I will give you my backing BHD and wish you success. I think it is nothing new that the ground appears to be quiet. Yorkie commented that when he last came down to the Vic he realised that with the virtual disappearance of the old east stand there was nothing left of the original ground from his early days there. The big Vicarage Road terrace gone, the old shale bank at the Rookery gone, the small Shrodells stand gone. Every time a new stand has been erected there was a hope that the roof would help to contain the sound and create a bigger more intimidating support for the team. It hasn't happened, something that an expert in acoustics might try to explain. I feel that if, big if at present we could enclose the east side and the corners to create an enclosed arena then maybe that would help. Another thing that I believe has happened is that society has become more passive. We pay our license fee or subscription to sky to watch some football on TV. I do not think that too many people stand up and shout at their TV screens, we generally take what comes and watch, with just a few comments if there is someone with us. We have become used to believing that we have paid our money, we have our seat, now it is up to you to entertain us. Football should be like theatre, but the actors would be offended if the audience did not know the right time to laugh or just watch and absorb what is in front of them. On my last visit to the Lower Rous I rather noisily offered some advice to the linesman. Two youngsters gave me quite a stare as I had disturbed their reading of a comic.
Bring back terracing. Give out free rattles and bobble hats. Compulsory handshake practice with the oppo at 1/4 to 3.
i have to confess that i have struggling to convice the 12yr old girls who comes with us to pay attention. But she does sing with us sometimes. We can not exect kids of 7-8 to understand and get involved.
It would be interesting to see what an acoustics expert would say. I wonder whether the sound from the Rookery is actually trapped under the roof rather than amplified, given that the noisiest groupings tend to be right up the back. Having sat up there a few times, as I recall you can barely see the Vic Road seats, so maybe that's why they can't hear too much unless the whole Rookery is rocking, like when we score. I'm sure that filling in the East side properly must help, but as Frenchie says, we hoped that building new roofed stands would help. Anyone go to Upton Park as it used to be? Like being in a biscuit tin, fantastic atmosphere trapped in and rolling around you. A lot of truth in this I'm sure.
Bring back terracing , wholeheartedly agree with that , certainly helps the atmosphere,shame the health and safety elves wont allow it!
