I’m not sure what to expect to be honest. I have no idea what it will sound like, no clue what it might feel like. I know it’s going to be strange.
I’m talking about doing a radio broadcast with no fans in the stands. As I write, I think to myself, ‘if that’s what it takes to get us back to playing baseball, I’m on board’. No offense to the fans. They are a vital part of the experience for sure, but if it means sports gets back going, it’s probably a fair trade off.
The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing everybody to pivot and figure out ways to get through this thing with as much “normalcy” as possible. Sports has been directly affected with shutdowns, layoffs, furloughs and anything but business as usual. This is the new reality at least now. It’s uncharted territory. Leagues and networks are feeling their way through the unknown and are doing what they feel is best for them and for the players. Safety is the biggest concern and why fans are not going to be in the seats when we get back underway.
Now comes this from Fox play-by-play man, Joe Buck, taking to Twitter last week saying that his network is considering “pumping in fake crowd noise and maybe even show virtual fans if NFL stadiums are empty this season.” It’s a couple of several options they are considering apparently.
Are we talking something like a “laugh track” like in your favorite TV sitcom? Please no. I think I understand why this is being considered, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.
Buck continued on Twitter last week, “some ambient crowd noise under a broadcast is a simple, necessary tool to normalize the viewing experience at home.” In a second tweet Buck wrote, “There is no ‘traditional’ take on this topic. It’s new territory. Hoping stadiums are full and all is normal. If not, then it’s a blank canvas. All networks will try to make it look and sound as normal as possible. It could lead to unprecedented, thrilling access. Who knows?”
FOX Sports 1 took to the air with a “test” run during a Bundesliga soccer matching between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. I didn’t personally hear it, but according to those that did, the sound seemed natural, with the dull white noise and some chants. Apparently it sounded good until the cameras panned to reveal an empty stadium. What a contradiction.
The fake crowd noise just nags at me. I love hearing ambient sound in my headphones when doing a baseball broadcast, don’t get me wrong. At the same time, its ACTUAL ambient sound from whatever type of crowd there is. If there are no fans in the stands, it will create a challenge for broadcasters, but I think the fake stuff will too. You’ll know it’s fake, so will your audience. It may become a very overused “punchline” to a “listen to the crowd” commentary. I’m not into that one bit.
Same can be said for “virtual” fans. Can’t the networks just tighten up those high home, or 50-yard line cameras to show us a little more action? Is it really a big deal to show an empty arena? They’ll ALL be empty so what’s the big deal? Why even invest in the labor of faking it, both in person hours or money?
The KBO (Korean Baseball) is piping in crowd noise at the stadium for players to feel like it’s a little less strange. During the broadcasts on ESPN, that noise is barely audible. That seems like a better alternative for the viewer who again knows that nobody is there. The KBO even went as far as having fans send in photos of themselves, then they are made into cardboard cutouts and placed in the stands. That’s fun once, maybe twice. After that I don’t see the attraction.
UFC fights without fans in the stands have gotten a lot of positive commentary on social media. Fans said that crowd noise helps build the drama for a major fight, but it’s not the end all, be all. UFC viewers actually say they liked hearing the kicks and punches land making them feel like they had seats in the front row. They also enjoyed hearing the coaching that was going on, almost like a behind the curtains view and sound.
In sports, or should I say “entertainment” events like the WWE, no fans equal a big 180 from the way things need to be. The WWE needs the crowds to be involved and into it.
There was an occasion a few years ago, in 2015 when the White Sox and Orioles played a game in Baltimore with the gates locked and no fans in the stands. There was some unrest in the city and the decision was made to play the game as scheduled but without an audience. It was a bit of a different feel for sure.
The Orioles telecast had a little fun with the situation. Gary Thorne put on his “Masters voice” for a brief moment, giving the play-by-play as Adam Jones took his at-bat in the top of the seventh. The approach was tested immediately when Jones hit the first pitch of the at-bat. Thorne’s call: “Jones will whack the son-of-a-gun to center field. That’s very deep, it’s deep and it’s off the base of the wall. … Adam Jones has a double, and that green jacket is well within reach, Jim.” Thorne providing a light-hearted moment that was well accepted. He didn’t do the whole game that way, just the one at-bat.
I do realize that networks are going to have to do what they can to make it the best broadcast possible. The virtual fans and pumped in crowd noise are a couple of ways to go, but again, to me not the desired direction. I say we embrace this and try some things that are REAL and could have some meaning and staying power. This is a great opportunity to “switch up the normal” because this is not going to be normal.
Some broadcasters across the country echo those sentiments. Cardinals play-by-play announcer Dan McLaughlin told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, that any potential bumps in the road for networks wouldn’t compare to the games coming back to our screens and radios.
“We’d have baseball and sports back,” he said. “If this is how the game is to be presented, then let’s do it. Let’s give the viewing audience the best product we can under the circumstances. Let’s enjoy it and embrace it, no matter if it’s different than what we’re used to.”
In other words, steer into the skid, embrace the chaos, blazon new trails and create something out of nothing. The piped in crowd noise, cardboard cut outs and virtual fans are what you might call “low hanging fruit”. Easy fixes. Again, are you enhancing the broadcast with these maneuvers or are you creating a mockery? I say it a lot, but it’s true, time to think outside the box. Come up with some solutions that may in fact carry on, once the pandemic is over and we get back to “near normal” conditions.
What am I talking about? How about ESPN’s broadcast of KBO games? Not only are the broadcasters doing the games from their own houses (for obvious reasons) but they’re using a rotating “third voice” in the “booth”. Whether it be a former player, a Korean baseball expert or even an MLB insider. It’s an interesting idea to provide some information and some entertainment, especially since most people tuning in are just ‘jonesing’ for some baseball. They likely don’t know who the players are on most of the teams, with a few exceptions. Why not tune in for some KBO games and hear about what is going on with MLB? I like it.
Dave Flemming who calls Giants games in San Francisco told the folks on KNBR radio it’s ok to experiment during these weird times. “I think there could be room for, OK, the Giants are playing the Cubs in one of these weird games,” Flemming said. “Let’s have Will Clark on and let’s show some highlights from that playoff series and let’s show the Maddux moment. I think there is some room to do a little bit of that while still actually covering the game.”
“When there’s no crowd and no ballpark atmosphere, there is a huge part of what we’re used to watching missing,” Flemming said on KNBR. “That void probably does need to be filled somehow. I wouldn’t do it all game every game. But I think there is a spot for some stuff like that without fans and ballpark atmosphere to lean on. It is going to be tough on those directors and camera operators. It’s like, man, you can only get so many facial closeups of the guy on the on-deck circle.”
Maybe this will be something that continues past the pandemic when fans are allowed back into stadiums and ballparks. Sometimes telecasts and broadcasts fall into predictable habits, especially in the case of baseball, because the sport is such a repetitive thing. Daily broadcasts basically for 6-7 months can force that.
I’d love to see this crazy time turn into positives that we can take as we move through this pandemic and back to some type of normal. Fake crowd noise and virtual fans? No thank you. Ways to grow the game and grow as broadcasters as a result? Yes, please. There’s nothing wrong with a little inventiveness now and then.
Andy Masur is a columnist for BSM and works for WGN Radio as an anchor and play-by-play announcer. He also teaches broadcasting at the Illinois Media School. During his career he has called games for the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox. He can be found on Twitter @Andy_Masur1 or you can reach him by email at Andy@Andy-Masur.com.
