Just how loud is Loud City?

[Larry OKC]

Numerous articles have talked about how loud it is in our Arena, but some have downplayed it as being common, that all arenas are that way. The question is, has anyone ever taken decibel readings of the various arenas and where does ours rank?

[BrettM2]

Numerous articles have talked about how loud it is in our Arena, but some have downplayed it as being common, that all arenas are that way. The question is, has anyone ever taken decibel readings of the various arenas and where does ours rank?

Someone did when we played the Lakers in 2011 and compared it to a jet engine at its peak. I went Tuesday night and my ears were still ringing a full 24 hours after the end of the game.

[kevinpate]

Shhhhhhh, er, um, I mean NOW HEY!
The moment someone starts measuring will probably be followed by someone else crying out for the need for noise control rules.

Some things just do not need precise measurement.

length of a great kiss
ounces in a bowl of ice cream
licks to the center of a Tootsie Pop
fan volume at a sporting event, Thunder or otherwise

[RadicalModerate]

I dunno, Kevin . . .
Logic and Consistency seem to demand an investigation into the effects of Second-Hand Noise on the innocent employees of the Arena, such as concessions people and maintenence staff and so forth . . .

[SSEiYah]

132.283 decibels




source: guesstimate

[betts]

Back before we had a team, my son and I made a habit of going to one game of the NBA finals each year, if possible. I have never heard an arena sound like ours before, even during the finals. I have never seen fans cheer as consistently, and I certainly haven't seen them stand for an entire quarter, like fans did at the last game. One of my friends has a decibel app on his phone, because he works in the music business. The first year we were in the playoffs, first game, I think I remember him saying it was registering at about 100 decibels. Oklahoma City is sometimes louder during the regular season than I've ever heard at a finals game at any other arena. I have not been to Sacramento, which was reputedly the loudest in the past, especially since fans bought cowbells.

[RadicalModerate]

This is some scary stuff . . . But why don't they list a Thunderclap?
http://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/loudness.html

[adaniel]

I can only compare it to what I've been to. I've been to American Airlines Center in Dallas and, despite having a capacity of 1,500 (and overall it is a very good atmosphere), I would definitely say ours is much louder.

When Russell Westbrook made an "and one" during the last game of the Lakers Series, I can honestly say that was the loudest noise I have ever heard at a sporting event (that includes several OU games, Dallas Cowboy games Mavericks BBall games, Cubs/White Sox Baseball games).

I found it interesting that Chris Bosh said our arena was "just regular" considering that Miami fans are regarded as some of the lamest in the league.

[RadicalModerate]

Obviously, to protect the auditory health of our citizens--without interfering with the right to cheer on the team--we need to mandate the wearing of "personal mufflers" that would be like those commonplace particle masks, except with a layer of sound-deadening material. They could be festooned with team logos and this would probably make the general population more amenable to their use. After all, seatbelt laws only protect the individual and their insurance company, these devices will protect innocent by-listeners.

[venture]

I found it interesting that Chris Bosh said our arena was "just regular" considering that Miami fans are regarded as some of the lamest in the league.

Hearing/reading the comments of the Miami players remind me of a bunch of spoiled kids that didn't get their way. With our players they seem more mature in a let down situation and just never go negative. Speaks a lot about the type of team we have versus Miami. It may not win us a title (I still think this is going to be a very close series) but at least our guys don't look like whiny kids pouting.

[Bullbear]

Careful.. you keep up this talk and someone will say how it doesn't compare to the decibels of a OU game..LOL

[FritterGirl]

Careful.. you keep up this talk and someone will say how it doesn't compare to the decibels of a OU game..LOL

I went to several playoff games last year, including the last Lakers' game, where we lost in the last minute. I also went to several games this year. It's hard to recall the noise level specifically from last year, but I can say that this year's Game 6 against the Spurs was the loudest I've ever heard any game there - ever. Possible that it was a combination of where I was sitting, coupled with the buzz of that game and the fact that we charged back from an 18-point deficit, but it was remarkably loud, and just when you thought the crowd couldn't get louder, it did... and higher pitched.

I'll be there tonight to add to the fray. May take some ear plugs this time!

[MikeLucky]

The talk is most definitely not just hyperbole... I have been going to OU football and basketball games since '91... including some away games and several Big XII championship games, bowl games, and national title games. And, the Thunder games are routinely louder than all of em...

Without exception, every analyst or broadcaster that is here for the first time is surprised by how loud it is... even after everyone talks about about it. In fact just pay attention to the broadcasts... When there is a run by the Thunder that ends with a timeout, you will hear something that you NEVER should hear from sports broadcasters... SILENCE. Even though they wear headsets designed to offset the crowd noise so they can continue their commentary, in those moments you can tell it's so loud that the broadcasters even go silent leading into the commercial break... As soon as I hear the broadcasters stop talking, I know it's really loud in the 'Peake....

[SoonerBoy18]

I'm not saying we dont have the loudest fans but the games are much louder in person than on tv, Thunder fans are definitly louder in person, but when I watch a Portland Trailblazer game on tv, their fans can get pretty louder and I'm sure it sounds wayyyy louder in person.

[Laramie]

Having been in a number of NBA arenas, I can truely say that the Chesapeake Energy Arena is the loudest. It sounds like a combination of football, hockey, basketball and a rodeo all rolled up into one. The people here are loud.

George Shinn mentioned when the Hornets were here that this was a "loud city."

[Bellaboo]

I'm not saying we dont have the loudest fans but the games are much louder in person than on tv, Thunder fans are definitly louder in person, but when I watch a Portland Trailblazer game on tv, their fans can get pretty louder and I'm sure it sounds wayyyy louder in person.

The TNT broadcast has the fan base noise louder than ABC did.....ABC must have it toned down so the anouncers can be heard more clearly.

[Snowman]

When one of the broadcast teams was doing a piece on it a year or two ago, they noted that the roof is both closer to the fans and flatter than most NBA arenas which should keep more of the crowd noise.

[betts]

But the crowd is consistently more active and yelling more than most crowds. There's far more to the noise than the roof.

[Just the facts]

Maybe having to come from behind so often gets the OKC fans more excited.

[Snowman]

But the crowd is consistently more active and yelling more than most crowds. There's far more to the noise than the roof.

I did not mean to imply that it was the reason, just as small part which will enhance crowd noise that will often go unnoticed.

[MDot]

Maybe having to come from behind so often gets the OKC fans more excited.

Ouch...

[betts]

Maybe having to come from behind so often gets the OKC fans more excited.

One of the loudest games I've ever heard was a blowout of the Lakers. I think we might have led wire to wire. I think it's pretty admirable that this young team has the mental toughness to come from behind like they do. This is the first time they've been in the finals, the first time they've had to close out a team in the Western Conference finals with the gravitas of the Spurs. I'm pretty impressed personally, considering our stars are 22 and 23.

[Questor]

It is unbelievably loud in there compared to other arenas, isn't it? The last game I went to was so uncomfortably loud that the thought of bringing ear plugs to the next one crossed my mind.

[adaniel]

Interesting and timely NY Times article on this very subject:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/17/sp...pagewanted=all

[Larry OKC]

I liked this line...

...Oklahoma City fans stubbornly refused to yield control of the decibel level, sounding like Metallica performing in a Smart Car.