Big House Noise Level Projections
AD Brandon, on Coach's Radio Show, just mentioned that the sound engineers told him that the Big House is projected to be 30% louder than it has been. He didnt get into details but the comment came out of a discussion about the added suites. I hope so, as it would make home games a bit more intimidating for opponents. Add night games to that combination and it will be sweet.
August 26th, 2010 at 7:51 PM ^
We need a bunch of night games so that all of the 60+ tea and crackers crowd is home sleeping.
August 26th, 2010 at 7:54 PM ^
I don't think you'll be able to fill all 109k seats without the blue hairs.
August 26th, 2010 at 7:56 PM ^
Are you kidding? There are tons of younger people who would love to show up.
August 26th, 2010 at 8:00 PM ^
And they can afford the 'donations' that are required for the good seats? I think not.
August 26th, 2010 at 8:01 PM ^
start of the second quarter, if not halftime
August 26th, 2010 at 8:05 PM ^
Seems like we students were particularly bad about it last year. Hopefully it changes this season.
August 26th, 2010 at 8:33 PM ^
As one of the relatively few students that shows up not only on time, but early as well, I endorse this comment.
August 26th, 2010 at 8:16 PM ^
I think it's a pretty common thing for "Blue Hairs" (or anyone for that matter) to give their tickets away to other family or friends when they decide not to go to a game.
August 27th, 2010 at 2:27 AM ^
I don't know the meaning of the phrase, but the only oppourtunity I ever have to go to games is when my dad's friend, who used to live here, but now works in Kansas, gives us the tickets. Only so many oppourtunities I have to go to the games, but I cherish them! Anyway, hopefully my few Big House memories have changed the outlook of somebody about people giving away tickets. Also, if what I said doesn't apply to "Blue Hairs" then just disregard everything, and GO BLUE
August 26th, 2010 at 7:56 PM ^
whippersnapper.
August 26th, 2010 at 8:19 PM ^
If we could fill the big house with nothing but mglblog diehards and the student section the noise level would bring down planes within a 100 mile radius. All I can hope is that all of the 'quiet' fans realize that we enjoy a homefield advantage when they help the noise level, instead of sitting there telling us diehards to sit and quiet down.
August 26th, 2010 at 8:26 PM ^
then last year?
Last year the suite structures were in fully place. It made some noise difference, but not nearly as much as hyped.
What would be any different this year?
August 26th, 2010 at 8:37 PM ^
Win all your home games and beat the hell out of the other team.
August 26th, 2010 at 8:47 PM ^
that's what he made it sound like. This year, compared to others...
August 26th, 2010 at 9:20 PM ^
The structures were in place, but were they fully closed in? I thought there were some sections that hadn't been closed off yet.
Regardless, your point is valid: since the difference between last year and this year would seem to be rather small, where's the 30% increase coming from?
August 26th, 2010 at 9:30 PM ^
no details were given, but Lucas' response seems to provide some context as to where the increase in noise might come from.
August 26th, 2010 at 9:20 PM ^
Though the suite glass windows were in place last year, the suites themselves were unoccupied and the east/west structures were completely unfurnished. Yes, having the glass in place probably made some kind of difference, but since the structures were essentially hollow, the noise from the field could pass through easier and the sound waves that would bounce back towards the bowl would would do so chaotically.
WIth the structures being full this year, we can assume that more sound will bounce back much more focused (ie louder!) than last year.
The occupied structures should make difference in how loud we can expect things to be this year (not sure how much). It is also probably why the University didn't conduct it's measurements last year.
In case you were wondering, I work in post production doing audio/visual work used in Theme Park attractions. Working with engineers, we deal with this kind of thing all the time. When we do the final mixes for any show, we always go down and work in the structures themselves and listen to the mixes with the expected number of guests in them. It sounds completely different than it would in the studio.
Thanks!
Lucas
August 26th, 2010 at 10:14 PM ^
If anything, I would think all that apolstered funiture in the suites would increase the bass absorbtion of the structure if it is even measurable. With the glass in place last year, assuming the windows were pretty well weather sealed, it seems like the only stuff really passing through would mostly be low and low mid frequencies. And if those are being absorbed by furniture and bodies, seems like a net loss of dBs.
But hopefully all those extra bodies & TVs in the suites will generate more sound than they absorb.
Maybe the engineers who designed the renovation should've installed some incognito parabolic arrays into the new structures...but that would be cheating.
August 26th, 2010 at 11:08 PM ^
The thing that doesn't add up to me is the fact that the windows all open in all of the suites. I put the elevators in the stadium so I have a first hand knowledge of what the suites are like. I know the glass panels that cover the entire structures will still help keep the noise in the bowl the way it is supposed to, but wouldn't this also allow for dB loss?
August 26th, 2010 at 11:33 PM ^
area that the openable portion of the windows comprise the face of the structure, but just guessing, I would think that if every window was open at the same time it would only account for around 20% of the surface area of the structure that faces the field. And it really doesn't look like a lot of sound is going to come back out of the suites. Now if the windows swung out and their rest position was at such an angle that the first order reflections were aimed towards the stands or field, there could be a net gain at least in the stands. But that is a moot point since they don't.
I would guess that the difference between this year and last will be mostly neglible, but consider my opinion as nothing but that, I have a sound engineering background but without hard data this is all pure speculation.
August 27th, 2010 at 12:16 AM ^
This site lives on pure speculation! I love this kind of stuff, too. I went to school for audio engineering, however briefly, and have always been interested in that sort of thing. It is nice to hear from someone with some good background on a particular subject. Go Blue.
August 27th, 2010 at 12:54 AM ^
do we get input from experts on things like stadium sound
and it rules
August 27th, 2010 at 2:39 AM ^
hiring?
August 26th, 2010 at 8:53 PM ^
Winning will take care of just about everything.
I had to laugh; reading the thread about the noisiest games ever in Michigan stadium. And so many of the nominations were from 2008 and 2009.
August 27th, 2010 at 2:14 AM ^
when officials actually had to stop play in the 80's because the opposing teams couldn't hear the QB signals.
That was back when the stadium was full of glass liquor bottles after the games.
August 27th, 2010 at 2:13 AM ^
if Rich gives us a team to be loud about.
bottom line....win!
August 27th, 2010 at 3:01 AM ^
The ND game last year was very loud. The TV talking heads even commented on it. The Stadium is louder. The issue was that after the ND game, there wasn't a great deal to shout about during the home games. No one was too interested in EMU. The IU game was a near disaster. After that, there wasn't another home win against a B10 team.
The Stadium will be loud for UConn. Hopefully, there will be reason for that to continue well into the season.
In most cases, Windows provide sound insulation, not walls, since most of the noise comes from the street. If you want to keep the noise level to a minimum, then contact the guys who made me broken glass window repair chicago. I recommend contacting them and clarifying some questions.