For those who were at the game

[nategreat]

Only showed 110 on decible meter on tv. It sounded louder though.

A Chiefs fan back during the whole back-and-forth wrote an excellent article about different ways of measuring decibels, and what wavelengths of sound you record. He argued that Guinness was measuring ALL sound energy, including those at wavelengths that are inaudible, to get their intensity ratings, which would give a much higher number. He argued that most games, including the Chiefs in the 90s, were measured by a means that measured only audible ranges, producing measurements around 105, which were probably more accurate. This particular fan is a sound engineer, and I think it's a great read. Didn't seem biased one way or the other.

Can't find a link right now, though I did try.

Hmmm, interesting...

 

[jkitsune]

Found it: http://www.arrowheadpride.com/2013/12/3 ... st-stadium

If you're interested.

 

[JonRud]

It was extremely loud and sustained. Crowd was awesome.

Have to say the 49ers handled it very well - didn't seem to affect them much.

Maybe Kaep had a headache by the end that's why he threw the two INTs.

 

[James in PA]

On TV it definitely came across as loud, but maybe not the loudest I've ever heard it. My theory at the time was that it was due to the awful way the game began for the Hawks. I thought there was a feeling of "uh oh" in the stadium.

 

[Dtowers]

Time and time again it has to be said. They adjust the levels so that the broadcast isn't drowned out by crowd noise. What you hear on TV is not an accurate representation of what it sounds like in the stadium.

 

[bigskydoc]

That first play definitely deflated the crowd. It took at least two SF plays before it ramped fully up again.

- bsd

 

[Dtowers]

Uh...how could it deflate the crowd. We were on offense it isn't like they were full throat and then got shut down. Crowd got into it as soon as SF took the field on O. Anybody that says different is deaf.

 

[Shout_out]

I agree it was easily the most consistently loud game of the year. From huddle to snap when we were on defense it was damn loud. Every defensive play, all 4 quarters.

I think the records set earlier in the year game were on big plays. I would argue that the noise made on Marshawn’s touchdown would have broken those records.

The downside was that it was pretty loud when we were on offense. The players were often trying to quiet the crowd. I had to coach the lady in front of me to stop screaming when we were on offense.

 

[seahawks08]

It was loud, but it was loud when our offense was in the field too, that tells me there were much more newer crowds who don't go to games often. The bleacher seats were filled by 9er fans, but that made it even more sweeter for us to yell more louder and closer to their ears. Eventually after every play we made, I ended up giving hi fi's to the 9er fans who mellowed down. They told me they paid way too much money for the seats.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

My ears were still ringing the next afternoon, it was very loud.

 

[bigskydoc]

I'm saying different, and I'm not deaf yet.

Deflated says the guy from Sec 123 who was trying to get the South End Zone to quiet down when the Hawks took the field for the first drive.

It was deafening right up to the point that Wilson fumbled, then it became silent. The noise didn't ramp back up fully in my section until 3rd down even though I was at full volume before the Niners made it into the huddle for their first play.

-bsd

 

[Dtowers]

^ Deaf

 

[2_0_6]

as mentioned above, there were a TON of Niner fans there especially behind their bench. In my section (241) is was very loud and I could barely hear myself yelling.

 

[RezHawk]

Loudest Crowd ever in my opinion especially the 4th Quarter. Every Twelve in 319 was full throttle.

 

[BocciHawk]

Moderately loud. Agree that the Saints (both games) and the 49ers game were louder. Not that this was a bad game, but not as loud. I do think that there were more 49ers fans than normal, that's part of it, and the slow start by the Seahawks was part of the problem too... and of course maybe the white collar blue collar thing (playoff games = more fans with money = possibly fans with more decorum or less wasted fans).

That said it was very clear to me that the FOX measurement had only passing resemblance to how Guinness measured sound levels... the explanation earlier makes sense, and there's also ways to weight decibels i.e. are you using a raw measurement, or one that more accurately reflects how the human ear hears different frequencies? In other words, even beyond the concept of how much weight you give sounds people cannot hear, but are generating, there's also the concept that the microphone may have equalization issues which means it does not hear like a human ear -- do you try to adjust for that, or just use a raw measurement.

I bet if FOX had the same setup as Guinness they would have been getting readings in the 130-132 area for good chunks of the game, and I'm sure the go ahead touchdown, and the pick to seal the win, both had spikes that were in the 136+ area, perhaps breaking the record. Hell Mack got the crowd really fired up for the 2nd half kickoff... it was really super loud then.

I will also agree with PP who commented on how people stayed noisy more continuously... which was really good, it definitely forced SF to spend more time in the huddle communicating, so they had less time at the line, less margin for error...

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Hey Rez, I'm in 319 as well, what row are you in? It was nuts for sure, I'm in Row A