The N.F.L. is not antinoise, exactly. It just does not appreciate certain types at certain times. The N.F.L. rule book even has a 900-word section devoted to crowd noise; too much when the visiting offense is on the field can draw a penalty for the home team.

Teams also receive detailed, and restrictive, instructions from the league about ways to elicit reactions from their fans. Under the guidelines, some electronic messages — “Let’s go crazy” and “Pump it up” are among those listed — are not acceptable.

Other chants (“De-fense!”) are appropriate, at certain times. Encouraging the wave is not — ever.

The New York Times reported this weekend that the NFL (No Fun League) continues to limit their teams and fans from interacting with the game.  Now they are so concerned that noise is effecting the game that they are putting transmitters in helmets. 

Adjusting the communications with players is a good step, one less ridiculous than shushing the crowd (which is probably next). 

It’s also a bit ridiculous that stadiums now are build specifically to enhance crowd noise (like Quest Field in Seattle).  What a waste that appears to be now.

In college I wrote a paper on the football stadiums of the future, which I predicted would trend towards a 20-30,000 seat TV studio, and away from the 70,000+ seat stadiums of the current era.  My anaylsis was that the cost of land, building costs, managing, infastructure and staffing those stadiums would become so high for what is a very small percentage of the total audience (when you consider the TV audience).  Why spend thousands of dollars per live fan, when you really just need some atmosphere in the stands?  Now the NFL has additional reason:  A smaller crowd is quieter and more easy to manage. 

Time will tell. In the mean time….be quiet out there.

-Cudo