Sports arenas might soon measure crowd excitement with a new, wobbly device. Jell-O, known for its gelatin dessert, has created the JELL-OMETER. This device calculates fan intensity in a stadium and shows it in real time as a jiggling mass of Jell-O. The louder the crowd, the more the Jell-O jiggles.
The JELL-OMETER has already been used at a professional hockey game in New York. It is expected to appear in other stadiums soon.
How the JELL-OMETER Works
Stadiums often use decibel readers to measure sound and encourage fans to "Get Loud." The JELL-OMETER takes a different approach. It measures fan energy.
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Start Your News DetoxThe company says the device uses "proprietary plate-sensing" technology. This captures sound pressure from the crowd's cheers. This sound pressure then turns into mechanical motion, making the Jell-O mold shake.
The energy is measured in "jiggles" on a scale from one to ten. One jiggle is like a microwave. Ten jiggles are supposedly like a small earthquake rumble.
Kathryn O’Brien, Kraft Heinz Company’s head of marketing for desserts, explained the idea. She said Jell-O invented the jiggle over 125 years ago. This gave them a unique way to visually measure sound.
She added that the JELL-OMETER gives fans a chance to brag about having the most passionate fanbase.
The JELL-OMETER was tested at a hockey game between the New York Islanders and the Philadelphia Flyers. A clip posted on Instagram showed the device registering 5.8 jiggles.
The Impact of Loud Crowds
Sports fans are known for being loud. In 2014, Kansas City Chiefs fans set a Guinness World Record for the loudest crowd roar. They reached 142.2 decibels, similar to a jet taking off. This broke their own record from 2013.
The Chiefs' stadium is known for being loud. This is partly due to canopies that cover many seats. These canopies protect fans from rain and also amplify sound.
Some teams use stadium loudness to their advantage. The Houston Astros kept their roof closed during the 2017 World Series. They did this to amplify crowd noise, even when the weather was good. They won the series four to three.
Jell-O states that it does not favor any specific team. The company plans to introduce the JELL-OMETER to more stadiums. They are gathering feedback from fans to find prime locations.
O’Brien noted that the JELL-OMETER "doesn’t take sides." It simply measures the excitement.
