What Will NFL Games Sound Like This Fall?

With the possibility of games being played without fans, the NFL and TV studios may get creative.

Assuming the NFL returns this fall and the season plays out according to schedule, it's also still a reasonable assumption that the games will be played in front of empty stadiums. This has left a lot of fans wondering what the game experience would like. Would it be horrifically awkward for players to be in front of empty stadiums? Would the viewing experience on screen take a big hit?

I have to admit, the idea of player chatter echoing throughout an empty stadium sounds rather hilarious to me. Think of all the stuff we manage to hear sometimes over the fan noise thanks to the on-field mics. Now imagine the possibilities if there are no fans present at all.

But there is at least a possibility that the NFL might experiment with using fake fan noise during its broadcasts. Joe Buck suggested in a May interview that FOX might try artificial crowd noise and project images of fans in the audience.

This sounds rather gimmicky, especially the visual projections. However, fake fan noise has been used to surprisingly warm receptions in the German Bundesliga.

I was definitely a skeptic, but it actually seems to work in the videos I've seen floating around Twitter and YouTube. And if it can be done well, I think it's preferable to not having any sound at all. Part of the fun of watching NFL football is the atmosphere provided by the fans, especially in big primetime matchups. 

We're still a ways off from knowing definitely whether the NFL season is even happening, or at least if it will start on time. But solutions like this could at least help the games feel a bit more "normal" if and when they're played.

 

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Tim Backes is a lifelong Packer fan and a contributor to CheeseheadTV. Follow him on Twitter @timbackes for his Packer takes, random musings and Untappd beer check-ins.

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Comments (26)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
ricky's picture

June 01, 2020 at 11:38 am

Well, we could ask the Vikings and Falcons how to pump more sound into stadiums, since they both have expertise in this area.

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Lare's picture

June 01, 2020 at 12:05 pm

As long as they don't have that stupid horn blowing every few minutes.

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crayzpackfan's picture

June 01, 2020 at 11:44 am

As long as they don’t sound like Joe Buck, I don’t care. Ha ha

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dobber's picture

June 01, 2020 at 01:12 pm

What does a tree, falling alone in a forest sound like?

About like Mitch Trubisky throwing a TD pass...no one's ever observed it.

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Guam's picture

June 01, 2020 at 02:07 pm

LOL!!! The only way you get a down vote on this one is from some Bear troll hanging out on the wrong site.

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Lare's picture

June 01, 2020 at 02:16 pm

I think there's more Packers fans that want Mitch Trubisky on the field than there is Bears fans.

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WinUSA's picture

June 02, 2020 at 08:28 am

You guys are deliciously vicious ! :9)

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WinUSA's picture

June 03, 2020 at 03:03 pm

Sorry double post

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crayzpackfan's picture

June 01, 2020 at 02:18 pm

And I already have 2 down votes. Lol

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Since'61's picture

June 01, 2020 at 10:41 pm

Cookie! Thanks, Since ‘61

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TarynsEyes's picture

June 01, 2020 at 03:22 pm

I'm used to watching games in mute mode, but it would be interesting to hear what the players allow coming from their mouths toward each other. I'm sure it's nothing but sportsmanlike brotherly love.

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13TimeChamps's picture

June 01, 2020 at 05:10 pm

Ah....if only we could mute you.

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TarynsEyes's picture

June 01, 2020 at 05:26 pm

If you really have a problem with me, I really couldn't care less.

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13TimeChamps's picture

June 01, 2020 at 05:45 pm

Actually, I find you immensely entertaining.
So I take back the mute suggestion.
Carry on.

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Doug_In_Sandpoint's picture

June 01, 2020 at 05:39 pm

Man, Lambeau Leaps are going to suck this year.

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Bearmeat's picture

June 01, 2020 at 09:01 pm

Hadn't thought of that. That would SUCK!

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dobber's picture

June 02, 2020 at 08:40 am

Bob Uecker will be there...in the FRONT ROOOWWWW!!!

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Ferrari-Driver's picture

June 02, 2020 at 09:53 am

Time to put the cardboard dummies in the first two rows

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Bearmeat's picture

June 01, 2020 at 09:01 pm

If I don't have to listen to that stupid-ass Skol chant and hear that DAMN horn for one year, it'll at least be one good thing that Covid has brought.

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Since'61's picture

June 01, 2020 at 10:46 pm

I usually have the sound turned down to avoid the banalities of the broadcasters. But without the crowds I assume that it will be very quiet. Maybe we can have the games without the broadcasters. Who needs to them anyway?

Thanks, Since ‘61

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farahpervaiz's picture

June 02, 2020 at 06:33 am

wow lovely

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SwedeBayPacker's picture

June 02, 2020 at 11:16 am

It will be so quiet you'll be able to hear Aaron Rodgers roll his eyes

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WinUSA's picture

June 02, 2020 at 08:32 am

Now THAT’s absolutely hilarious!!!!

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dobber's picture

June 02, 2020 at 08:41 am

All I can say is that network censors will need to be fast on the bleep button when the mics pick up everything the players are yelling.

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TarynsEyes's picture

June 02, 2020 at 11:25 am

You didn't like how I said the same thing above and first.

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dobber's picture

June 02, 2020 at 12:49 pm

I'll admit to have not read it very closely.
That's on me...
<tips hat>

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