the tunnel.

 

[IrishandColts]

better seats

 

[Jerry]

I'm thinking that in the South endzone you could put in an small "jumbtron" about 3 or 4 times the size of the current scoreboard. Have it operate as a boring scoreboard like the current one does during play. But then in between and at breaks you can show replays, ect. This way it's not like a blaring jumbotron and shouldn't upset the old people that we all seem to hate so much.

 

[Dacian_Irish]

I say remove all the seats!

If you aren't passionate enough to stand then don't come to the game.

 

[ndcoltsfan2010]

The quiet fans (usually older people) irk me because I want to be vocal and cheer and make all kinds of noise. You feel sometimes like you are incoveniencing some of these people by celebrating or rooting for the team. I love ND stadium and I know they enlarged it a while back, but I would like to see it get even a little bigger.10-20,000 more seats..., as long as it is done right. A Jumbotron would be a great addition but nothing too outragious.

 

[NDOM]

I would like to see an interlocking ND at midfield and Notre Dame in the endzone instead of those retarted lines. Notre Dames field is so lame.

I would like to see a jumbotron as well so we can see replays etc. Maybe not let old people in the stadium anymore since they **** and moan when its too loud or if you are standing in the way.

 

[dre1919]

I've been there once and I wouldn't change a single thing. Period. The place is beautiful and is essentially, Football's Church. What I love about it was that there is absolutely no unnecessary distraction. You go there to watch a football game, nothing else. There is no need for flashing advertising signs, scrolling billboards, Jumbotron's and all the fare you get at pro football games. Those things take away from the purity of the game and make it a cross between MTV, a rock concert and a sporting event. No, at Notre Dame, you have football, green grass, clean air and a bright blue sky above telling you that for three hours every Saturday, all is right with the world win or lose. We NEED places like Notre Dame stadium to remain the way they are so one day, when everything has gone the way that most places are now, we can look and say "See, some people still sit on wooden bleachers and root for a football team, playing a football game." They aren't sitting there scoreboard watching other highlights on a 9000 ft. video screen, soaking in their ADD riddled pleasures. They aren't learning the newest type of product being pitched from brightly colored banners or scrolling billboards. They are watching, and loving a simple thing of purity and beauty.

 

[NDOM]

Oh yeah, It would'nt hurt to maybe put a championship football team in there as well.