MSG Crowd Noise

[chosen]

Over the years, I have seen a lot of the posters here complain about the lack of energy and noise put out by the fans at MSG, and in turn use that as an excuse for the performance on the ice.

Many years ago, we might have been the loudest fans in the sport. We were certainly close to first, if not first.

I have heard the lack of enthusiasm attributed to apathetic fans, bad team performance, and rich people buying up a lot of the seats. None of these is the primary reason for the lack of crowd noise and support at MSG, although they all play a role.

The stadium used to rock regularly. This all came to an end, because at some point after the days of the Islander-Rangers rivalries in the Garden, a decision was made by MSG management to drown out the fans that constantly screamed obscenities.

Their solution was to bombard us with mind-numbingly loud music and commercials the moment a whistle was blown and any sort of stoppage occurred.

We, who had season tickets, at first felt blown out of our seats by this horrific abuse of our eardrums. The result was to anesthetize the entire arena and to ensure that things would remain "civil", at least by management's standards.

Now, the blasting of noise to cover the crowd noise has become accepted, and this will probably never change.

So next time you are at the game and you feel like criticizing the lack of enthusiasm of the home crowd, take a listen to what is spewing from the speakers.

Click to read more...

 

[NYRFAN218]

It's like that at every arena in the league. Doesn't seem to stop the fans in Montreal from being loud.

I mean it could be worse. Look at the measures the Devils are going to in their arena just to stop the fans from saying "you suck."

 

[chosen]

It's like that at every arena in the league. Doesn't seem to stop the fans in Montreal from being loud.

I mean it could be worse. Look at the measures the Devils are going to in their arena just to stop the fans from saying "you suck."

It is going on across the league, but the crowds in Montreal were far louder back then, too. The league has stifled the fans and made it unpleasant at times.

I remember when CBS carried hockey on weekends and we used to chant CBS sucks at those games, and it made it to the air.

 

[Cassano]

NA sports in a nutshell

 

[bubba5]

A few things have contributed. Yes, ticket prices have priced out most of the average fans, giving way to corp seats at least to a third of the arena. Also, now there are to many distractions, people are texting and on the phones all the time. Before smart phones, you were there to watch the game.

 

[NYRFAN218]

A few things have contributed. Yes, ticket prices have priced out most of the average fans, giving way to corp seats at least to a third of the arena. Also, now there are to many distractions, people are texting and on the phones all the time. Before smart phones, you were there to watch the game.

The phones are interesting because this is something that's just happened recently with so many different social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Vine, etc. I'm guilty of checking all those things during the game but it's always during intermissions and play stoppages when they're doing stupid **** in the arena anyway. But there's definitely people during play that are too busy taking selfies with their cameras, tweeting and making statuses about how they're at the Ranger game, and all that.

 

[McD27]

It's hard to clap and scream while talking on the cell, texting or working on BB..let alone watch the game.

Just the way the world evolves.

 

[haveandare]

Maybe it's a difference in broadcast, but I've watched some games where the crowd was very noticeable. There were a couple games in the most recent positive streak where I noticed MSG yelling "Zooook" every time MZA rushed the puck, and games where I recall MSG cheering simply because Kreider had the puck and looked dangerous with it. I wonder if its broadcast differences or if people just really don't get loud unless the team is on a serious roll.

 

[Zamboner]

I talked to my old man a couple weeks ago, and he said, "I'm buying us three seats for next Sunday's game. My treat." I thought to myself, he must have no idea what ticket prices are now. Sure enough, the next day, "About those tickets..." People like my old man, who've been watching hockey for 50+ years, raised their son on hockey, and really give a **** about the game, can't afford tickets anymore.

Not to say that there aren't real fans at MSG anymore. There are still a lot of blue seat season ticket holders, and they're the real deal. There's just a lot less of them now.

 

[Zamboner]

Maybe it's a difference in broadcast, but I've watched some games where the crowd was very noticeable. There were a couple games in the most recent positive streak where I noticed MSG yelling "Zooook" every time MZA rushed the puck, and games where I recall MSG cheering simply because Kreider had the puck and looked dangerous with it. I wonder if its broadcast differences or if people just really don't get loud unless the team is on a serious roll.

The MSG network has the crowd noise really low in the mix. With the occasional NBCSn game, the crowd is a lot more noticeable, which is a good thing, because sometimes it drowns out Doc's nasally, voice cracking, verbal crutch spewing, drivel. So it's partly the MSG network. But make no mistake about it, the crowd just isn't as loud anymore too.

 

[Clausewitz]

The MSG network has the crowd noise really low in the mix. With the occasional NBCSn game, the crowd is a lot more noticeable, which is a good thing, because sometimes it drowns out Doc's nasally, voice cracking, verbal crutch spewing, drivel. So it's partly the MSG network. But make no mistake about it, the crowd just isn't as loud anymore too.

One of the many reasons I love European football.

 

[Megustaelhockey]

It's like that at every arena in the league. Doesn't seem to stop the fans in Montreal from being loud.

I mean it could be worse. Look at the measures the Devils are going to in their arena just to stop the fans from saying "you suck."

There are 3200 more people at games in MTL than there are at games at the Garden and the sound there has nowhere to go but straight up and down. Their building was built for hockey; ours wasn't.

 

[srsly989]

Oh come on! How does that solve the lack of noise during the actual game. Do you really think the 200 different versions of Get Lucky they play is what makes the crowd quieter? I gotta disagree.

Its the prices. Plain and simple.

 

[Kakko]

I'm going to post the same thing here as a post in every thread about this.

There's plenty of loud people at MSG. Unfortunately, like a lot of the people here, they seem to hate the team.

Why? Because when they want to be loud, I still hear them. When Zucc does something awesome? "zuuuuc"s. When Hank makes a big save? "Hen-rik"

And you'll still hear plenty of stupid Potvin chants. Actually, you hear more of those than you hear LGR chants.

The problem isn't the arena. It's the people. And it's not because it's full of corporates and 'real fans' are priced out.
It's because the "real fans", the other 18k people there besides me, are ****ing idiots. They're there and they're loud. They just don't seem to give a **** about the New York Rangers

 

[Gardner McKay]

Oh come on! How does that solve the lack of noise during the actual game. Do you really think the 200 different versions of Get Lucky they play is what makes the crowd quieter? I gotta disagree.

Its the prices. Plain and simple.

Agreed. I don't mind paying $8 for a beer if I only paid $30 for a ticket. If I pay $230 for a ticket I don't want to be dropping another $100 on alcohol and food.

People will continue to be priced out of sports as a whole. This isn't just an issue with the NHL. The NFL had a hell of a hard time selling out some of the opening playoff games. The only sport I attend regularly is baseball. I can get $15 dollar nosebleed seats at the last minute if I want. If I want to get closer, it will may only be $40-$50 for a ticket. Not $140 or $240.

 

[chosen]

Oh come on! How does that solve the lack of noise during the actual game. Do you really think the 200 different versions of Get Lucky they play is what makes the crowd quieter? I gotta disagree.

Its the prices. Plain and simple.

I disagree, but not entirely.

There used to be a an audible buzz throughout the game between times of action. By the time the puck got dropped, the noise visibly rose.

Now, as soon as there is a stoppage, they blast stuff at you that takes the crowd out of the game. By the time the puck drops, the crowd has been neutered by ads for upcoming events, blasting music coming out of the thousands of speakers (that never even existed before), and idiotic games that just about no one cares about.

Yes, the other social aspects mentioned in this thread are true, also, but it was a definite league policy to put us in an environment of white noise to keep us as sedate as possible because the league did not like the way their product was being advertised by the behavior of the "typical" fan at the game. It was an attempt to appeal to the more mainstream to grow the game.

They got what they wanted, and in turn, took a lot of the energy out of the building.

 

[bubba5]

There are 3200 more people at games in MTL than there are at games at the Garden and the sound there has nowhere to go but straight up and down. Their building was built for hockey; ours wasn't.

We have the same building that we had in the 70's, 80's and early 90's when we and the Blackhawks had the loudest arena. The building has nothing to do with it, it is who is in the building.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

I disagree, but not entirely.

There used to be a an audible buzz throughout the game between times of action. By the time the puck got dropped, the noise visibly rose.

Now, as soon as there is a stoppage, they blast stuff at you that takes the crowd out of the game. By the time the puck drops, the crowd has been neutered by ads for upcoming events, blasting music coming out of the thousands of speakers (that never even existed before), and idiotic games that just about no one cares about.

Yes, the other social aspects mentioned in this thread are true, also, but it was a definite league policy to put us in an environment of white noise to keep us as sedate as possible because the league did not like the way their product was being advertised by the behavior of the "typical" fan at the game. It was an attempt to appeal to the more mainstream to grow the game.

They got what they wanted, and in turn, took a lot of the energy out of the building.

I was just watching some highlights from 1986, and the Garden was a zoo. Loud as hell.

I think the infusion of the wine and cheese crowd is a large reason. Its a win-win for MSG -- these are people who have money in their pockets and it works from a marketing perspective to say they "cleaned up" the profanity and questionable behavior. Nevermind that a guy making $50K a year would have a pretty tough time bringing his family to a game...thats collateral damage.

The first time I went to MSG was in 1989. I probably heard some things I shouldnt have heard as a 7 year old, but walking into the big arena is something Ill never forget. It pains me that families are getting priced out and younger kids are missing out on those types of moments.

 

[nyrmetros]

Chicago fans have been complaining that their building is not as loud as it used to be even with a winning team. The owner has stated that he's happy he can raise prices and drive a certain fan element away from going to the games.......

 

[LiveLongandProspal]

Well, I have two solutions:

1) Fire Sather

2) Get rid of that stupid "Potvin Sucks" chant



How will that increase fan noise? I don't know, but it would certainly make me happier

 

[LiveLongandProspal]

And you'll still hear plenty of stupid Potvin chants. Actually, you hear more of those than you hear LGR chants.

This. This is the problem. I've been to a few Rangers games this season and even more the last few seasons and the one consistent thing I've noticed is the "Potvin Sucks" chant. That's the one guaranteed chant. There's no guarantee of a "Let's Go Rangers" chant or anything else, but the "Potvin Sucks" chant is a definite. Even the corporate bigwigs chant "Potvin Sucks," even though they can't be bothered with anything else. I usually sit with these champions of business and their ne'er-do-well kids and I HATE it. All they do is order 5 beers, look at their electronic devices every seven seconds and hit on the server in front of their trophy wives/girlfriends/mistresses/whomever. But I digress

The point is...well, I don't really have one, but I think it's absolutely pathetic that the only thing that the fan base can cling to is a stupid "Potvin Sucks" chant. The chant was stupid, is stupid and is very outdated.

 

[yrrebbor]

Agreed. I don't mind paying $8 for a beer if I only paid $30 for a ticket. If I pay $230 for a ticket I don't want to be dropping another $100 on alcohol and food.

People will continue to be priced out of sports as a whole. This isn't just an issue with the NHL. The NFL had a hell of a hard time selling out some of the opening playoff games. The only sport I attend regularly is baseball. I can get $15 dollar nosebleed seats at the last minute if I want. If I want to get closer, it will may only be $40-$50 for a ticket. Not $140 or $240.

$8? You mean $10.50.

 

[yrrebbor]

I was just watching some highlights from 1986, and the Garden was a zoo. Loud as hell.

I think the infusion of the wine and cheese crowd is a large reason. Its a win-win for MSG -- these are people who have money in their pockets and it works from a marketing perspective to say they "cleaned up" the profanity and questionable behavior. Nevermind that a guy making $50K a year would have a pretty tough time bringing his family to a game...thats collateral damage.

The first time I went to MSG was in 1989. I probably heard some things I shouldnt have heard as a 7 year old, but walking into the big arena is something Ill never forget. It pains me that families are getting priced out and younger kids are missing out on those types of moments.

That first moment of seeing the ice as a kid was pretty awesome!

 

[Leetch3]

there is no music or ads playing during the game, so what is the excuse for lack of noise while the play is going on?

i've never once heard anyone complain about the lack of noise during commercial breaks which is when, what you are describing, would apply

 

[TomLaidlaw]

I haven't been to a game since Leetch # retirement night. Has the artificial noise become an issue since the new renovations or was it happening beforehand?