How loud does it get in Neyland Stadium on gameday? That is the question I decided to find out this week. To find this answer out I purchased a sound meter. So let’s look at the device we are using.

Measurement Range: 30dBA ~ 130dBA.
Accuracy Within +/-1.5dB; Sample rate of 2x/second.
Measures in dBA Frequency- Reduces wind interference on readings.

So now that brings us to a good question that was asked  via Twitter from one of the best TV news camera operators to work in Knoxville   Drew Hornback. The night before the UTK game, I was covering Catholic vs. CAK highlighting the decibel readings and Drew asked a great question. ” Is that C or A weighting?” Which immediately illustrates to me why Drew gets so much respect as professional. So the answer to that question is “A.”   For a simple  yet scientific answer to what weights mean click here 

So, gameday. how loud does the stadium get? Interesting, the loudest noise did not come during touchdowns. It came during the chants of “3rd down for  what?”

For a video example click Third Down and What

So now we look at  examples of decibel readings and we see that 110 db rating is the equivalent to a Steel mill, auto horn at 1 meter.   Turbo-fan aircraft at takeoff power at 200 ft (118 dB).  Riveting machine (110 dB); live rock music (108 – 114 dB).

So that appears about right! As for touchdowns…they got a rating at about 103 db. The readings were taken from the sidelines on the field. See the picture  above.