I can only speak for what I know, but myself and UF friends who have attended games at Auburn are in agreement that Jordan-Hare is the loudest stadium we’ve been in, especially given the capacity. The older I’ve gotten, the more the stadium experience has become more important to me than actual capacity. By experience I mean quicker access to concessions, restrooms, easier (more room for) movement around the stadium, TV’s for not missing action and individual seating/chair backs. For me, I think it stems from the work it takes to get to games now vs. being a student, in addition to coming to games as a family, so there’s more people to think about and the “issues” that come with that.
By the time we drive and fight traffic for 4 hours on a Friday evening, unpack and re-pack a car at the hotel and fight traffic and parking to get to campus on Saturday we’re already worn out. Carrying a 4 year old up to the upper deck isn’t in the cards no matter how good of shape I’m in, so he has to walk and us hold hands. The running of the bulls that is getting around a Neyland concourse makes for a difficult, and somewhat dangerous, situation at times. In two games so far this year he’s had to go to the bathroom once each game and we made one concession trip together, we missed 3 scores in those 3 trips and there’s not a TV within a mile of us in those scenarios. Half the sinks don’t work in the bathrooms they either don’t come on or don’t shut off, the paper towel dispensers yesterday were jammed in two bathrooms before the game even started. I’m not about making it fancy for the elite but I am in favor of making it more accessible, navigable and enjoyable for families because at the end of the day, kids/families are the lifeblood for future/continuing fandom. I’ve resigned to the fact that this can likely be done with a complete overhaul (when the funds allow) and at the sacrifice of capacity.
