Why has Neyland Stadium become "less intimidating" since 2001-2002?

#1
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MrBamSeydu

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#1
A UGA fan called into 99.1 a little over an hour ago and I happened to catch it on the drive home. The guy says he lives in Knoxville and has since 1992. He loves Knoxville and Neyland Stadium, but he's always been a UGA fan.

He said he went to a Bama @ UT game in the early-90's as well as several other UT games throughout the 90's. "It was the scariest place... the scariest stadium environment I've ever been in as a football fan." That's what he said about Neyland Stadium in the 90s up until around 2001. He went to a few games after that and criticized it as being "... a bunch of business men sitting on their hands having a chat; able to actually hear each other enough to have a conversation. In the 90s, you couldn't hear yourself think." While I'm sure some of that is a little skewed, I do have to agree with him. Watching the replay, I remember seeing the TV cameras shaking from the noise during the '98 Florida game. I haven't seen that much since then. I understand losing seasons and mediocre play affects attendance. But even when the stadium is close to full, it isn't as loud as it used to be.

Maybe the reason Neyland Stadium has been getting critiqued more and more over the past several years is heavily related to the fall in the economy. Too many no-nonsense people with money in the stands and not enough rowdy country folk, college age and 20-somethings. who have been drinking since the sun came up. I've heard a lot of younger fans talk about senior citizens that are "sitting on their hands" and prudes who get mad if someone stands up to cheer. But the economy doesn't affect those senior citizens who are sailing on retirement. Or the business men shaking hands and making deals in the sky-boxes. The economy affects the rowdy country folk, college age and 20-somethings.

The price of tickets and all the things that come along with actually going to a game is getting pretty expensive if you aren't fairly financially blessed. $50-100 for a ticket, gasoline, parking, hotel if you're an out-of-towner, etc. So a lot of the lower class and lower-middle class would just assume use their savings to buy a 55" LED TV and end the costs at the couch every Saturday afternoon. And the rowdy country folk, college age and 20-somethings seem satisfied with that at this time. Every time they end up paying to go to a game, everyone around them tells them to sit down and be quiet.

Just a thought. :hi:

v,b
 
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#3
#3
MrBamSeydu said:
A UGA fan called into 99.1 a little over an hour ago and I happened to catch it on the drive home. The guy says he lives in Knoxville and has since 1992. He loves Knoxville and Neyland Stadium, but he's always been a UGA fan.

He said he went to a Bama @ UT game in the early-90's as well as several other UT games throughout the 90's. "It was the scariest place... the scariest stadium environment I've ever been in as a football fan." That's what he said about Neyland Stadium in the 90s up until around 2001. He went to a few games after that and criticized it as being "... a bunch of business men sitting on their hands having a chat; able to actually hear each other enough to have a conversation. In the 90s, you couldn't hear yourself think." While I'm sure some of that is a little skewed, I do have to agree with him. Watching the replay, I remember seeing the cameras shaking from the noise during the replay of the '98 Florida game. I haven't seen that much since then. I understand losing seasons and mediocre play affects attendance. But even when the stadium is close to full, it isn't as loud as it used to be.

Maybe the reason Neyland Stadium has been getting critiqued more and more over the past several years is heavily related to the fall in the economy. Too many no-nonsense people with money in the stands and not enough rowdy country folk, college age and 20-somethings. who have been drinking since the sun came up. I've heard a lot of younger fans talk about senior citizens that are "sitting on their hands" and prudes who get mad if someone stands up to cheer. But the economy doesn't affect those senior citizens who are sailing on retirement. Or the business men shaking hands and making deals in the sky-boxes. The economy affects the rowdy country folk, college age and 20-somethings.

The price of tickets and all the things that come along with actually going to a game is getting pretty expensive if you aren't fairly financially blessed. $50-100 for a ticket, gasoline, parking, hotel if you're an out-of-towner, etc. So a lot of the lower class and lower-middle class would just assume use their savings to buy a 55" LED TV and end the costs at the couch every Saturday afternoon. And the rowdy country folk, college age and 20-somethings seem satisfied with that at this time. Every time they end up paying to go to a game, everyone around them tells them to sit down and be quiet.

Just a thought. :hi:

v,b
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Tv markets carrying the games, price of tickets, economy, the way neyland has been remodled have all played part in the sound and atmosphere of the game. The entire upper west end spends half of the game in there stupid press boxes.
 
#5
#5
He was commenting on it since around 2002 as been far less intimidating than the 90s. So it was before the change with the new boxes. He's talking about the people at the games specifically.
 
#11
#11
It wasn't just filling the seats it was the 20k on the strip wanting in the game. The stadium added 15k seats and still was a sellout every Saturday. If we start winning and put a product on the field like we had then the place will be rowdy again. It got close at the '09 UGA game and the Cal game. It isn't the economy as much either since I remember people spending $200 bucks a ticket when good teams came to Neyland. I think I spent $150 for Notre Dame in 1999.
 
#12
#12
MrBamSeydu said:
Winning will pack the stadium but it won't make it loud. The people still have to make noise.
Click to expand...

This. I've never understood how other smaller stadiums can seem so much more rawkus then ours. Our student section is probably one of the quietest in the NCAA. I don't get it...

I want it to be loud, and for hordes of people to paint up and toss bodies on the field the whole game. Let's make it scary again. Make the other teams fear for their lives and well being.l
 
#14
#14
MrBamSeydu said:
A UGA fan called into 99.1 a little over an hour ago and I happened to catch it on the drive home. The guy says he lives in Knoxville and has since 1992. He loves Knoxville and Neyland Stadium, but he's always been a UGA fan.

He said he went to a Bama @ UT game in the early-90's as well as several other UT games throughout the 90's. "It was the scariest place... the scariest stadium environment I've ever been in as a football fan." That's what he said about Neyland Stadium in the 90s up until around 2001. He went to a few games after that and criticized it as being "... a bunch of business men sitting on their hands having a chat; able to actually hear each other enough to have a conversation. In the 90s, you couldn't hear yourself think." While I'm sure some of that is a little skewed, I do have to agree with him. Watching the replay, I remember seeing the TV cameras shaking from the noise during the '98 Florida game. I haven't seen that much since then. I understand losing seasons and mediocre play affects attendance. But even when the stadium is close to full, it isn't as loud as it used to be.

Maybe the reason Neyland Stadium has been getting critiqued more and more over the past several years is heavily related to the fall in the economy. Too many no-nonsense people with money in the stands and not enough rowdy country folk, college age and 20-somethings. who have been drinking since the sun came up. I've heard a lot of younger fans talk about senior citizens that are "sitting on their hands" and prudes who get mad if someone stands up to cheer. But the economy doesn't affect those senior citizens who are sailing on retirement. Or the business men shaking hands and making deals in the sky-boxes. The economy affects the rowdy country folk, college age and 20-somethings.

The price of tickets and all the things that come along with actually going to a game is getting pretty expensive if you aren't fairly financially blessed. $50-100 for a ticket, gasoline, parking, hotel if you're an out-of-towner, etc. So a lot of the lower class and lower-middle class would just assume use their savings to buy a 55" LED TV and end the costs at the couch every Saturday afternoon. And the rowdy country folk, college age and 20-somethings seem satisfied with that at this time. Every time they end up paying to go to a game, everyone around them tells them to sit down and be quiet.

Just a thought. :hi:

v,b
Click to expand...

Win some games. We also have a huge problem in the lower levels of the stadium with older people not getting up and cheering. I sat in X1 and it pisses me off to no end that 4 old people sat right in front of me and never yell or cheer when we do something good. They complain when u scream to loud. The women bring books and read during the game. This is a problem in almost every section. I'm not dawging the old folk, but if u can't cheer then don't complain when the rest of us do. It's the same thing at Rupp Arena in Lexington during BBall. All the lower level seats are taken by old donors who can afford it and won't give them up. This is why Rupp don't even compare to many other smaller stadiums during games. The people won't get up and cheer.
 
#15
#15
Did they ever implement the Pre-Game Honey Initiative? Or as we in know refer to it... P.G.H.I.?

I still contend that this initiative, if carried out stealthily, will have our fans stomping the yard in no time.
 
#18
#18
Let's see...

-Losing
-Ticket costs
-Gas costs
-******* ushers making people sit down and not stand up to cheer for their team
-Major changes with the staff over the last several years has put a rift in the fan base
-TV contracts (i can watch them play from home attitude)
The list can go on....
 
#20
#20
Losing, plain and simple. We have sucked for years now. When we get good again it will be hostile. Don't blame tv, it will be loud when there is actually something to cheer about.
 
#22
#22
AJeray4TN said:
It's all of you young punks, with your rap battles that keep me from seeing the game.

Down in front.
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Think you are on to something. I took a UGA fan with me to a 90's night game when Heath Shuler destroyed the dawgs. She felt the noise was unbearable and an unfair advantage.

We had no cell phones or Ipads or such distractions. My biggest worry was making sure I didn't burn through my Kickin' Chicken or Southern Comfort before the game ended. Have they gotten tougher on allowing refreshments in? Drunks do tend to do everything louder.

Maybe this younger generation is just a bunch of wusses? :)
 
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#23
#23
SmokeySteve said:
Think you are on to something. I took a UGA fan with me to a 90's night game when Heath Shuler destroyed the dawgs. She felt the noise was unbearable and an unfair advantage.

We had no cell phones or Ipads or such distractions. My biggest worry was making sure I didn't burn through my Kickin' Chicken or Southern Comfort before the game ended. Have they gotten tougher on allowing refreshments in? Drunks do tend to do everything louder.

Maybe this younger generation is just a bunch of wusses? :)
Click to expand...

In my experience, it was always extremely easy to sneak liquor into Neyland. Forget all this zip lock bag, fake binoculars, hide it in your crotch BS. We used to just snag a bottle off the confiscation table while the guards weren't looking. You were already past security, and someone else did all the hard work for you.
 
#24
#24
MrBamSeydu said:
A UGA fan called into 99.1 a little over an hour ago and I happened to catch it on the drive home. The guy says he lives in Knoxville and has since 1992. He loves Knoxville and Neyland Stadium, but he's always been a UGA fan.

He said he went to a Bama @ UT game in the early-90's as well as several other UT games throughout the 90's. "It was the scariest place... the scariest stadium environment I've ever been in as a football fan." That's what he said about Neyland Stadium in the 90s up until around 2001. He went to a few games after that and criticized it as being "... a bunch of business men sitting on their hands having a chat; able to actually hear each other enough to have a conversation. In the 90s, you couldn't hear yourself think." While I'm sure some of that is a little skewed, I do have to agree with him. Watching the replay, I remember seeing the TV cameras shaking from the noise during the '98 Florida game. I haven't seen that much since then. I understand losing seasons and mediocre play affects attendance. But even when the stadium is close to full, it isn't as loud as it used to be.

Maybe the reason Neyland Stadium has been getting critiqued more and more over the past several years is heavily related to the fall in the economy. Too many no-nonsense people with money in the stands and not enough rowdy country folk, college age and 20-somethings. who have been drinking since the sun came up. I've heard a lot of younger fans talk about senior citizens that are "sitting on their hands" and prudes who get mad if someone stands up to cheer. But the economy doesn't affect those senior citizens who are sailing on retirement. Or the business men shaking hands and making deals in the sky-boxes. The economy affects the rowdy country folk, college age and 20-somethings.

The price of tickets and all the things that come along with actually going to a game is getting pretty expensive if you aren't fairly financially blessed. $50-100 for a ticket, gasoline, parking, hotel if you're an out-of-towner, etc. So a lot of the lower class and lower-middle class would just assume use their savings to buy a 55" LED TV and end the costs at the couch every Saturday afternoon. And the rowdy country folk, college age and 20-somethings seem satisfied with that at this time. Every time they end up paying to go to a game, everyone around them tells them to sit down and be quiet.

Just a thought. :hi:

v,b
Click to expand...

I hope you're 12 with the UGA thing. Maybe that's the kind of thing that makes no one afraid of Neyland.
 
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