Nba Says Please Keep Noise Down

“Shout” will be a little quieter this season at NBA arenas.

The league that originated the sporting event-cum-rock concert is toning down its act, asking teams to turn down the volume on their public address systems to reduce distractions to players and ease up on fans’ ears.

In the NBA, entertainment has always gone hand-in-hand with the game. Players are introduced with laser light shows, mirrored disco balls dangle from arena roofs, dancers in sequins slither across the court during timeouts.

And to up the homecourt advantage, teams pump up the volume louder than Dennis Rodman’s hair colors.

At Charlotte Coliseum, home of the Hornets, it’s a buzzing sound. At Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, the Pacers and the crowd get revved up by the roar of a race car.

Mostly, fans love it. But in response to concerns from coaches and players, the league has laid down some new rules about just how loud non-crowd noise can get.

Among the guidelines set by the league:

The decibel level from sound systems is not to exceed 85 decibels. Last season, the NBA said, some arenas pumped up the volume to more than 100 decibels, the same level for a jet at takeoff.

During games, music or other sound effects should be played only when the home team has the ball. Indiana’s ear-splitting race car noises will reverberate only when the Pacers have the ball or during timeouts, a change from last year.

Pre-recorded chants like “Defense!” or “Charge!” may be played when either team has the ball but should be played equally for both teams.

Sound effects are permitted after a missed or made free throw but must cease as soon as the shooter touches the ball again.