Football fans have voted for their favourite sounds from the beautiful game – with the cheering of the crowds and the funny chants topping the list.
Other top sounds heard inside football stadiums include the roar of fans as players first take to the pitch, and the team's national anthems being sung at international games.
And with the UEFA Champions League final due to take place in Istanbul next week (June 10), the Champions League anthem before the game has also been voted one of the top five favourite sounds from the sport.
A survey of 2,000 football fans, who have travelled to watch a match, found that over two-thirds (68%) agree that the sounds inside a stadium can influence the outcome of a game.
And nine in ten believe a good atmosphere makes a football match more memorable – with the sounds of fans clapping, and drums and music being played around the venue, also making the top 20 list of football sounds.
The study, dubbed the “Soundscape of being there”, was commissioned by Expedia Live – the destination for accessing expert travel advice on where to explore after the final whistle.
It has partnered with football legend and ex-Inter Milan and Manchester City midfielder, Patrick Vieira, to share the sounds that shaped his football career.
He said: “From my own experience travelling over the years across Europe, the sounds I heard on game day made my experiences truly unforgettable, no matter where I played.
“I loved the roar of the plane taking off for European nights as it signalled the start of the journey, and the buzz of the stadium crowd before kick-off really got the adrenalin pumping.
“Football has so many iconic sounds that create a unique atmosphere, which cannot be replicated anywhere else. When visiting a rival stadium and hearing our fans chanting with such passion was magical, that feeling stays with me.”
The research also found some fans take the sounds of football to the extreme – with 22% preferring the noise of a goal celebration over hearing someone tell them that they love them (19%).
Liverpool FC was voted as having the loudest and most passionate fans (28%), followed by FC Barcelona (15%) and Manchester City FC (14%).
But this year’s finalist, FC Internazionale Milano, didn’t even make the top 10 (4%).
The “Soundscape of being there” report also revealed more than half (52%) would love to visit Istanbul, specifically to watch this year’s final.
And the fact the game is being hosted there has put the city on the travel radar for 77% in the future.
The most iconic sound associated with Istanbul is the call to prayer of the Muezzin (38%), followed by the buzz of the bazaars (34%).
Of those who have been lucky enough to go away to watch a Champion’s League round, one in three said they most look forward to experiencing a new city.
And 30% enjoy the overall atmosphere and experience, while 27% love to use it as a getaway with friends.
But 62% also believe the sounds of travel add to their overall getaway experience, according to the OnePoll figures.
Just over a third (35%) associate people talking in different languages with travel abroad – while 31% always link the roar of a plane taking off.
And three in ten said the hustle and bustle of a busy bar or café is what makes them really feel they are travelling.
Michele Rousseau, from Expedia, said: “We’re proud to be an Official Supplier of the UEFA Champions League, and can enable fans from around the world to travel and discover new cities, as nothing beats being there.
“Travelling to watch a game allows fans to experience new cultures and create special memories with friends and family that will last a lifetime.”
For fans looking to meet Patrick Vieira in person, he will be sharing the sounds that shaped his career and travels at the Expedia Live immersive experience, at the UEFA Champions League fan zone in Istanbul, on Friday 9th June.
THE TOP 20 BEST SOUNDS IN FOOTBALL:
- Cheering of the crowds
- The chants
- Team anthems being sung
- The roar when the players take to the pitch
- The UEFA Champions League anthem before the game
- Player songs being sung
- Fans clapping
- The ping of the ball hitting the crossbar
- The noise of the ball hitting the back of the net
- The tense silence before a penalty kick
- The sound of the whistle at kick-off/the final whistle
- The national anthems
- Drums and music being played around the stadium
- Referee whistles for fouls
- Players shouting to each other
- The sound of the turnstile turning
- Honking cars before/after the game
- The noise of street vendors outside the stadium
- Coaches shouting at the players
- Feet stomping
THE TOP 10 THINGS FANS ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO IN ISTANBUL THIS YEAR:
- The Grand Bazaar
- Watching a game at a stadium
- The Blue Mosque
- Spice Bazaar
- Going to a Turkish Tearoom
- Visiting Istanbul Archaeological Museum
- Bosporus Strait
- Trying Turkish Delight
- Hagia Sofia Mosque
- Topkapi Palace
