Can someone please turn on the lights??

by shaqfor3 on Nov 9, 2009 11:25 PM PST

For the last couple of years, Staples Center has had the lights off which hang over the crowd. Many have said they made this move to give the arena more of a theatre type of environment or to replicate the type of lighting which they had back in the Forum, or the system at Madison Square Garden, I dont know. The last couple of years I have had a gripe over the crowds energy in the game. Most of the home games they seemed uninterested in the game or very quiet, even for playoff games. But the early 2000's they were very loud and into the game such as for example, game 7 of the 2000 western conference finals. I began to think it was because of the increase in a celebrity audience, since tickets prices are the highest in the league, and to some extent, this is might be true. But the main reason I think why the crowd has not been as loud as it was in the early 2000's is because they turn off the lighting over the audience.

via www.sportsshooter.com

(Notice the lighting over the audience at Clippers games are on)

Why? Because when people, go to a movie, they often have the lights turned off, to create a sort of ambient, quiet environment. That is the major flaw with this light setting. When people go to see a Laker game at Staples Center, they see the crowd in the dark, and this might in a way make the crowd think they are at a movie so they should not be so loud (in an instinctive kind of way). Another reason why the dark light setting is bad is because it separates the audience from the game. In a light setting where the court and the audience are visible, the audience feels like they are part of the game and get loud and cheer on the team. But, when the crowd is in the dark, they get detached from the action of the game. For some reason, clipper games have the lights for the audience on. I think it could be because there is not so much of a celebrity fan base there, like at laker home games so there is not much of a need for a theatre type light setting.

via imagecache5.art.com

Early 2000's (crowd lights on)

(The crowd was much louder back then)

via cache3.asset-cache.net

(2009 finals)

(notice crowd mostly in the dark, crickets chirping)

I don't know what you guys think. This is just my opinion on the matter. Id like to see Staples Center be more of a fan type of environment again which encourages the crowd to cheer at laker home games...

(Props to Justin N. whose comment gave me the idea to make a fan post on this matter)

Poll

Should Staples Center turn the lights on over the crowd for Laker games?

Yes

23 votes

No

19 votes

42 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 17 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

As I'm sure you gathered from my post

you get a yes vote from me! The only downside I could see to this would be that it might weird the Lakers out with the change to their home setting, but fixing it now could pay dividends down the road!

Also, even with the lights “on” Staples seems pretty dark compared to other sports arenas. When I watch a Warriors or Jazz game I feel like you can see each and every one of the 15,000 people there!

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.

by Justin N. on Nov 10, 2009 12:16 AM PST reply actions

This could be a small part of the issue

In the first part, Laker fans that attend the games have always been labeled as boring or because fans come strolling in even during important games. I have attended laker games and I can say that a lot of times I look around at the fans and for the most part it feels like you are in high school all over again. It’s like a popularity contest.

Also, when you think of the 2000’s you have to consider that in game 7 against the Blazers the Lakers were heading to the Finals and it was going to be the first time since Magic played Jordan so it had been almost a decade since the Lakers had been that good. So, they had built up a momentum and it was a 10 year drought that they were erasing. So that alone generated fans and it was just a different type of excitement because for many it was the first time they witnessed a team that good.

"When I walked into the locker room on my first day as a Laker and saw my gold uniform hanging there, I cried." - Magic Johnson (Best Laker Ever)

by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Nov 10, 2009 6:37 AM PST reply actions

btw..

Whenever I get my hands on a good pair of tickets I feel very fortunate. I know that I am not the usual casual fan and shouldn’t expect others to be as animated as me…but I hate to see people who are at the games and are on their cell or texting the whole time and not even watching the game. They show up because it’s the cool thing to do or it’s the LA thing to do.

"When I walked into the locker room on my first day as a Laker and saw my gold uniform hanging there, I cried." - Magic Johnson (Best Laker Ever)

by PURPLE AND GOLD FOR LIFE on Nov 10, 2009 6:41 AM PST up reply actions

I like the lighting as it is. If you turn them up then it is just like a Clippers game or the other 28 loser NBA teams – ugh!

And yes I am a 2009 World Champion Fan.

by olf on Nov 10, 2009 9:22 AM PST reply actions

I like the "Lights Out"

It drives home the point that the Lakers are THE show.

by wondahbap on Nov 10, 2009 9:44 AM PST reply actions

The focus is on the court.

by wondahbap on Nov 10, 2009 9:44 AM PST up reply actions

does that point somehow get lost when the lights are on?

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.

by Justin N. on Nov 10, 2009 11:23 AM PST up reply actions

No.

I see what you’re getting at though. “Lights Out” adds to the aesthetic of the game. Being entertained. There is more focus on the court. They are all that matters in the building. Like they are on stage.

by wondahbap on Nov 10, 2009 11:57 AM PST up reply actions

I don't think the lights being on or off affects the cheering.

Lakers fans get loud when it matters.

by wondahbap on Nov 10, 2009 9:46 AM PST reply actions

I agree.

Billy Mac: "Lamar, can you see yourself actually getting in the (boxing) ring"?
Lamar Odom: "No. My face is too pretty."

by pslakerfan on Nov 10, 2009 11:54 AM PST up reply actions

To be honest I like the lighting for the most part.

I was asked to vote on it after a few trials as a Season Seat Holder and I gave it the thumbs up. I don’t know if it affects the crowd noise or not, but I do feel I can see the court better that way (of course I am way, way up). The only downside I have seen is that I cannot see peoples feet/drinks when I am trying to get past them to the bathroom and back. Major bummer.

As far as the noise, I don’t really know. There doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to it. I have been to quite a few games and sometimes the crowd is really hyped for a November game against the T-Wolves and other times it is quiet for an April game against the Spurs. I think it has more to do with the game situations then anything else. In a close game or after a comeback the place usually gets rocking. You will never see a “Warriors” game mentality from the crowd. To be honest that seems like the stuff of losers. To put it another/nicer way, we don’t need a 6th man, our first 5 are better than yours.

Billy Mac: "Lamar, can you see yourself actually getting in the (boxing) ring"?
Lamar Odom: "No. My face is too pretty."

by pslakerfan on Nov 10, 2009 11:59 AM PST reply actions

yeah i agree

the lighting does look nice
just since the lighting has gone into the effect
the crowds been quieter
it could be a mix of issues here
like the increase in ticket prices and etc…
i just thought the lighting could be a possible factor….

When I look at Boris Diaw, I think of Beethoven and the age of the romantics... -The Great Bill Walton

1955,1959,1963,1965,1981,1988...
1949,1950,1952,1953,1954,1972,1980,1982,1985,1987,1988,2000,2001,2002, 2009...

by shaqfor3 on Nov 10, 2009 3:21 PM PST up reply actions

turn the damn lights on...

we really have one of the quite est crowds in the league and now i may have found out why… i always thought maybe it was cause of the celebreties but now i know why

by matthewmafa on Nov 10, 2009 7:42 PM PST reply actions

dude, this is a very good post. you make some very interesting points. you should send this to the Lakers, because, seriously, i feel the crowd is weak. they don’t make any noise. and you are right, they are separated from the game. we have to make them feel a part of it.

by chaucer on Nov 11, 2009 7:03 AM PST reply actions

maybe staples should reward fans. if their loudness reaches a certain decibel, high frequency, and long duration, they get free tacos at jack in the box.

by chaucer on Nov 11, 2009 7:06 AM PST reply actions

on a different note, the cavs are looking like the cavs team that they are. last year, i’ve said it before, i think they overachieved. they are like the nfl titans of last season, best record only to crash in the playoffs when their true identity was tested and revealed. likewise for the cavs. the magic unveiled them last season, and here they are this year, running around without a mask. they are not that good. their roster is not that good. plain and simple. and if anything, shaq is a detriment to that team—in terms of x’s and o’s and how he fits in, or doesn’t in this case….and as far as gasol, i said it before, he shouldn’t have been playing in europe. okay, he won gold. congratulations. but from this point forward, lakers should restrict him from playing during off-season. i don’t like the fact he’s using OUR season, to rest and heal. i knew this would happen. let’s not forget he has a fragile body, and we got lucky it didn’t break down last year. it was a matter of time. maybe his mask is starting to peel off as well.

by chaucer on Nov 11, 2009 7:11 AM PST reply actions