Changes to atmosphere in ND Stadium?

[NDPhilly]

The atmosphere for the OSU and USC games last year were great. Do you think Georgia’s crowds are loud when they play a FCS school? NIU is not the team to bitch about this for.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

The atmosphere for the OSU and USC games last year were great. Do you think Georgia’s crowds are loud when they play a FCS school? NIU is not the team to bitch about this for.

Yeah, I was thinking more of the Purdues, BCs & Pitts of the world. Or imagine when Arkansas (or some other first time visitor) has to come up to South Bend for the first time. That’s the time to show how an atmosphere can affect a game.

 

[ND88]

Football is bloodsport. Period.

The tron is great, but music needs to be tightened up to be effective. Music should be more sinister and less of a soundtrack for the show Friends and/or Euphoria. It literally functions somewhere between the two. Cringe like 75% of the time.

Also, “stand up and shout” is old hat. And that annoying ass song after stopping on a third down. Cut it.

The band needs to play more and they should be mic’d up better. The DJ has more influence than the band. That’s fucking sad.

Speaking of which, the DJ and the hype person need to go. ASAP. Like out the door.

Lastly, ND needs to keep the game focused on football. As much as I love ND for all the great things it does and represents as an institution, all the in-game recognitions and faculty ads are buzzkills. Carve out a segment at halftime to fit all that in. I’m serious.

And if you sit, then don’t complain about the person standing in front of you. Make this a stadium requirement. Or designate box space for the sitters. Discriminate. And I’m not talking about age. There are plenty of older folk who are standing. And plenty of middle aged people sitting.

But yea, like all things football related:

1. Field a football team that wants to win at all costs.

 

[NDFan8349]

Football is bloodsport. Period.

The tron is great, but music needs to be tightened up to be effective. Music should be more sinister and less of a soundtrack for the show Friends and/or Euphoria. It literally functions somewhere between the two. Cringe like 75% of the time.

Also, “stand up and shout” is old hat. And that annoying ass song after stopping on a third down. Cut it.

The band needs to play more and they should be mic’d up better. The DJ has more influence than the band. That’s fucking sad.

Speaking of which, the DJ and the hype person need to go. ASAP. Like out the door.

Lastly, ND needs to keep the game focused on football. As much as I love ND for all the great things it does and represents as an institution, all the in-game recognitions and faculty ads are buzzkills. Carve out a segment at halftime to fit all that in. I’m serious.

And if you sit, then don’t complain about the person standing in front of you. Make this a stadium requirement. Or designate box space for the sitters. Discriminate. And I’m not talking about age. There are plenty of older folk who are standing. And plenty of middle aged people sitting.

But yea, like all things football related:

1. Field a football team that wants to win at all costs.

Dj and hype seriously have to go. My god was that embarrassing. Definitely need to hear more of the band.

 

[ND88]

I forgot to mention. Minimize showing video clips that are black and white and or from last century. For real. ND hasn’t won shit this century. That should make everyone in that stadium uncomfortable and hungry. Stop glorifying the past and update the intentions.

 

[ndinoxford]

I’ll never forget being at the USC game in 2019 and there was an entire family of 8 next to my father and I with mostly little kids. They all left by halftime. We were floored they would spend that much money just to leave at halftime of the biggest home game of the year.

 

[Irish#1]

So we should blame the DJ now for losing to NIU?

Might as well. We’ve blamed pretty much everyone but the Pope.

 

[ND88]

The atmosphere for the OSU and USC games last year were great. Do you think Georgia’s crowds are loud when they play a FCS school? NIU is not the team to bitch about this for.

It don’t think it’s really bitching. It’s not the reason ND massively underperformed, but it’s undeniable that the culture of the stadium could be improved, and the thread offers suggestions. Or at least, that’s how I interpreted the spirit of it’s purpose, lol.

 

[ND88]

Might as well. We’ve blamed pretty much everyone but the Pope.

Again, I don’t think the thread is blaming the loss on stadium culture. I’m not sure if you were at the game or not, but there’s definitely room for improvement from the perspective of optimizing the opportunity to add to the pressure on opposing teams and rocking the boat like the stadium can.

 

[dad4aa]

Had season tickets for a long time, but I gave them up this year. So much has changed the past 10-15 years. Before, the crowd used to be into the games. Everyone is standing and high-fiving each other after a great play. Last year, so many people around me were sitting throughout the game. We would yell after we got a great play like a pick 6 and half the people were sitting around wondering what happened bc they aren’t even watching the game. The constant up and down to get more food or drink, talking about what they are doing tonight, never watching a play is a joke.

Add to that those same people don’t show up for Georgia, USC, etc and instead have sold their seats to opposing fans. No longer fun to go the games. No idea how to fix it.

 

[thekid33]

We’ve blamed pretty much everyone but the Pope.

Come to think of it, ND has never won a national title while a Jesuit was Pope! Hell, they've never even played in a title game while there was a Jesuit Pope!

When people are talking about the problem being top down and are thinking about MF as being the top. But, I think we just figured out that it all stops at the very top level of the Church!

Also, stop the fake hype crap, mic the band and get a team that plays with passion and creates their own hype. And tell people that complain about standing to go pound sand.

 

[ND88]

Had season tickets for a long time, but I gave them up this year. So much has changed the past 10-15 years. Before, the crowd used to be into the games. Everyone is standing and high-fiving each other after a great play. Last year, so many people around me were sitting throughout the game. We would yell after we got a great play like a pick 6 and half the people were sitting around wondering what happened bc they aren’t even watching the game. The constant up and down to get more food or drink, talking about what they are doing tonight, never watching a play is a joke.

Add to that those same people don’t show up for Georgia, USC, etc and instead have sold their seats to opposing fans. No longer fun to go the games. No idea how to fix it.

That’s sad to hear but I understand your perspective completely. I promise you some of us are still trying to keep up the good fight.

 

[DillonHall]

Had season tickets for a long time, but I gave them up this year. So much has changed the past 10-15 years. Before, the crowd used to be into the games. Everyone is standing and high-fiving each other after a great play. Last year, so many people around me were sitting throughout the game. We would yell after we got a great play like a pick 6 and half the people were sitting around wondering what happened bc they aren’t even watching the game. The constant up and down to get more food or drink, talking about what they are doing tonight, never watching a play is a joke.

Add to that those same people don’t show up for Georgia, USC, etc and instead have sold their seats to opposing fans. No longer fun to go the games. No idea how to fix it.

That's interesting, I feel like the environment's been better post-renovation. But I mostly just go to the night games so my view is probably skewed

 

[pumpdog20]

outside of the yellow hats acting like the SS if someone complains about standing, I'm not sure it's ND's fault. They appear to be trying to get a more raucous crowd. It's the crowd itself that are going to the games. Maybe more night games?

 

[FOTY977]

We’re playing all the hits. New QB, new HC, atmosphere sucks. I’m going to start a thread on how our new S&C coach is to blame.

We haven’t fallen to “Golden is a gangsta” levels…yet

 

[calvegas04]

So we should blame the DJ now for losing to NIU?

He was saving the good stuff for the sweet 16 he was DJing later

 

[Wild Bill]

Ways to fix the boring atmosphere...

1) play better against shitty teams
2) schedule less shitty teams for home games
3) lower the damn cost, so more casuals (i.e. more vocal) can get in
4) sell alcohol
5) ban any gray hair for life who bitches about standing up
6) as far as the DJ and the hype lady, until you fix #3, it's a lost cause. They are trying (especially the hype lady), but my god is ND Stadium stale as hell during the day

Here's how my weekend went... left Central Iowa (took my whole family - who hates the long drive btw and two of their friends) after my sons' high school football game Friday night; got to our hotel in Merrillville at 4am; got up at 8am and left for South Bend at 9am. Got parked around 11:30. Did the bookstore thing, took guests to the usual places (which I can imagine is boring for HS kids); then proceeded to watch the most incredibly boring and disappointing game that could have occurred.

I was so mad, I'm seriously thinking about skipping the rest of the home games until FSU. That drive takes a lot out of me because of not being able to leave until Friday night.

Game was awful but I'm sure your kids will appreciate your effort and it's something they'll always remember.

 

[FOTY977]

Yeah, I was thinking more of the Purdues, BCs & Pitts of the world. Or imagine when Arkansas (or some other first time visitor) has to come up to South Bend for the first time. That’s the time to show how an atmosphere can affect a game.

I’ve only been to Northwestern games during the day outside of ND which are literally high school level. Honest question for those who have traveled to other big time programs’ day games—threatening atmosphere or kind of boring like ND?

 

[Giddyup]

Madison day games are fun but I went when I was in college…so yeah. The game atmosphere has much to do with game quality and with more younger fans there’s usually more energy/loudness/chanting. “Fuck you/eat shit” was always interesting and fun at UW.

 

[ND88]

That's interesting, I feel like the environment's been better post-renovation. But I mostly just go to the night games so my view is probably skewed

I think a good example of how ND stadium hit before the video board was the Stanford game with Nix and Manti in a downpour. You could hear a pin drop in that stadium, and the entire game was operatic. I have nostalgia for that energy, although I will agree there have been some great moments post-renovation also, especially those night games. They usually almost always hit.

 

[forkbeard3777]

I went to the Pitt game last year and thought that up until the second quarter, Pitt fans brought considerably more noise — especially in the stadium’s concourse. It withered away as Notre Dame was really taking it to them. But, my section was predominately filled with blue hairs and families with small children.

A few observations (some generalized; some specific to LSU):

• Stadium atmospheres, generally, are a shell of their former self.
  • I've been lucky to have been to some great stadiums throughout my years (LSU, Florida, Auburn, Alabama, Georgia, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Ole Miss, TCU, Virginia). Maybe its an age/generational difference, but none of them are as good as they once were.
  • They all have emphasized piped-in music and/or DJs over the marching band.
    • Notre Dame has arguably the most iconic marching band and fight song in college football. Fans (and opposing fans) look forward to hearing ND's marching band. I'd prefer no piped in music, but given that's not ever going to fly, make it much more sporadic.
      • For example, I understand playing a song here and there ("Shipping Up to Boston" on kickoffs - even though I don't really like that song). But, play more of the victory march or rakes of mallow and less "The Boys are Back and They're Looking for Trouble." I don't need to hear "Crazy Train" or "Hell's Bells" on every 3rd down (Auburn and Alabama).
  • Students nowadays aren't generally as rowdy as they were say 15, 20+ years ago. Maybe it's technology, iPhones, or social media, but across the board, they generally aren't as "locked in" to the game. I also don't think 18-to 22-year-olds drink nearly as much.
  • The advancements in TV/streaming and the sheer number of games available make it very enticing to stay at home or go tailgating and not into the stadium. It is what it is, you can actually watch and take in the game on the television now better than you can sitting in most seats of the stadium. Couple that with the luxuries of having your own food, drink, restrooms, and comfort readily available ... it's simply so much easier to not attend the games.
    • Given these advancements, fans (very specific to LSU) pour out of the stadium by halftime if it's a subpar opponent. Really, it better be a night game coupled with a respectable SEC or non-conference opponent, or that stadium will be 1/4 full by the time the 4th quarter hits. It's been like that for over a decade now.
  • Given that it's 2024 and our current political climate, many traditions have died down and/or have been replaced (e.g., Mike the Tiger is no longer loaded up and driven around the field). However, that's not always a bad thing in some instances (e.g., Ole Miss marching band nixing "Dixie"; Alabama nixing "Dixieland Delight").
• The sale of alcohol has been a positive (odd coming from a LSU fan, I know). I honestly haven't seen too many instances where students or fans were grossly overserved. However, some stadiums have made "beer gardens" and the like. It's a nice concept that I, frankly, enjoy. But, it also ultimately removes the fans/spectators out of the seats and in turn, diminishes the stadium atmosphere. You're not as invested in the game when you're sipping a $18 IPA, shooting the shit with your pals, and watching your team (and other games) on the TVs at the stadium's beer garden.
• Stadiums generally have a more "corporate" feel to them. This really has been more pronounced lately. Advertisements are placed everywhere, NIL displays or announcements are common and promotional items and knick-knacks are forced on the fans. "Now Tiger fans, make sure to download the Mike the Tiger app and be sure to open up the app at the start of the 4th quarter for tonight's synchronized light show!" FFS, can't I just watch the game and scream my head off without some gimmick pushed on me? We didn't do this 30 years ago, the stadium's capacity was approximately 20,000 less and it was a more loud, raucous environment.

 

[Irish#1]

Good post. You know a lot of people are conversing one way or another using their phone instead of staying in the moment.

 

[FWIrish4]

Good post. You know a lot of people are conversing one way or another using their phone instead of staying in the moment.

Tough to use your phone at ND because of how jam packed you are into the row. Can’t get my phone out of my damn pocket lol

 

[Irish#1]

Tough to use your phone at ND because of how jam packed you are into the row. Can’t get my phone out of my damn pocket lol

Those things are permanently embedded into the students hands.

 

[arrowryan]

outside of the yellow hats acting like the SS if someone complains about standing, I'm not sure it's ND's fault. They appear to be trying to get a more raucous crowd. It's the crowd itself that are going to the games. Maybe more night games?

I don’t believe Notre Dame is doing all they can. The obvious, easy answer is alcohol sales. There is not a single good reason why they don’t sell alcohol.

I wasn’t at the game Saturday , but I can only imagine how many times they acknowledged a university staff member during a timeout that no one gives a shit about.

 

[forkbeard3777]

I don’t believe Notre Dame is doing all they can. The obvious, easy answer is alcohol sales. There is not a single good reason why they don’t sell alcohol.

I wasn’t at the game Saturday , but I can only imagine how many times they acknowledged a university staff member during a timeout that no one gives a shit about.

I was pretty surprised that they didn’t serve alcohol — at least beer, wine and seltzers. I went to the liquor store near The Linebacker and loaded up on ND branded Guinness. My sister grabbed a few bottles of Play Like A Champion wine. I was certain those would have been available in the stadium along with your standard other options.

 

[Free Manera]

Selling booze definitely wouldn't hurt. However all those insane Penn State whiteout games were pre-alcohol sales in Beaver Stadium. As much as I dislike Penn State, their stadium environment is just about perfect. They nearly lost to Bowling Green last week, but they didn't. And watching the last quarter of the game you would've thought they were playing a B10 opponent. Nobody left and people were engaged and loud.

Yes the huge student section contributes. But the rest of the stadium is full of people that stand and yell and stay engaged too.

 

[NDVirginia19]

Only time I really use my phones at games is to check for injury updates if a guy is knocked out or look at a better angle of a replay that they're not showing on the jumbotron in the stadium.

 

[NDVirginia19]

I would be down with us just getting Benzo Da Realest to come hype up the crowd. Only half joking lol

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Stanford in 2006. I remember it just being sort of a "meh" game and atmosphere. They won and the weather was good. The biggest roar of the day was probably when James Aldridge went into the game. Mo Crum had a pick. They controlled the entire game, won 31-10 and it was kind of a walk in the park.

I went to three games that year and I think Darius Walker might have had 80 carries combined in them. LOL.

You're going to have games like that I guess. I think the overall riding point is that there wasn't much to get hyped about going into a game against NIU, then they play like complete trash when the football is actually played, so it wasn't going to be Florida State 1993 in that stadium.

The product matters.