Stadium Noise

[Crazy Balki]

I've got an honest question. I haven't been to a ND game in South Bend in years, since 2006. So most of my knowledge is based on what I hear on television. Does it seem a bit quieter now than it was years ago, even in the Weis era (2005-06). I remember watching games like Penn State or USC, and even through the TV, I could tell it was LOUD. I can't tell if NBC suppressed the noise or anything like that. I just need feedback from guys who have been there for years. Is the noise down from years' past or is it just my imagination?

 

[NCND]

I think it's the broadcast. CBS and ABC both are louder even in none Primetime games.

 

[Crazy Balki]

I think it's the broadcast. CBS and ABC both are louder even in none Primetime games.

That's what I'm thinking, because I've also noticed it with the NFL games as well.

 

[blueNDgold44]

Depends on the game, Stanford game in '12 was the loudest it's ever been when I have been there.

 

[We_Are_ND]

To me it's been the loudest it ever has been since the addition of in-stadium music. Michigan, Stanford, and Pitt were some of the loudest game I've been to in '12.

I remember before it was super quiet and when the team ran on the field for the opening kickoff it was a mild applause. Now with the pre-game music of, "Here Come The Irish", and Dropkick Murphy's followed with third down music, the atmosphere has been awesome.

Plus everyone knows that we wouldn't of came back in the Pitt game if they didn't play the Rudy music.

 

[BurningRiver]

It's been getting better, but is still extremely quiet compared to most big time college football stadiums. I can't really remember very many times last year where I felt like I was in an environment that would be tough to play in as an opposing player. Even on 3rd/4th downs and in the 4th quarter the noise levels disappointed me.

It's frustrating because in the student section everyone's loud when we're on defense and the rest of the stadium is quietly sitting. The students alone can't make much of a difference.

Although, to be fair, the acoustics of the stadium are terrible, especially when combined with the wind in South Bend. Hopefully adding the three buildings on the east, west, and south sides of the stadium will help keep noise in a little more effectively than the current setup does.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Day games are a part of it to. "Freaks come out at night" applies to CFB more than any other sport.

 

[yankeeND]

Day games are a part of it to. "Freaks come out at night" applies to CFB more than any other sport.

Yeah and that really holds true for all teams. The night games are always the most fun.

 

[stlnd01]

Depends on the game. Big games certainly get loud. The music helps, and apparently the ushers are less sympathetic than they used to be to the "down in front" complainers.
But there are times in the middle stretches of a run-of-the-mill game when you can hear a pin drop. The students are always making noise but too much the rest of the stadium still has that culture of sitting on your hands, politely. I don't know that it was significantly louder in the Weis/Willingham years.

 

[T Town Tommy]

Depends on the game. Big games certainly get loud. The music helps, and apparently the ushers are less sympathetic than they used to be to the "down in front" complainers.
But there are times in the middle stretches of a run-of-the-mill game when you can hear a pin drop. The students are always making noise but too much the rest of the stadium still has that culture of sitting on your hands, politely. I don't know that it was significantly louder in the Weis/Willingham years.

The "grey hair" syndrome possibly?

 

[stlnd01]

The "grey hair" syndrome possibly?

A lot of gray hairs. A good number of people who spent a lot of money to get to the game (most ND alum don't live all that close) and aren't the types to get too crazy. Some "bucket list" tourists who don't necessarily live and die for the Irish. A crowd that's generally more Bud Light than Jim Beam. All that.
Don't get me wrong, the place can get loud when needed, but it's never been the most intimidating environment in college football.

 

[Rack Em]

The "grey hair" syndrome possibly?

Blue hairs, but now we're just splitting hairs.

The older alums tend to donate more. Should we tell them to suck it up or not come and risk losing their donations? I don't like alienating anybody in the ND fanbase, but it's high time that ND Stadium becomes an intimidating place to play.

Swarbrick and Kelly are working on it but it's just a touchy subject because ND football is not SEC football. The fans don't drive their homes to the parking lots, drink a case of Stag, and yell "pig souieeee" all game. It's a different clientele. And it would be foolish to completely piss off the money.

I HATE GETTING YELLED AT TO SIT DOWN WHEN ND IS ON DEFENSE AND IT'S THIRD DOWN. But if I'm going to pay $100 for a ticket, I don't wanna get thrown out. USC night game last year I almost did and I was irate! It's 3rd down and Greg Jennings is putting the team on his back. Get your asses up and cheer at least on 3rd down. That's not much to ask.

It would be nice if certain sections were designated as "standing sections." Fans who don't like it can buy tickets in a different, more expensive section where they can discuss cardigan sweaters and "How those darn kids wear baggy pants all the time!" Or the lower bowl becomes a standing section while the upper bowl is reserved for the leg crossing crowd who wouldn't know a football from their asshole. Put the crotchey ushers in those sitting sections. Problem solved.

 

[Rack Em]

I sincerely hope that "Turned Down for What" gets blasted on most 3rd downs this season. Gary, Indiana should know when the Irish are playing for a stop.

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

I sincerely hope that "Turned Down for What" gets blasted on most 3rd downs this season. Gary, Indiana should know when the Irish are playing for a stop.

I want that song playing the entire game. Just background noise like at a basketball game. Then we can crank it for third downs


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[stlnd01]

It would be nice if certain sections were designated as "standing sections." Fans who don't like it can buy tickets in a different, more expensive section where they can discuss cardigan sweaters and "How those darn kids wear baggy pants all the time!" Or the lower bowl becomes a standing section while the upper bowl is reserved for the leg crossing crowd who wouldn't know a football from their asshole. Put the crotchey ushers in those sitting sections. Problem solved.

They had a standing section for a few seasons back in, I think, the early Weis years (maybe Willingham). In the end zone next to the freshmen. It was mostly young alums. I always got a ticket there when I went, and it was great. But I gather it went away for lack of interest.
I'm definitely all for a section devoted to the discussion of cardigan styles and baggy pants griping, though. Up in the corner someplace?

 

[T Town Tommy]

Blue hairs, but now we're just splitting hairs.

The older alums tend to donate more. Should we tell them to suck it up or not come and risk losing their donations? I don't like alienating anybody in the ND fanbase, but it's high time that ND Stadium becomes an intimidating place to play.

Swarbrick and Kelly are working on it but it's just a touchy subject because ND football is not SEC football. The fans don't drive their homes to the parking lots, drink a case of Stag, and yell "pig souieeee" all game. It's a different clientele. And it would be foolish to completely piss off the money.

I HATE GETTING YELLED AT TO SIT DOWN WHEN ND IS ON DEFENSE AND IT'S THIRD DOWN. But if I'm going to pay $100 for a ticket, I don't wanna get thrown out. USC night game last year I almost did and I was irate! It's 3rd down and Greg Jennings is putting the team on his back. Get your asses up and cheer at least on 3rd down. That's not much to ask.

It would be nice if certain sections were designated as "standing sections." Fans who don't like it can buy tickets in a different, more expensive section where they can discuss cardigan sweaters and "How those darn kids wear baggy pants all the time!" Or the lower bowl becomes a standing section while the upper bowl is reserved for the leg crossing crowd who wouldn't know a football from their asshole. Put the crotchey ushers in those sitting sections. Problem solved.

Agree with your point on the donor, big money fans. They have as much right as anyone to be there. But yeah... I could not imagine being told to sit down during a game... especially when you're on defense. At times, even the grey hairs at Bama get a little annoying but out of respect you always try to appease them. Can't piss Grandma off... even if it's third and goal in the fourth quarter.

 

[koonja]

I sincerely hope that "Turned Down for What" gets blasted on most 3rd downs this season. Gary, Indiana should know when the Irish are playing for a stop.

I want that song playing the entire game. Just background noise like at a basketball game. Then we can crank it for third downs


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They played some solid music at the camp yesterday. I counted two Lil Jon songs in the 5 minute video, lol.

Hope they expand the music selection and make it more 'hip' this year. I love Crazy Train, but it gets old by the 8th 3rd down, lol.

 

[irishfan]

Day games are a part of it to. "Freaks come out at night" applies to CFB more than any other sport.

Agreed. Day games are classic, but I really think ND should make the move to 2 or maybe even 3 night games at home a year. We tend to play at least 2 big-time opponents every year at home, and we need the atmosphere-boost.

Just looking at this year's schedule, and the next 2 years:

2014: Michigan is already a night one. Would love to see Stanford as well.
2015: Texas and USC.
2016: Michigan State and Stanford. Maybe Miami or VA Tech.

Might be blasphemy, but wouldn't mind seeing the senior day game be a night game (oxymoron?).

 

[Rack Em]

They had a standing section for a few seasons back in, I think, the early Weis years (maybe Willingham). In the end zone next to the freshmen. It was mostly young alums. I always got a ticket there when I went, and it was great. But I gather it went away for lack of interest.
I'm definitely all for a section devoted to the discussion of cardigan styles and baggy pants griping, though. Up in the corner someplace?

I was thinking in the JACC

 

[NCND]

Agreed. Day games are classic, but I really think ND should make the move to 2 or maybe even 3 night games at home a year. We tend to play at least 2 big-time opponents every year at home, and we need the atmosphere-boost.

Just looking at this year's schedule, and the next 2 years:

2014: Michigan is already a night one. Would love to see Stanford as well.
2015: Texas and USC.
2016: Michigan State and Stanford. Maybe Miami or VA Tech.

Might be blasphemy, but wouldn't mind seeing the senior day game be a night game (oxymoron?).

Nooooo man. Just think about how long the wait is for those night games.. I hate it.

 

[stlnd01]

Agreed. Day games are classic, but I really think ND should make the move to 2 or maybe even 3 night games at home a year. We tend to play at least 2 big-time opponents every year at home, and we need the atmosphere-boost.

I generally agree, but would worry a bit about overdoing it. Mostly because, again, a lot of our fans are coming a significant distance, lodging in South Bend is somewhat limited and night games don't get done until midnight. That's pretty late to drive back to Detroit or Cleveland, or even Chicago. I'd worry a bit about weak demand, especially for lesser games.
How does it work at schools that are similarly situated - thinking of Florida, Penn State - that aren't necessarily that close to their alumni population centers and are in smaller towns. Does the night game excitement outweigh the hassle of getting home?

 

[IrishBlood81]

Maybe we should set in place an age limit.
Only so many thousand over the age of 50 allowed unless a proven drunk.

Or, we hire 20,000 Argentinean futbol fans and tell them that Greg Bryant is Lionel Messi, and our Football is identical, just use our hands instead.
BOOM! Loudest stadium ever.

 

[dshans]

OLE, OLE; OLE, OLE, OLE, OLE!!!

Blue Hair Power!!!

Don't Fence Me In!!!

Fuck you, you snot nosed, diaper filling, whining punks who can't hold your liquor ...

 

[JTLA]

I want that song playing the entire game. Just background noise like at a basketball game. Then we can crank it for third downs


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I know it's old, but this is too priceless not to share...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dE-nfzcUiPk

 

[IrishBlood81]

I know it's old, but this is too priceless not to share...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dE-nfzcUiPk

Yeah they put that to Harlem Shake as well. hilarious.


Calm down Dshan. Love the Oles but no need to paint your hair blue...Argentina may win the World Cup...do it then.

 

[TheTurningPoint]

Notre Dame stadium is quiet and has been quiet for years.

Is it because the teams have been subpar for so long? That has some to do with it.

Is it because the student section is so small? Sure it would help ND had a bigger enrollment so therefore there would be more students at the games.

Is it because there are a lot of older people that go to the game? No. ND has no more "older" people at the games than any other school.

Does the music help? Yes. But it can only do so much, people still have to yell/cheer/scream/etc.

To get a louder stadium its a combo of all those things. A team that is in a battle for a playoff hunt= more people excited. Which in turn leads to people caring more. Which leads to people being loud.

Two suggestion that are probably in the works....Jumbotron. Yes people are against. Yes, you all know my stance and I dont think turf/jumbotrons = tradition. But, to those who disagree with saying that a jumbotron wouldnt make a difference..

Just think about this. Instead of seeing the team at the tunnel and running onto the field. What if you saw a live feed of them coming down the stairs, touching the PLACT sign, walking into the tunnel, walking down the tunnel before your own eyes. Add some badass music to it. That increases the pregame hype by 100xs easy.

I mean if ND had a jumbotron/video board and put something like this up. Is there really a question that place wouldnt go nuts each week?

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/HyfFPjz7A20" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/kpiotKpYrjY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe src="//player.vimeo.com/video/55640633" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/55640633">Penn State Football Stadium Intro 2012</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/bluechipmediagroup">Bluechip Media Group</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>


Get the people fired up from the get go!!

The other thing is adding more seats. I mean 80k is a fine number, but Michigan, Penn St, osu are over 100k. LSU, Bama, AM, Texas, UGA, Fla all over 90k. Oregon is at about 53k but the stadium is built to trap noise while NDs isnt. Building a press box opposite the current press box will help trap noise in the stadium...ala Michigan.

I think they are doing some of the right steps, but winning helps and giving the fans something to get hype never hurts. ND is just lacking in those two areas. Winning is coming, I truly believe that. But you want to be on par with bigtime programs across the board, you need to add the hype factor.

 

[calvegas04]

A ND version of that AZ intro video would have me run thru a wall or two

 

[Crazy Balki]

Notre Dame stadium is quiet and has been quiet for years.

Is it because the teams have been subpar for so long? That has some to do with it.

Is it because the student section is so small? Sure it would help ND had a bigger enrollment so therefore there would be more students at the games.

Is it because there are a lot of older people that go to the game? No. ND has no more "older" people at the games than any other school.

Does the music help? Yes. But it can only do so much, people still have to yell/cheer/scream/etc.

To get a louder stadium its a combo of all those things. A team that is in a battle for a playoff hunt= more people excited. Which in turn leads to people caring more. Which leads to people being loud.

Two suggestion that are probably in the works....Jumbotron. Yes people are against. Yes, you all know my stance and I dont think turf/jumbotrons = tradition. But, to those who disagree with saying that a jumbotron wouldnt make a difference..

Just think about this. Instead of seeing the team at the tunnel and running onto the field. What if you saw a live feed of them coming down the stairs, touching the PLACT sign, walking into the tunnel, walking down the tunnel before your own eyes. Add some badass music to it. That increases the pregame hype by 100xs easy.

I mean if ND had a jumbotron/video board and put something like this up. Is there really a question that place wouldnt go nuts each week?

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/HyfFPjz7A20" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/kpiotKpYrjY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe src="//player.vimeo.com/video/55640633" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/55640633">Penn State Football Stadium Intro 2012</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/bluechipmediagroup">Bluechip Media Group</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>


Get the people fired up from the get go!!

The other thing is adding more seats. I mean 80k is a fine number, but Michigan, Penn St, osu are over 100k. LSU, Bama, AM, Texas, UGA, Fla all over 90k. Oregon is at about 53k but the stadium is built to trap noise while NDs isnt. Building a press box opposite the current press box will help trap noise in the stadium...ala Michigan.

I think they are doing some of the right steps, but winning helps and giving the fans something to get hype never hurts. ND is just lacking in those two areas. Winning is coming, I truly believe that. But you want to be on par with bigtime programs across the board, you need to add the hype factor.

ND definitely has disadvantages when it comes to crowd noise, but why is it so difficult to get the noise up now, when it was arguably the loudest stadium in the country back when it only had under 60,000 seats. Now it has 20,000+ more and the noise has died down?

I definitely agree with everything you said, minus the seat increase. The Big House is probably the worst example of stadium expansion, and unfortunately, Notre Dame Stadium is almost identical (albeit smaller) to the Big House. Because of the bowl-shaped structure, the noise doesn't stay in as well, and increase seating won't help all that much. It also makes the experience less enjoyable, as the the seating is further away from the action, and more bunched in. That's why double deckers are generally superior to bowl stadiums. They allow more noise to stay in, allow more flexible expansion without having to pack your fans in like sardines, ala Michigan.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Speaking of crowd noise:

Purdue is currently converting their shitty bleachers in the South end zone to a beer garden. It is only going to be available to John Purdue Club members, but should help with their sagging attendance and fanfare. Booze=Fun. Fun=Attendance when your program is horrible.

 

[dshans]

Calm down Dshan. Love the Oles but no need to paint your hair blue...Argentina may win the World Cup...do it then.

GET OFF MY ASTROTURF, PUNK!!!

USA! USA!! USA!!!