Because the sound is piped into the toilets, the space is relatively small and quiet, so it is easy to get the volume just right. The stadium's poor acoustics are well known, if not well understood.
I hate people who have a rational answer It suggests that it is not a case that can be easily rectified. When SMS opened, the volume in the Kingsland was deafening, they obviously thought it was better to turn it down and save our ear drums.
I hate people who prefer to maintain a mystery when the answer is quite clear. No, it is not something that can be easily rectified, but it could be done. Unfortunately, it is difficult to simulate a full stadium when doing tests on acoustics. If the operators have turned the tannoy volume down it is because they realised that a lower volume has less chance of audibly bouncing around the stadium than a loud one, which just produces echoes to confuse the sound reaching your ears. I'm bound to say though that if this means you can't hear the sound at all then that is not a fit solution either. Tbh, I wish St Mary's would take 10 minutes out, immediately prior to the game, to conduct tests over a few weeks, to get the required data in to improve the sound system, because I agree, it is quite appallingly poor. The old Dell used to have a few ribbon horn speakers and they produced a very clear, if slightly tinny sound. But then, the Dell was a fairly open stadium. The total enclosure at St Mary's doesn't help one single jot and is the prime factor in the poor sound.
The post or bar being called `the frame of the goal`.The pitch being called the floor. And people leaving early.
To be honest it works fine if you turn up early enough, it's only when you get 20,000 plus inside that it goes pear shaped and there is not a hope in hell of understanding any speech, good job the screens feature the team selection.
Yeah, well therein lies a bit of the answer. Clearly, Saints have done tests with an empty stadium, in these recent years, because like Fran, I remember when it was ear burstingly loud when the stadium had just a few people inside. One of these days I might write to the stadium technicians and find out what the current position is on the acoustics, because St Mary's is into its 13th year and the problem has still not been solved. Also, the stadium announcer gets barely a jot of response from the pre-match crowd because most of them can't understand a word he saying. I wonder if he realises that..? Surely he must do..?
I have a question to everyone who said the thing that bugs them is people leaving early at half time. How exactly are you supposed to leave after the half time whitstle, que for a beer, drink beer, and be back in your seat before the second half kicks off? It's not possible. However, I understand the annoyance at people leaving before the final whilstle (especially at a match like the one vs City, where it felt either team could score at any time), although I get the train and have no traffic to beat. If it was a choice between missing the last 5 minutes of a match that the result was already concluded, and sitting in the car for an extra hour stuck in traffic, it's no choice at all. Nothing much annoys me at football, I'm usually too busy enjoying myself (this includes drinking, if this offends you, then I suggest you should stay home and listen to the game on the radio). Going back to the City game again, I was sitting in the Kingsland as I was with my gf (usually in the Northam), and everytime I leaned forward to get a better look at the action up the other end, the old geezer next to me grabbed my arm and pulled me back! Fair play to him though, after he did this a few times I just stopped leaning forward.
I'm not offended, but I'd ask 2 questions: 1. Why do you go to a football match? I go because I love football and I love watching my team. 2. When you go to the cinema, do you pop out to get a drink during the film and miss part of the story? As someone else said earlier, those that can't really wait for a drink or something to eat during 90 minutes, perhaps they should be the ones to stay at home I take my own food and drink now for half time, so I don't miss the game. Anyone got a halo?
Unfortunately only match I been to this season was pre season friendly but then I've been off work for 6 months ill so.... Last season went to villa, Fulham and west ham matches, yet to see any of the big boys (other than saints ;-) ) so hopefully that gets rid of the myth of only go Chelsea man utd etc.. I used to go a lot at the Dell, when tickets were rarely on general sale, unfortunately as I have said can't afford many this season! And just to add I never went yo Wembley for fa or jpt cup final either.
Ok my answer to question 1; The same answer you gave, but also it's a fun day out. It's centered around football, but it's still a day out with a mate/ girlfriend/ family. In answer to question 2; I never go to the cinema. I love movies, hate the cinema. But without being flippant, if I was to go the theatre, would I miss part of the story to get a drink at half time? Probably not, but watching football and drinking beer (to me) go hand in hand. As for your last point, isn't taking your own food and drink into the ground frowned upon? I like to think the money I spend on overpriced piss water will go towards buying the next Gaston Ramirez
Mrs Godders and I have been arguing over our half time drink and food for a long, long time now. She insists on making a flask of Bovril and cheese sandwiches while I keep saying we should take some coffee laced with brandy and some cold sausage and ketchup sandwiches. Needless to say we are still taking a flask of Bovril and cheese sandwiches to each game. I did have one many years ago but it slipped and then fell off completely.
She's right on the sarnies and you re right on the drink. I'd love coffee, but I have to take hot chocolate and share it with my son.
Well if your day out at the football means missing a part of the game and you are happy with that, who am I to argue? I make a point of making sure I see the game, after all that is what I paid for and enjoy most (usually). As for the food, yes, I wrestled with that thought for a while, however it became very expensive, the food is crap and SFC staff check my bag every time I visit the ground and not once have they even suggested I can't take food in.
Sitting behind Downthe36, knowing that any daft comment I make (there are usually a few) have the possibility of making it back on here
The very lovely Mrs Godders takes our food into the ground and none of the stewards would dare suggest she can't do so. They would never win the subsequent argument. I know I haven't won an argument in 45 years and I have had plenty of practice.
One thing that really bugs me about football is this: http://www.thefa.com/~/media/46ff14a87c244e2e8aff2af66a064fa4.ashx?dl=1 It's the FA's plans for women's football for the next five years and reading it, it's clear the FA considers any club not in the WSL worthless. Indeed they have a pyramid of how they see football in this country and non-WSL sides are considered inferior to the friggin' YOUTH and RESERVE sides of teams in the WSL and barely one step above schools. The ONLY mention of any clubs outside of the WSL is a passing reference stating that they act as a pathway for players to the WSL. Ergo the only reason for their existence is to act as feeder clubs for WSL teams, not to exist as clubs in their own right. You may as well just call Southampton Saints and Portsmouth feeder clubs to Reading, while Coventry and Sporting Club Albion are feeder clubs to Aston Villa and Leeds and Sheffield being feeder clubs to Doncaster Belles and so on as that's basically what the situation will become. So the FA has turned women's football into an elitist, noninclusive, money-driven league where if you are not one of the 18 chosen ones, you're nothing, you exist only to serve as a feeder club to WSL teams. You're Reading B, Reading C, etc in all but name. Even men's football isn't that bad in comparison.
There's a solution to the whole loudspeaker problem. Sit in FF1055 and you can hear every single word. Perfectly. And my hearing's pretty awful. You'll have to sit on my lap, though. Vin
This, but with vast quantities of ketchup / mystery sauce / dribble involved. Eater usually has a cough/cold as well, and shouts abuse at Guly with mouth full. I used to take a loverly flask of coffee and cheese sandwiches to the Dell but felt I had to get more "with it" when we moved to St Marys.
