Autzen is the loudest stadium in the Big Ten

Question

In the Ohio State vs. Oregon game, the stadium reached up to 127 decibels, one of the top five highest recorded volumes in college football. The stadium is designed with a convex shape, so the crowd's cheers bounce right back down to the field. College football show host and avid Penn State fan Josh Pate said that it’s the loudest stadium within the Big Ten. He has been on the field at stadiums to experience it firsthand, and it’s incomparable.

Comments

This is super interesting! I liked how you included that the stadium is shaped to maximize the sound, which is a main reason as to why it got so loud. Go Ducks!

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Your understanding of the architectural design of the stadium really boosts the credibility of your fact checking. It really puts it into perspective how the audience can perceive the volume to be the loudest in the nation, when really our stadium is just designed to enhance the experience.

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I love how you added not only a credible link, but your own understanding as to why that evidence makes sense!

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I thought you did a great job on this fact check. You added some very insightful information and then added data to back the claim. I also thought it was really interesting to hear that another teams fan Josh Pate agreed and said that when he was at Autzen stadium was the loudest in the big ten. I also thought it was great you added some information on the architecture of the stadium. Great job on this, and Go Ducks!

Answer 1

The claim is true, with Autzen stadium reaching 127 decibels on October 12th, which is louder than any other recorded stats from any of the other 17 teams in the Big 10. Husky Stadium reached a noise level of 133 decibels in 1992 but they did not join the Big 10 until 2024, making the original claim true. The stadium is designed to amplify noise, directing the cheers from the crows down onto the field.

https://www.si.com/college/oregon/football/oregon-ducks-ohio-state-deafening-autzen-stadium-breaks-attendance-record-tez-johnson-dan-lanning-ryan-day#:~:text=However%252C%2520on%2520a%2520per%252Dperson,127%2520decibels%2520in%2520college%2520football.&text=%E2%80%9CThis%2520place%2520is%2520so%2520special.

https://thehuskyhaul.com/posts/washington-huskies-football-husky-stadium-officially-louder-the-swamp-florida-gators-cam-ward#:~:text=First%2C%20we%20should%20acknowledge%20that,when%20Tennessee%20took%20on%20Georgia.

Answer 2

This claim is true. The Ohio State vs University of Oregon game did in fact reach up to 127 decibels, and Autzen Stadium has been continuously ranked as the #1 loudest stadium in the Big 10. Even though Autzen holds has a smaller capacity than some other stadiums in the Big 10 conference, the stadium's design echoes sound from the crowd and enables reaching record-breaking decibels.

https://www.si.com/college/oregon/football/ranking-top-10-loudest-college-football-stadiums-oregon-ducks-autzen-stadium-too-low-lsu-tigers-penn-state

Answer 3

The statement that Autzen is the loudest stadium in the Big Ten is true. The way the stadium is built contributes to this, according to Sports Illustrated, because fans are close to the field, unlike other Big Ten school stadiums. This provides immediate noise elevation because it echoes through the whole game. Furthermore, in the latest game, the decibels reached 127 which is second to LSU, however, LSU isn't in the Big Ten. Being second to LSU on USA today's list of the top ten loudest stadiums, means that Autzen is the loudest in the Big Ten conference.

https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/college/2024/10/12/autzen-stadium-oregon-capacity-decibels-location-ohio-state/75606287007/

https://aggieswire.usatoday.com/lists/ranking-the-top-10-loudest-college-football-stadiums-kyle-field/

https://www.si.com/college/oregon/football/ranking-top-10-loudest-college-football-stadiums-oregon-ducks-autzen-stadium-too-low-lsu-tigers-penn-state

Answer 4

Compared to other stadiums in the Big Ten like Michigan and Ohio, Autzen has a smaller capacity at 54,000 compared to Michigan's "The Big House" which has a capacity at 107,601. Due to the capacity, out of state fans not familiar with Autzen's energy would most likely expect Autzen to not be as loud as some other stadiums. According to Sports Illustrated, "without official decibel levels from 2024, Autzen Stadium cannot earn the loudest stadium in college football title". There is no doubt that the Ducks have the home field while playing at Autzen but there is no official title for the loudest stadium in the Big Ten.

Answer 5

As someone who has attended football games here at the University of Oregon, I can say that while Autzen is loud, I don’t think it’s the loudest stadium. While Josh Pate did say it is the loudest stadium, that is simply one person’s opinion and according to Sports Illustrated, the official decibel levels of 2024 have not been recorded and therefore, this claim cannot be true. However, the highest recorded decibels for Autzen is 127, which is right behind Tiger Stadium in Batanroughe that put out 130 decibels. So even though Autzen isn’t the loudest stadium, it is definitely one of the loudest stadiums in the Big 10.

Answer 6

This is true statement, not only because multiple correspondents from FOX and ESPN have said so, but since Oregon is undefeated right now in the College Football Playoffs, many opponents have said this as well. Since Autzen is one of the smallest stadiums in the BIG TEN they put up impressive decibel numbers in comparison to the SEC. The Ohio State game was definitely the loudest game in Eugene, Oregon. Many players past and present have said that playing in Autzen is one of the loudest atmospheres that they have ever experienced.

https://www.si.com/college/oregon/football/ranking-top-10-loudest-college-football-stadiums-oregon-ducks-autzen-stadium-too-low-lsu-tigers-penn-state

Answer 7

As a University of Oregon student, I immediately say yes. When looking at this statement you might not think it is true. An article published by WolverineWire and USAToday stated that when looking at the stadiums within the Big Ten, Autzen stadium is 13th when looking at the size capacity with 54,000 seats. So why would Autzen Stadium be the loudest stadium when Michigan's stadium fits 107,000 fans?  

The article included in this post stated that "on a per person basis; Autzen Stadium is in a league of its own with a top five highest ever recorded level of 127 decibels in college football" (Amaranthus). Oregon fans might not like what I am about to say but The Washington Huskies hold the loudest college stadium with a 133.6 decibel level. This is louder than Autzen's loudest game so based on this post's logic, Husky Stadium is the loudest stadium in College Football. The Huskies stadium seats 70,000 so it would be more accurate to state that Autzen's stadium is more impressive rather than the loudest. With that being said I believe that this post is exaggerated rather than true or false. 

He included a statement from Josh Pate stating that Autzen was the largest stadium and how he has firsthand on-field experience. An interview published by Centre Daily Times interviewed Penn State tight end Pat Freiermuth and he spoke about playing at Penn State during a white out game. He stated "I could say it's loud. But that wouldn't really do it justice. You can feel the ground shake at times; it an amazing experience" (Moyer). The experience of an athlete playing the game vs an analyst watching on the sideline is two completely different things. I believe that this claim is more of an exaggerated statement. 

Sources:

Ranking Big Ten college football stadiums by seating capacity

Oregon Ducks Beat Ohio State: Deafening Autzen Stadium Breaks Attendance Record

What’s it like playing in a White Out? Penn State coaches, players talk ‘unreal’ experience | Centre Daily Times

Answer 8

The claim Austen stadium being the loudest football stadium in the Big 10 is false. According to sports illustrated the Oregon vs Ohio State game reached a decibel level of 127, however LSU's Tiger Stadium has reached a decibel level of 130. It is true that Autzen stadium is designed with a shape to echo noise to make it louder but it has not been recorded louder than Tiger Stadium. 

https://www.si.com/college/oregon/football/ranking-top-10-loudest-college-football-stadiums-oregon-ducks-autzen-stadium-too-low-lsu-tigers-penn-state

Answer 9

During the Oregon vs. Ohio State game this past season there was a crowd of around 61000 in attendance. With that the loudest point in the game reached a decibel level of 127 which is the highest the big ten saw and one of the highest all of college football saw. Even stadiums like Penn St., Michigan, and even USC didn't reach that level and they can fit around 100000 in their stadium. The way Oregon's stadium is built allows sound to be enhanced so that they don't need as many people to be as loud or louder than other places. 

https://www.si.com/college/oregon/football/oregon-ducks-ohio-state-deafening-autzen-stadium-breaks-attendance-record-tez-johnson-dan-lanning-ryan-day#:~:text=However%252C%2520on%2520a%2520per%252Dperson,127%2520decibels%2520in%2520college%2520football.&text=%E2%80%9CThis%2520place%2520is%2520so%2520special.

Answer 10

While Autzen Stadium is not the loudest stadium in all of college football (that title belongs to LSU [of the SEC] at a recorded decibel peak of 130) it is indeed the loudest stadium in the Big 10 conference.

In their football game against Ohio State University on October 12, 2024, the recorded volume inside of Autzen Stadium topped out at 127 decibels, the loudest of any Big 10 school.  Despite the relatively small capacity, Sports Illustrated cites the proximity of fans to the field and the architecture which creates something of a "bubble of noise" as the main contributing factors to Autzen Stadium's record-breaking volume levels.

https://www.si.com/college/oregon/football/oregon-ducks-ohio-state-deafening-autzen-stadium-breaks-attendance-record-tez-johnson-dan-lanning-ryan-day#:~:text=However%252C%2520on%2520a%2520per%252Dperson,127%2520decibels%2520in%2520college%2520football.&text=%E2%80%9CThis%2520place%2520is%2520so%2520special.

https://www.si.com/college/oregon/football/ranking-top-10-loudest-college-football-stadiums-oregon-ducks-autzen-stadium-too-low-lsu-tigers-penn-state