Crowd Noise

[OFortuna]

Over the years Commonwealth Stadium has not presented visiting teams with a challenging environment in which to play. Oh, we've had our moments, and demonstrated that we can be loud when the team is playing well. On the whole, however, we tend to wait for good things to happen on the field; if they don't, we're more apt to lapse into silent resignation than try to help turn things around through our collective will. Thus we have to blast music from loudspeakers right up until the opponent snaps the ball to compensate for the silence.

With a refurbished stadium and hopes for an improved team, I'd like to see us elevate expectations for crowd participation as well. After all, it's those moments of synergy between stands and field that really sets the "stadium experience" apart from the "couch experience." A little leadership -- from the band, the students, or even a dedicated cadre of fans in one section -- can often get the rest of us caught up in a collective chant or just some old fashioned hollering. Maybe we need Jared Lorenzen to stalk the sidelines with a microphone the whole game instead of just between the third and fourth quarters. Whatever it takes, I'd love to see Commonwealth become a venue on par with others in the SEC that can actually affect an opponent's play.

 

[C1180]

I love the air raid sirens and would like to see them used for more than just after a score. Maybe they could be used as a rally device to fire up the crowd.

 

[Nuke99m]

Move the bluehairs.

 

[UKWinsAgainYep]

I love the air raid sirens and would like to see them used for more than just after a score. Maybe they could be used as a rally device to fire up the crowd.

I don't like the sirens because it's not accurate. We're not really an "air raid" offense under Dawson , whatever that means.

We're a spread and we will consistently run the ball. This isn't Mumme ball.

 

[lil2coupe]

Over the years Commonwealth Stadium has not presented visiting teams with a challenging environment in which to play. Oh, we've had our moments, and demonstrated that we can be loud when the team is playing well. On the whole, however, we tend to wait for good things to happen on the field; if they don't, we're more apt to lapse into silent resignation than try to help turn things around through our collective will. Thus we have to blast music from loudspeakers right up until the opponent snaps the ball to compensate for the silence.

With a refurbished stadium and hopes for an improved team, I'd like to see us elevate expectations for crowd participation as well. After all, it's those moments of synergy between stands and field that really sets the "stadium experience" apart from the "couch experience." A little leadership -- from the band, the students, or even a dedicated cadre of fans in one section -- can often get the rest of us caught up in a collective chant or just some old fashioned hollering. Maybe we need Jared Lorenzen to stalk the sidelines with a microphone the whole game instead of just between the third and fourth quarters. Whatever it takes, I'd love to see Commonwealth become a venue on par with others in the SEC that can actually affect an opponent's play.

We need more beach balls. (just kidding).

 

[southindycat]

Not a fan of the air raid sirens. I also think it is a little late in the game to let the ROTC roll out a cannon. Fireworks? Might be a nice touch for the end of home wins. As for touchdowns, I think it would be cool to have the same people responsible for the win contingent end of game fireworks set off three successive mortar simulators (or like) after any touchdown. Just BOOM, BOOM, BOOM with no obvious source.

 

[pickled cat]

I don't really like the Air Raid label either, but I think we can still have the sirens without the label. No disrespect to anyone , but none of us know if this is Mumme ball or not. I only seen one open practice, but was very pleased to see how much it did look like Mumme ball. We get so fired up about Mumme Throwing the ball all over the yard, we tend to forget how well his teams also ran the ball. This Dawson spread seams to have an as needed power element to it as well. WinsAgain I really like your take on Dawson's ability to run the ball in his scheme, this has me really fired up as well. Here's hoping for Mumme ball on steroids!!!!! GBB!!!

 

[Bank Cat]

II wonder if putting a new facade on the outside of the stadium, the new press box, etc. - is there any way that the acoustics increase the volume? Stupid thought, but I guess we'll find out.

 

[hmt5000]

i would think the press boxes should help hold some noise in. wish we had a decibel meter for that lsu game and then we could compare it to some loud moments this year to see.

 

[jnewc2]

Over the years Commonwealth Stadium has not presented visiting teams with a challenging environment in which to play. Oh, we've had our moments, and demonstrated that we can be loud when the team is playing well. On the whole, however, we tend to wait for good things to happen on the field; if they don't, we're more apt to lapse into silent resignation than try to help turn things around through our collective will. Thus we have to blast music from loudspeakers right up until the opponent snaps the ball to compensate for the silence.

With a refurbished stadium and hopes for an improved team, I'd like to see us elevate expectations for crowd participation as well. After all, it's those moments of synergy between stands and field that really sets the "stadium experience" apart from the "couch experience." A little leadership -- from the band, the students, or even a dedicated cadre of fans in one section -- can often get the rest of us caught up in a collective chant or just some old fashioned hollering. Maybe we need Jared Lorenzen to stalk the sidelines with a microphone the whole game instead of just between the third and fourth quarters. Whatever it takes, I'd love to see Commonwealth become a venue on par with others in the SEC that can actually affect an opponent's play.

Forgetting the two most important things for a "loud" environment:

-having a semi-successful, competitive team to cheer for

-seating capacity...decreasing seating by 7,000 (which is quite a few when your stadium is already one of the smallest in the league) makes a stadium noticably quieter..there's a reason why the loudest stadiums have the most ppl sitting in them...will never forgive them for decreasing our stadium size and hurting our home field advantage in the process

 

[OFortuna]

Forgetting the two most important things for a "loud" environment:

No, not forgetting. Just suggesting that as "the crowd" we need to stay in the game even when things aren't going our way -- the same thing we expect of the team. And we need to find ways to encourage that. I've heard Commonwealth be plenty loud AT TIMES, but I've also heard us allow a vastly outnumbered visitor's section to shout us down. It's not just numbers; it's attitude.

I don't expect us to become Death Valley, and I realize it's hard to stay vocal if you're getting your butt kicked. But we slip too easily into a "wait and see" or a "here we go again" mentality at the first sign of trouble. I'd like to be part of a crowd that exhibits the same qualities of fight and tenacity we expect from the folks we're there to see and cheer for. I think most people do. We just need some leadership to pull it together. Where's Wesley Woodyard?!

 

[bluescat92]

No, not forgetting. Just suggesting that as "the crowd" we need to stay in the game even when things aren't going our way -- the same thing we expect of the team. And we need to find ways to encourage that. I've heard Commonwealth be plenty loud AT TIMES, but I've also heard us allow a vastly outnumbered visitor's section to shout us down. It's not just numbers; it's attitude.

I don't expect us to become Death Valley, and I realize it's hard to stay vocal if you're getting your butt kicked. But we slip too easily into a "wait and see" or a "here we go again" mentality at the first sign of trouble. I'd like to be part of a crowd that exhibits the same qualities of fight and tenacity we expect from the folks we're there to see and cheer for. I think most people do. We just need some leadership to pull it together. Where's Wesley Woodyard?!

I don't know how many games you have been to but if we are leading or its close the fans are loud and into it. Let's face it, if we're down big no one is there for it to be loud.

When CWS is rocking it is very loud. Be a competitive team and the fans will support and cheer loudly. We always have.

 

[Jon(-24)]

-seating capacity...decreasing seating by 7,000 (which is quite a few when your stadium is already one of the smallest in the league) makes a stadium noticably quieter..there's a reason why the loudest stadiums have the most ppl sitting in them...will never forgive them for decreasing our stadium size and hurting our home field advantage in the process

Autzen's 54,000 fans put Michigan's 110,000 to shame, a reason Washington's 72,000 put LSU's 100,000. There's a reason the loudest stadiums don't have the most people sitting in them. It's called science, science is the reason. Don't confuse noise with our seating capacity dick measuring contest. A well built stadium with 61K fans will make three times the volume that 68K people sitting in a cow field will.

Side note, for the mods... Are we gonna get the ignore feature back on this site or is it gonna continue to be largely unreadable because of trolls?

 

[Vonburns1]

Our greatest problem is the stadium construction. Seats anchored in concrete make no noise. If you sat in Neyland Stadium and stomped on the seats in an empty stadium, you make an incredible noise because those seats I sat on were not anchored the same way Commonwealth's seats are, or the seat assembly was different. Then multiple my noise there by 100,000.

 

[C1180]

Move the bluehairs.

When you are able to pay the price you will get to sit where the blue hairs sit. The blue hairs support UK sports.

 

[ukalum01]

Commonwealth is really flat (especially in the upper) compared to most other major stadiums I've visited. Makes a huge difference with the acoustics.

 

[Deeeefense]

there's a reason why the loudest stadiums have the most ppl sitting in them...will never forgive them for decreasing our stadium size and hurting our home field advantage in the process

Century Link Field at Seattle is the loudest stadium in the NFL and probably louder than any college stadium as well. It set a Guinness World Record for decibel level of 136+. It seats 67,000 about the same as CWS.
Not that the number of people in the stadium don't make a difference, obviously more mouths can create more noise, but the secret is really the acoustics designed into the stadium. Century Link was designed for noise. Arrowhead in KC is a pretty loud one too.

 

[RV2]

Side note, for the mods... Are we gonna get the ignore feature back on this site or is it gonna continue to be largely unreadable because of trolls?

I'ts pretty much always been there. Click on the offender's name and an ignore choice will show up.

 

[LordEgg]

I want flare guns and cymbals in the stands at all times.

 

[cat_in_the_hat]

I don't really like the Air Raid label either, but I think we can still have the sirens without the label. No disrespect to anyone , but none of us know if this is Mumme ball or not. I only seen one open practice, but was very pleased to see how much it did look like Mumme ball. We get so fired up about Mumme Throwing the ball all over the yard, we tend to forget how well his teams also ran the ball. This Dawson spread seams to have an as needed power element to it as well. WinsAgain I really like your take on Dawson's ability to run the ball in his scheme, this has me really fired up as well. Here's hoping for Mumme ball on steroids!!!!! GBB!!!

I agree. The Air Raid Siren does not have to mean Mumme ball. It's just something unique that we do when we score. It originated during the Mumme era, but it doesn't have to mean anything with respect to the type of offense we run unless we trot out a 4 yards and a cloud of dust type offense. Even then, I'm not sure we couldn't continue with it. Personally, I like them. It is one of the few things we do that is unique.

 

[Deeeefense]

I agree. The Air Raid Siren does not have to mean Mumme ball. It's just something unique that we do when we score. It originated during the Mumme era, but it doesn't have to mean anything with respect to the type of offense we run unless we trot out a 4 yards and a cloud of dust type offense. Even then, I'm not sure we couldn't continue with it. Personally, I like them. It is one of the few things we do that is unique.

I agree I like the Air Raid Siren coupled with the fireworks. It all works well together

 

[Jon(-24)]

I'ts pretty much always been there. Click on the offender's name and an ignore choice will show up.

Thanks, hadn't seen it since the new format was rolled out.

 

[Levibooty]

I think the sirens and fireworks are/were close to being Kentucky's signature celebration isn't it? When Kentucky beats a team worth beating, CWS is a pretty neat place to be. When Stevie got loose I was having one heckuva time and it was pretty dang loud!

 

[bluescat92]

I think the sirens and fireworks are/were close to being Kentucky's signature celebration isn't it? When Kentucky beats a team worth beating, CWS is a pretty neat place to be. When Stevie got loose I was having one heckuva time and it was pretty dang loud!

At the LSU game when one side chanted WE and the other BELIEVE that was loud and special since the fans initiated it. Both CWS wins over South Carolina were real loud.