Field Recording at the Cotton Bowl
The Winter Classic is the once-a-year game that the NHL puts on outside in the elements. The 2020 edition was hosted by the Dallas Stars at the Cotton Bowl, and I secured special approval to attend with recording equipment.
Equipment Setup
For the setup, I selected a Schoeps double M/S setup along with a pair of Crown PZM mics and flanked by a wide pair of Sennheiser 416s, fitting everything into a mobile travel case. I took public transportation to the venue, arriving early to secure a prime recording position near the pyrotechnics and stage.
Capturing 85,000 Fans
The narrative followed the game’s progression, with audio clips capturing key moments including the national anthem, early Nashville goals, a comeback Stars goal, a power play chant, and the final victory.
What struck me most was how 85,000 people sounds a LOT bigger than 18,000 people. The scale of the crowd transformed the acoustic environment compared to regular-season games at the American Airlines Center. The roar during goals, the chants echoing across the open-air venue—it was unlike anything I’ve captured at indoor arenas.
This material now lives in our sound effects library, available for future Dallas Stars productions and sports broadcast work.
