When it comes to defining what culture is and what it is made up of, there is no denying that sports have a major influence. People around the world love sports for so many reasons. Some people are born into a fandom that has been passed down from generation to generation. Some love a true underdog story, as the unlikely opponent comes out on top to upset the favorite. Others are simply looking for a distraction from their every-day life to watch the greatest entertainers of our time. Whatever the reason, there is one thing that all sports fans can agree upon; sports provide a sense of camaraderie and community that can bring just about anyone together. The effect is amplified to an even greater degree when fans come together to watch their favorite team play in their home stadium.

Unfortunately, like many things this year, the sports world has been turned upside-down because of the COVID-19 pandemic that has stretched across every part of the world. The 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo have been postponed until next year, many professional leagues have delayed starts and shortened seasons, and many college sports are in jeopardy of being canceled this year.

Despite all of this, sports have slowly begun to start back up again. Major League Baseball has started playing their season again and the National Hockey League and National Basketball Association playoffs are in full swing. However, there is one major caveat; no fans allowed. While it is good to see sports on television again, it is clear that having fans in the stadium has a major impact on the energy of the game. Whether it’s the constant murmur during a baseball game on a summer afternoon, or the united roar of the crowd after a game-winning buzzer-beater during a basketball game, a stadium full of fans makes sports better.

Although we cannot see our favorite teams right now, this is only temporary and there will come a time when we will be able to go watch our teams once again, and it will make sporting events that much better. Until then, when we can all cheer on together, let’s take a look at some stadiums around the world that depend on Taylor Dampers, Lock-Up Devices and TMDs to provide safety for spectators. In most cases, the devices are used in stadiums to protect against seismic and wind loads, but they can also be used to reduce undesirable vibrations caused by cheering fans.