[Row80Critic]

For years it was too hard to hear the PA.  Now it is too loud??!!

I never have wanted or needed the PA commentary.  The timeout games, music, and various promo spots are all unnecessary too.  I realize many have value to others.  Perceptions that the stadium is now too loud has an easy remedy.  Earplugs.

FWIW - Even if as noisy as claimed sitting near speakers most college/pro football and basketball venues blast noise at higher levels.  And then in many stadiums the crowd itself is capable of producing those DB levels, often for the vast majority of the game.  Autzen's record is 127 DBs.  Husky stadium has measurements above 130.  Those are not just isolated seats near speakers, but the whole place.  So pretty funny to complain about isolated pockets at 117, when the team plays routinely in venues where the fans cheering can exceed those levels.  (FWIW - Even local fans can get up to 117dbs as Oracle Arena is noted to hit 120+ in the playoffs)

Too late, too early, too hot, too cold, too quiet, too noisy.  Ugh.

Based on the number of empty plastic and aluminum seats, I would expect the Pac-12 (and the Stanford AD) will continue to hope Stanford gets 7PM starts.  At the later hours there are more fans in the stands to absorb the PA sound, and the fans in the stands at that time are more likely to accept louder noise and create their own noise to support the team.

It's not really a judgment call -- the PA system was set to a level that was loud enough to be harmful to unprotected ears, according to published authorities.  Other stadiums and events probably do get louder, but that's a classic red-herring argument (see relative privation; appeal to the masses, probably more).  The issue is that Stanford stadium, last night, had control over how loud to set the PA system and set it above the level that many authorities say can cause harm.  I'd think Stanford of all places would want to correct that.  I've said my piece, I'll shut up now. :)  Go Stanford! 

[Row80Critic]

For years it was too hard to hear the PA.  Now it is too loud??!!

I never have wanted or needed the PA commentary.  The timeout games, music, and various promo spots are all unnecessary too.  I realize many have value to others.  Perceptions that the stadium is now too loud has an easy remedy.  Earplugs.

FWIW - Even if as noisy as claimed sitting near speakers most college/pro football and basketball venues blast noise at higher levels.  And then in many stadiums the crowd itself is capable of producing those DB levels, often for the vast majority of the game.  Autzen's record is 127 DBs.  Husky stadium has measurements above 130.  Those are not just isolated seats near speakers, but the whole place.  So pretty funny to complain about isolated pockets at 117, when the team plays routinely in venues where the fans cheering can exceed those levels.  (FWIW - Even local fans can get up to 117dbs as Oracle Arena is noted to hit 120+ in the playoffs)

Too late, too early, too hot, too cold, too quiet, too noisy.  Ugh.

Based on the number of empty plastic and aluminum seats, I would expect the Pac-12 (and the Stanford AD) will continue to hope Stanford gets 7PM starts.  At the later hours there are more fans in the stands to absorb the PA sound, and the fans in the stands at that time are more likely to accept louder noise and create their own noise to support the team.

It's not really a judgment call -- the PA system was set to a level that was loud enough to be harmful to unprotected ears, according to published authorities.  Other stadiums and events probably do get louder, but that's a classic red-herring argument (see relative privation; appeal to the masses, probably more).  The issue is that Stanford stadium, last night, had control over how loud to set the PA system and set it above the level that many authorities say can cause harm.  I'd think Stanford of all places would want to correct that.  I've said my piece, I'll shut up now. :)  Go Stanford!