Arrowhead Stadium vs. Qwest Field

Noise.  Noise on the road.  The Arizona Cardinals don't play particularly well on the road in noisy stadiums.  This season, they've continued to prove that.  Qwest Field in Seattle, The Metrodome in Minneapolis, The Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.  They are all loud places, especially Qwest Field in Seattle, where the crowd is affectionately known as the 12th man. This week though in Kansas City, it may be the toughest place for the Cards yet.

Arrowhead Stadium.  The place as far as I am concerned, is one, if not THE loudest stadium in the NFL.  Traditionally it has been, before and after renovations.  It seats over 81,000 people.  Qwest seats just over 67,000.  Now, it's not always about the people, but it's about the type of fans you have.  it's about configurations.  It's about atmosphere.

One of the greatest atmosphere's in all the NFL is in Kansas City.  Personally, I've never been there, but I've been a fan long enough to follow the two stadiums, plus others.  Arrowhead is older, built in 1968, but has gone through a recent renovation.  The Cards get to visit Qwest Field every season, so even though the noise seems to get to them a little there, they see it often.  Arrowhead isn't as vertically built as Qwest, but the fans in my estimation are rowdier.  They are older.  More experienced fans if you ask me.

It should be interested to see how Derek Anderson handles the crowd noise in Arrowhead.  The Kansas City Chiefs have given their fans to cheer again.  They are 5-4 and in the thick of the AFC West race.  Expect if things go wrong on Sunday for the Cards, expect it to snowball quickly.  You will be able to partially thank the crowd for that.