jmt57

The NFL is saying that as part of their effort to improve their game-day experience (i.e., spend lots of $ to watch it live rather than watch it for free at home), they are allowing teams to tell fans on their video boards that they need to get loud at certain times during the game.

I have a few thoughts on this.

One, I think it's pretty sad that fans need to be told when to be loud or when to be quiet; that goes for any sport and not just the NFL. Then again, when a stadium ends up being filled by corporate execs and their potential business partners, neither of whom have an emotional interest in the team or the game being played, then it's not surprising that they need a flashing video to catch their attention and tell them it's time to pay attention to the game on the field. I guess when the NFL says "make the game experience better" perhaps they mean "more bells and whistles for people who could care less about the game."

Another thing this will result in is that much more of a home advantage for dome teams. Perhaps last year was an anomaly, but it seemed like there was an inordinate amount of dome teams in last year's playoffs. That's not the result of any one single rule change in my opinion, but instead the cumulative effect of multiple rule changes and 'point of emphasis' instructions to referees. Receivers and quarterbacks have both been recepients of multiple rule changes in their favors over the last decade.

Who is behind this rule change and why? Well, the NFL's competition committee spearheads rule changes, and Bill Polian of the Colts is the most powerful force on that committee. Teams that would stand to gain the most are dome teams such as the Colts. Teams that would stand to gain the least are outdoor teams such as the Pats, especially in a stadium that as constructed does not retain sound very well in comparison to other stadiums.

It used to be that a team built for the playoffs needed a strong running game and a sound defensive line. Now instead it seems like a playoff team needs to build a dome and perhaps a good sound system.


League: Make some noise!
NFL to teams: Bring the noise - JSOnline

Uncle Meat

I think you are overreacting a bit.

Patjew

They do that in the Boston Garden or whatever they call it now. I think it's weak, but WGAF. I think alot of fans at Gillette could use the prompts. Unless the Jets or Colts are visiting, you can usually here a mouse fart.

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captain stone

Terrific. The NBA-ization of the NFL continues...

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RayClay

Does everyone get to use speakers under the seats, or just the Colts?

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DarrylS

I thought that this stuff already happened????

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convertedpatsfan

It is sad, though I don't see it impacting the competitiveness of games. Dome crowds that need to be told when to make noise aren't really going to be much of a home field advantage anyways.

Bostonian1962

Not silencers though. Still a bit too much noise to hear those.

Sean Pa Patriot

Here is a away for the nfl to get more fans in the stands...

1 Lower the price of tickets a bit

2 Lower the parking

3 stop serving beer at kickoff- that way people are not getting up and down every 10 min...And you dont have any mooks getting hammered at the 3rd quarter..

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We going to take it one game at a time

Patjew

4. Stop allowing people with speech impediments in the stadium.

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