If it were up to me there would not be another drum in the stadium and things would originate from one end. It has been my biggest concern since the first drum across the stadium showed up. Things starting from one area works for most of the rest of the world; and they don't use drums. Too many people have a false sense of how crowds participate in the rest of the world. Or at least in England which is where most go for reference. I like our mix of South American and Northern European cultures. Holy shit I just posted on BS for the first time in almost two years.
I was watching a few Eredivise matches a little while ago and the announcer kept commenting on how many drums and how loud they were in the stadium. But then, it was a British guy observing the Dutch style, I guess.
I've had to watch the last couple of games on TV 'cause I've been out of town. When they mic those drums, it sounds damn near like a college football game. The skill is impressive, but it gets annoying super quick. I also think its a crutch. People feel like they don't need to sing, when they normally would, if the drums are filling the space, imo.
There is something that works about things growing organically from one area. There is a cool crescendo effect of a chant starting in one area and overspreading the stadium. Sort of similar to how the "Bastard Referee" chant went on Tuesday night. It started in the Cauldron, then a good portion of the East Stand picked it up. I personally feel that is how the chants should go. They should originate in the Cauldron and then overspread to the other areas of the stadium. The South Stand has done a great job of doing TIFO's and getting the crown pumped up on that end. It especially helps when the Chicago, Houston, and Seattle supporters come to town because they usually tend to offset and even sometimes drown out their chanting. On Tuesday night it seemed to me that there was just a lot of drumming coming from the South Stand and it just seems to be that way this year. Last year it was more chanting, not sure what the difference is this year. Having the stadium in "one" voice is difficult just by the nature of the acoustics alone. But when you start adding two chants going at the same time while incorporating all the normal stadium noise, it just sounds like a downtown (especially when emergency vehicles go by on State Ave).
"Bastard Referee" chant was fantastic. I'm not exaggerating though, the Cauldron get's louder when the drums stop. What's the point of chanting when you're standing next to 4 snare drums and a bass.
I don't know if the rest of the stadium was quiet at the point or what, but yeah, Bastard Referee was ringing out like a mother.
It is one of those chants that other parts of the stadium listen to... and then appreciate. But easily the most forceful chant I'd heard in a long time.
As an East Stand guy, I don't really mind the stuff starting from both the SS or Cauldron... but if someone starts putting limits on things, only allowing one or the other to start chants and cheers, that's dangerous and I would be completely opposed to that... it would once again, lead to thoughts of elitism in the Cauldron - and I won't go dredging up my past feelings about that...