PORT Adelaide will be put to the test in more ways than one when it plays Essendon on Saturday night, with its crowd bidding to become the loudest on record.
That honour is currently held by the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL, whose crowd registered a reading of 137.6 decibels (dBA) in late 2013.
That figure is nearly as loud as a jet engine from about 30 metres (140dBA); a clap of thunder is typically measured at between 100-120dBA.
Channel Seven will broadcast the Power's game at Adelaide Oval against Essendon on Saturday night, and have hired Adelaide-based acoustic consultants Marshall Day to test the crowd throughout the game.
Marshall Day's Alex Morabito told portadelaidefc.com.au that measurements would be taken at various points during the match in the hope of setting an official Australian record.
“We’ll be set up from before the game starts, for the players’ run out, so if everyone can be sitting in their seats when the players come out at 7pm we’ll be able to get a good reading then,” Morabito said.
“General crowd noise in a ground like Adelaide Oval is about 90-95 dBA, heavy metal rock concerts can be up to 160 dBA, and the Seahawks was around the 137 mark.
“We’ll measure the crowd noise right up until the final siren and report it back during and after the game. We’ll be looking for the roars of the crowd when goals are kicked and, hopefully for the Power, a good result at the end.”
Few know the noise of crowds at Adelaide Oval like Power forward Robbie Gray
Failing to hear the halftime siren over the noise of the crowd against Geelong in round six, Gray played on rather than taking a shot at goal, resulting in the end of the quarter.
That incident, combined with another in Adelaide's round nine clash against Collingwood, saw the volume of the venue's siren – already the loudest in Australia – increased.
“The way the Adelaide Oval’s been rebuilt seems to keep the noise inside the stadium, and at times it’s been hard for us as players to hear each other out there,” Gray told portadelaidefc.com.au.
“Every week we’ve noticed it, and it’s been fantastic for the club.
“This Saturday night is another massive opportunity to fill the place up with our supporters for a big game against a big Vic club and see how loud we really are on the decibel reader.”
