Changes to atmosphere in ND Stadium?

[JadedDomer]

Immediate fixes: Sell beer through Q3 and change music. Consider handing out towels to any big game, not just green out.

But more than that we need actual rivalry games. Like opponents we collectively hate year in and year out. USC is as good as it gets for us but the others are so weak.

 

[NDohio]

Why? That’s just stupid.

I felt like they wanted to expand the conversation a little bit but Tim P shut it down.

 

[SeekNDestroy]

Really? That seems pretty easy to imagine considering the bluehairs that yell at people for standing.

Are you saying they actually like the music that’s currently played? I haven’t been to a game in a while so maybe there’s a lot more Lawrence Welk than there used to be…

 

[SeekNDestroy]

Immediate fixes: Sell beer through Q3 and change music. Consider handing out towels to any big game, not just green out.

But more than that we need actual rivalry games. Like opponents we collectively hate year in and year out. USC is as good as it gets for us but the others are so weak.

Good ideas.

 

[Punky]

The Olds would probably complain and threaten to withhold $.

This Old has been complaining and withholding $ since he was a Young.

 

[SDIrishFan]

Are you saying they actually like the music that’s currently played? I haven’t been to a game in a while so maybe there’s a lot more Lawrence Welk than there used to be…

Ha, I'm not really saying anything. Just reiterating that the II crew said the DJ wants to play different songs but is being shot down by higher ups for some reason. And, that the whole atmosphere, from a production value perspective, needs to be complete rethought and improved.

 

[MNIrishman]

I went to the Stanford game. First in a while. The first three quarters were so miserably awful in terms of stadium programming that it made me not want to come back. Loud. Shrill. Terrible rap music blaring over the band. Random interviews with children like Notre Dame football belonged in the same category as minor league baseball.

The fourth quarter after the weather delay was amazing. Almost no stadium programming and constant Band of the Fighting Irish. Was able to stand up and do the jig, cheer the whole time, and really engage.

 

[greyhammer90]

The yellow hats really need a reassessment of what they are and what their role is. They should be there to make sure people find their seats, and to call for security if they see a fist fight. That's basically it. Telling anyone to sit down, calm down, etc. is beyond the scope. I'll admit I've never had a bad interaction with one, but their reputation at this point is enough to quell the crowd.

PA Music needs a total revamp. The techno/house stuff is horrible, kill it. Some rap should be played, but there's about a million irish/celtic themed "break a chair" songs to pick from that are all on theme and that should make up the backbone of your music along with the marching band. Marching band should also be mic'd up IMO. Club announcements and kiddie stuff is cute but should happen immediately pre or post the halftime show.

The biggest fix that should happen but won't is the location of the student section. I know the corner spot is traditional but its way too shoved in the corner. That same wedge needs to be sitting on the twenty yard line. The sections immediately surrounding the student section should sold on a first come basis to young alumni.

 

[Katzenboyer]

My first changes would be:

(1) Move the student section out of the corner endzone.

(2) Stop taking pride in the "family environment." There's nothing wrong with being a "friendly" venue - hell, everyone at A&M this season couldn't have been any nicer, but that place was still nuts. ND's insistence on making this the absolute priority above anything else is wrong; take some pride in making the stadium a tough place to play, and let parents decide whether they want to bring their kids or not.

(3) Same thing with music. I don't care if some grad from 1972 doesn't like "that loud rap music" (actual statement made during a game, except they didn't use the word "rap"). The kids on the field like it and that's what matters.

(4) Tell any usher that if they tell a fan to sit down and they're caught doing it, they'll immediately lose their job.

 

[SDIrishFan]

I'm curious, having never been to a game in SB, if a yellow hat says to sit down, can you refuse? Or, does that get you kicked out?

 

[greyhammer90]

I'm curious, having never been to a game in SB, if a yellow hat says to sit down, can you refuse? Or, does that get you kicked out?

Probably depends on the yellowhat, but they certainly can kick you out. Either way it makes no difference though. 99% of people aren't going to refuse when a representative of the stadium's ownership tells them to do something.

 

[Katzenboyer]

I'm curious, having never been to a game in SB, if a yellow hat says to sit down, can you refuse? Or, does that get you kicked out?

I've seen several people get removed from their seats for refusing to comply with requests to sit down by the ushers.

 

[ulukinatme]

It was interesting listening to the guys on the II pod. Tim O flat out said that the person that plays the music wants to play better music but people above him won't allow it.

What constitutes good music in their opinion? Cause if it's anything after 2000 it's more than likely garbage.
Stick with Classic Rock, it's hard to go wrong with time tested hits. More Crazy Train! /noitalics

 

[stlnd01]

The biggest fix that should happen but won't is the location of the student section. I know the corner spot is traditional but its way too shoved in the corner. That same wedge needs to be sitting on the twenty yard line. The sections immediately surrounding the student section should sold on a first come basis to young alumni.

They did this for a few years in probably the Willingham/Weis era (when I was still a relatively young alumni). The section immediately to the left of the freshmen (straightaway end zone along the tunnel) was a standing section just like the students, and everyone knew that going in and it was cool and you could stand and yell for three hours and relive your college days. Of course they stopped doing it after two or three years. I don't know why.

Do other schools not put their students in the corners? I feel like that's pretty typical, but IDK. We also have a smaller student body than most.

 

[IrishSpartan]

I'm curious, having never been to a game in SB, if a yellow hat says to sit down, can you refuse? Or, does that get you kicked out?

From first hand experience yes they can kick you out. Let’s just say during a night game and long day of tailgating telling an usher not so nicely go away after telling you to sit down is grounds for kicking you out.

 

[ulukinatme]

From first hand experience yes they can kick you out. Let’s just say during a night game and long day of tailgating telling an usher not so nicely go away after telling you to sit down is grounds for kicking you out.

But...what if you politely decline? Or, can you offer to switch seats with the asshole behind you so they'll quit complaining?
I've been pretty fortunate not to have anyone ask me to sit.

 

[greyhammer90]

They did this for a few years in probably the Willingham/Weis era (when I was still a relatively young alumni). The section immediately to the left of the freshmen (straightaway end zone along the tunnel) was a standing section just like the students, and everyone knew that going in and it was cool and you could stand and yell for three hours and relive your college days. Of course they stopped doing it after two or three years. I don't know why.

Do other schools not put their students in the corners? I feel like that's pretty typical, but IDK. We also have a smaller student body than most.

The size is really the issue. Most have theirs in the endzone but it usually wraps around the endzone to about the 20 on at least one side. ND has a small student body so it needs to put them where it will do the most damage and have the biggest effect on the rest of the crowd. The 50 would be ideal but I know that won't happen. (Even thoigh other schools like UGA and Tennessee do it.) The 20 should be doable though since most other schools do that plus a full endzone.

 

[NDMD]

Immediate fixes: Sell beer through Q3 and change music. Consider handing out towels to any big game, not just green out.

But more than that we need actual rivalry games. Like opponents we collectively hate year in and year out. USC is as good as it gets for us but the others are so weak.

Agree with this - other easy fixes--- STOP interrupting the stadium atmosphere during dead balls and commercial timeouts. They need to use the PA system to keep the crowd engaged during inevitable TV timeouts, NOT honoring whatever Faculty Member/Alum/Non-Revenue athlete of the week. They can do those things before the game and during halftime.

I've been to a number of other CFB stadiums and we are the ONLY ONES who will interrupt the crowd to do this. It's fucking infuriating.

Long term, they need to expand the press boxes to encircle the bowl. This will add more premium seating for the blue hairs and help keep the sound in for when the crowd is actually into it.

 

[NDMD]

The size is really the issue. Most have theirs in the endzone but it usually wraps around the endzone to about the 20 on at least one side. ND has a small student body so it needs to put them where it will do the most damage and have the biggest effect on the rest of the crowd. The 50 would be ideal but I know that won't happen. (Even thoigh other schools like UGA and Tennessee do it.) The 20 should be doable though since most other schools do that plus a full endzone.

They should put all the Students in the Lower Bowl Sections around the End Zone. There's not enough to go all the way up so the goal should be to keep as many of them as close to the field as possible

 

[GATTACA!]

Agree with this - other easy fixes--- STOP interrupting the stadium atmosphere during dead balls and commercial timeouts. They need to use the PA system to keep the crowd engaged during inevitable TV timeouts, NOT honoring whatever Faculty Member/Alum/Non-Revenue athlete of the week. They can do those things before the game and during halftime.

I've been to a number of other CFB stadiums and we are the ONLY ONES who will interrupt the crowd to do this. It's fucking infuriating.

Scream this from the rooftops. This has been driving me insane for YEARS!!

 

[IrishSpartan]

From first hand experience yes they can kick you out. Let’s just say during a night game and long day of tailgating telling an usher not so nicely go away after telling you to sit down is grounds for kicking you out.

Nope you have to leave it was ridiculous and the whole section was telling him off. Ended up watching the rest of the game at legends

 

[NorthDakota]

They should put all the Students in the Lower Bowl Sections around the End Zone. There's not enough to go all the way up so the goal should be to keep as many of them as close to the field as possible

Have you ever sat in the lower bowl in the endzone?

 

[NDMD]

Have you ever sat in the lower bowl in the endzone?

Yes- but let's be realistic, students are not going to get premium seats between the 20s. I should've been more clear - the goal should be to keep the students together and rows closer to the field, instead of going all the way up the section.

Having them wrap around the end zone would go a long way to projecting noise vs having half the students pushed up high in the corner.

 

[Hautian Domer]

At the end of the day, can the atmosphere,
improve? Absolutely. Will it ever be to the level of the SEC schools, Penn State,
Clemson, Ohio State, or Virginia Tech? No. The issues:

1.) This isn’t State U. Notre Dame is a small, Catholic school located in the Midwest. We have a small student body of predominately affluent kids or nerds. We have affable alums. We also have an older contingent that like to come back for the glory days and, well, they aren’t adding anything to the atmosphere.

2.) If you’re coming from out of town (or a decent ways at least), Notre Dame is expensive to stay and attend a game. It prices out the blue collar and loyal fans.

3.) We have too many alums that don’t live nearby. They come once a year or once every few years and like to bask in all of its glory. Every game week is a reunion of sort for some group. They aren’t there to really dive into the game and mix it up with opposing fans; rather, they want to put on their class ring, throw on a blazer or sweater and sip a Chianti at the Morriss Inn.

4.) Very limited bars and Gameday only tagilating. When I was at du Lac, not that it’s anything great, Eddy Street didn’t exist. Irregardless, we don’t have a ton of bars in the general vicinity of the stadium. It takes a way from a lot of the atmosphere. Being able
to tailgate only on Gameday doesn’t help as well. At many State U schools, they are setting up and rolling Friday afternoon.

5.) Sell alcohol or beer in the stadium. It’s 2024.

6.) Get rid of the yellow hats.

7.) Change the God awful music. Stick with the band.

 

[calvegas04]

What constitutes good music in their opinion? Cause if it's anything after 2000 it's more than likely garbage.
Stick with Classic Rock, it's hard to go wrong with time tested hits. More Crazy Train! /noitalics

It's a college not a retirement home

 

[NorthDakota]

Yes- but let's be realistic, students are not going to get premium seats between the 20s. I should've been more clear - the goal should be to keep the students together and rows closer to the field, instead of going all the way up the section.

Having them wrap around the end zone would go a long way to projecting noise vs having half the students pushed up high in the corner.

The best seats in the student section are the higher up ones.

At the end of the day, can the atmosphere,
improve? Absolutely. Will it ever be to the level of the SEC schools, Penn State,
Clemson, Ohio State, or Virginia Tech? No. The issues:

1.) This isn’t State U. Notre Dame is a small, Catholic school located in the Midwest. We have a small student body of predominately affluent kids or nerds. We have affable alums. We also have an older contingent that like to come back for the glory days and, well, they aren’t adding anything to the atmosphere.

2.) If you’re coming from out of town (or a decent ways at least), Notre Dame is expensive to stay and attend a game. It prices out the blue collar and loyal fans.

3.) We have too many alums that don’t live nearby. They come once a year or once every few years and like to bask in all of its glory. Every game week is a reunion of sort for some group. They aren’t there to really dive into the game and mix it up with opposing fans; rather, they want to put on their class ring, throw on a blazer or sweater and sip a Chianti at the Morriss Inn.

4.) Very limited bars and Gameday only tagilating. When I was at du Lac, not that it’s anything great, Eddy Street didn’t exist. Irregardless, we don’t have a ton of bars in the general vicinity of the stadium. It takes a way from a lot of the atmosphere. Being able
to tailgate only on Gameday doesn’t help as well. At many State U schools, they are setting up and rolling Friday afternoon.

5.) Sell alcohol or beer in the stadium. It’s 2024.

6.) Get rid of the yellow hats.

7.) Change the God awful music. Stick with the band.

What schools are tailgating on Friday?

I have never seen this

 

[FWIrish4]

The best seats in the student section are the higher up ones.

What schools are tailgating on Friday?

I have never seen this

The Joyce lot used the be the RV lot that you could post up on Thursdays I believe when this was America and it stood for something

 

[ulukinatme]

It's a college not a retirement home

How often do you go to football games?
Classic Rock has stood the test of time, it's played in stadiums all across the country. It appeals to all generations.
I doubt anyone is going to remember 95% of today's crap except the Gen Z's that grew up with it because it'll be nostalgia for them.
You play Enter Sandman during a big play, most fans get pumped and cheer regardless of age. If you play some flavor of the month song only the 20 and maybe 30 somethings in the stadium go wild.
But yes, spew the crappy music, it's proven super effective when they've done it in the past.

 

[calvegas04]

How often do you go to football games?
Classic Rock has stood the test of time, it's played in stadiums all across the country. It appeals to all generations.
I doubt anyone is going to remember 95% of today's crap except the Gen Z's that grew up with it because it'll be nostalgia for them.
You play Enter Sandman during a big play, most fans get pumped and cheer regardless of age. If you play some flavor of the month song only the 20 and maybe 30 somethings in the stadium go wild.
But yes, spew the crappy music, it's proven super effective when they've done it in the past.

Not saying the music ND is playing is great, it's pretty terrible. But classic rock has it's place here and there but it has past it's prime and there is other options to play.

 

[GATTACA!]

I doubt anyone is going to remember 95% of today's crap except the Gen Z's that grew up with it because it'll be nostalgia for them.

Jesus man how old are you? Lol