[Farm93]

I watched the game on DVR more or less focused on the "noise".

The fans in the stands were whisper, whisper quiet.  QBs, LBs, coaches even DBs could be heard throughout the game audio.  Obviously every single PA announcement could be heard.  Crowd noise was really only in the mix on two or three plays, so I would submit the crowd left to its own to cheer would likely not support the team as the recruits/players would expect from the home crowd.

FWIW - The PA announcements at any venue are likely to be louder than the crowd.  I definitely recall that Husky Stadium's commercials and announcements were the loudest I had ever experienced.  Makes, sense in retrospect.  If the crowd is rolling at 100+ dbs then the PA will need to be louder.

I guess, given the classic/original stadium type environment on Saturday the PA could have been turned down to dbs just above the whisper quiet crowd, but it wouldn't shock me to learn that the PA was at levels used for other games in Stanford stadium.

FWIW2 - Most venues have those games and announcements during all of the TV timeouts.  I would be happy with the silence, but that would foster a football environment the AD likely does not want.  Noise, activity, and non-stop visuals are needed for the younger types now used to instant gratification from smartphones and tablets.  Got to be engaging at every single moment or risk losing future fans to their gadgets and ultimately their home TVs.

[Farm93]

I watched the game on DVR more or less focused on the "noise".

The fans in the stands were whisper, whisper quiet.  QBs, LBs, coaches even DBs could be heard throughout the game audio.  Obviously every single PA announcement could be heard.  Crowd noise was really only in the mix on two or three plays, so I would submit the crowd left to its own to cheer would likely not support the team as the recruits/players would expect from the home crowd.

FWIW - The PA announcements at any venue are likely to be louder than the crowd.  I definitely recall that Husky Stadium's commercials and announcements were the loudest I had ever experienced.  Makes, sense in retrospect.  If the crowd is rolling at 100+ dbs then the PA will need to be louder.

I guess, given the classic/original stadium type environment on Saturday the PA could have been turned down to dbs just above the whisper quiet crowd, but it wouldn't shock me to learn that the PA was at levels used for other games in Stanford stadium.

FWIW2 - Most venues have those games and announcements during all of the TV timeouts.  I would be happy with the silence, but that would foster a football environment the AD likely does not want.  Noise, activity, and non-stop visuals are needed for the younger types now used to instant gratification from smartphones and tablets.  Got to be engaging at every single moment or risk losing future fans to their gadgets and ultimately their home TVs.