What's new
Fantasy Football - Footballguys Forums

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Fans in the Stands Vis-a-Vis Competitive Balance (1 Viewer)

Where do you stand on fans in the stands?

  • Should be all stadiums or none. Yes, it is entertainment, but you play to win the game

    Votes: 11 25.0%

  • There could still be some advantage, but if capped at 20/25% of capacity, seems okay to allow

    Votes: 8 18.2%

  • It's not really fair, but you shouldn't force people to stay home if it is permissible in their area

    Votes: 2 4.5%

  • Teams should be free to do whatever state and local authorities permit

    Votes: 20 45.5%

  • Other (share in comments)

    Votes: 3 6.8%
  • Total voters
    44
Mystery Achiever

Mystery Achiever

Footballguy
I thought it would be interesting to see where people stand as the season gets closer. The poll choices reflect opinions I've heard on radio.

I'm All or None, but I'm getting less indignant about it with time

 
Last edited by a moderator:
It should be prohibited for public health concerns, I don't care about any advantage toward a football team. 

 
Last edited by a moderator:
All stadiums would be the safest option. States have proven they cannot be trusted to implement safety guidelines responsibly based on the US vs other countries response to the virus. 

 
Jerry Jones has weighed in that his fans are smart enough to be responsible about it.
He also, though, talked about the layout of the specific stadium, and all of the suites they had, allows them to manage some groups 0f 5-10 people..
He hasn't established capacity yet.

"I am completely confident that if I've ever seen a general population have had information of where the issues are, where the vulnerabilities are, how to conduct yourself, the do-right rule relative to the person with you and beside you that you do or you don't know, I'm confident that we have very educated situation and that our fans can come and have a safe experience at our stadium along with of course our players having the safety they're required on the football," he said.
"We'll adhere to all protocols and we will adapt to the uniqueness of our stadium and that's within the protocol," Jones said. "We have a real unique situation and I think that we're going to be able to really have a great experience. I think that our safety precautions that we're doing won't be unfamiliar to a lot of people when we look at the general protocol of the country or we look at how you get together numbers of people. We will have our challenges, the people that will be there will be there at their own volition just as the players that are out on this field for the Cowboys are here because they have chosen to be here. Our fans will be in the stadium because they have chosen to be there."

 
Last edited by a moderator:
I voted other. I don't think there should be fans in any stadium. Its simply not worth the risk. I get it for the players, they get paid to be there(also why I support no college football this season.) I also don't think they should do anything fan-centric or related, such as cutting to fans celebrating at home or whatever. 

I'm actually really interested in being able to hear plays being called or audibles, and more of the battle before plays start. I think this could potentially be a really fun season for people like me, who are just as interested in the strategic battles from play to play, and not just who wins.

Along those lines I guess, I'm not sure I've ever cared about fans to begin with, at least from a TV aspect. They are just noise, usually more annoying than anything else. I've lived in Wisconsin pretty much my whole life, and very few things annoy me more than Packer fans, who have been drunk since 7am, just screaming their lungs out, seemingly always an inch away from a mic. Its been a little rough to watch basketball with no fans, but that is a more fan friendly sport I think, the fans don't overwhelm as much(probably due to 30,000+ less of them) and the shoes squeaking sound is a little distracting. I don't think fanless football would have those problems. Maybe you pick up some more swears, but that doesn't bother me at all. 

To directly answer the question though, I really don't think home field advantage is a real big thing anymore. There was a time when it was, but I think that time has passed.

 
travdogg said:
 Its been a little rough to watch basketball with no fans, but that is a more fan friendly sport I think, the fans don't overwhelm as much(probably due to 30,000+ less of them) and the shoes squeaking sound is a little distracting.
Click to expand...
I tried to watch a Sixers game and couldn't take the squeaks. But I'm pretty sure I have misophonia. 
Short of annoyances like that, I don't see absence of fans as an issue for the TV audience

 
Mystery Achiever said:
I tried to watch a Sixers game and couldn't take the squeaks. But I'm pretty sure I have misophonia. 
Short of annoyances like that, I don't see absence of fans as an issue for the TV audience
Click to expand...
It makes a bit of a difference but not overly.  With the technology they have, it won't seem much different watching the game from your TV.  The other leagues around the world have done a great job with it, I don't see the NFL being any different.

As for competitive advantage, not a big deal.  I doubt any stadium will be allowed more than maybe 25% full anyways, and 25% of fans there won't be a huge deal.  Empty stadiums can pump noise in to mimic this at their home games. 

 
Wouldn't an enclosed suite (regarding Jerry Jones' statements), even with fewer people in it, still be significantly more risky than fans distanced out in the stands?  Of course I am no expert, but it would seem that AC or heat circulating the air in an enclosed suite would negate how far apart you space people.

The problem is not protocols or how to do it safe.  It's people intentionally ignoring the protocols for whatever reason they've dreamed up in their head.

 
Depends on configuration and relationships, I guess. He touted the benefits of the air circulation system, but I think that had to do with the overall stadium vs suites. Plus alluded to other changes.
If you have just a family of six or another type of "Covid pod" in the suite, it could be okay. There wouldn't be a compliance concern with that, either, assuming they are sufficiently isolated from others. (Jones did reference "pods"  at one point in his remarks)

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Deamon said:
As for competitive advantage, not a big deal.  I doubt any stadium will be allowed more than maybe 25% full anyways, and 25% of fans there won't be a huge deal.  Empty stadiums can pump noise in to mimic this at their home games. 
Click to expand...
Real fans will still be allowed to make as much noise as they can and especially whenever they want, but there are regulations in place as far as canned noise is concerned (you have to tone it down well ahead of the snap, basically). Still, 25% of the fans probably won't be loud enough to mess all that much with audibles and the snap count anyway, so I agree that homefield advantage won't be nearly as big as usual. 

 
Conan Troutman said:
Real fans will still be allowed to make as much noise as they can and especially whenever they want, but there are regulations in place as far as canned noise is concerned (you have to tone it down well ahead of the snap, basically). Still, 25% of the fans probably won't be loud enough to mess all that much with audibles and the snap count anyway, so I agree that homefield advantage won't be nearly as big as usual. 
Click to expand...
This could potentially change maybe though.

But ya as long as the team can hear the play call and snap count, it won't be an issue.

 
Opposing fans shouldn't be allowed (unless local) since traveling has been a major catalyst of the spread.

As far as the 25% fans offering an advantage and crowd noise....they'll be of no consequence. 

We fans are the best and I love my fellow football friend fans but ...sorry it's not a collectively large enough group. 

I played sports til I was 30 (couldn't give up my dream what else was I gonna do etc) in D level basketball and in front of oh so many 25% crowds. Pathetic I know but ya learn what crowd noise is and isn't then.

The one thing I would predict is very different this year is verbiage. Idk how or what but on a normal NFL Sunday the players on the field are lucky to hear this n that but coaches can't hear much. They will now and they're (almost) all former players. They'll sniff things out that they couldn't ever before. That'll be a game within the game

 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Joe Bryant
An Apology - Building And Creating A Better Shark Pool
3 4 5
Replies
200
Views
5K
Dan Lambskin
Dan Lambskin
T
Travdogg's positional rankings (summer edition)
2
Replies
84
Views
4K
wgoldsph
wgoldsph
ignatiusjreilly
The NFL stinks at hiring
Replies
40
Views
2K
Long Ball Larry
Long Ball Larry

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)
Back
Top