Celtic Park has been renowned as a fortress across Europe since Celtic began their European adventures back in the early 1960s. Countless rivals have spoken out about the spine-tingling environment that the Celtic support create. The loud atmosphere often deafening and intimidating for the opposition but now Celtic Park’s atmosphere has lost something in recent seasons and it’s happened because of the implementation of the disco lights. This is not my attempt to have them taken down, instead reworked in order to compliment the support.
The disco lights are a gimmick, they are a fun pre match bonus; however, Celtic have pinned too much value upon generating an atmosphere using these lights accompanied by deafening music that they’ve drowned out the Celtic support. Instead of attempting to punt the newest CD at the Celtic shop with a collection of disco light classics such as the Celtic Song sped up, the club should rethink how they use the lights to enhance what is an incredible atmosphere.
The video above from a Europa League clash perfectly explains what I am saying, there is a degree of noise as the team is announced but then the music comes on and it quietens right down. The atmosphere loses its edge as a result. In what is an emotional game, this raw passion is like gold dust and Celtic’s tinkering with the light show has thus far struggled to enhance the atmosphere in Europe.
Who else gets goosebumps watching this? pic.twitter.com/ZzNCH3yYeJ
— Read Celtic (@ReadCeltic) February 23, 2017
Pre-match anticipation often breeds the best atmosphere so that when the players come out it’s to rapturous applause, yells and cheers. Celtic are here. Instead of the current disco light ‘show’, Celtic could inspire the players and galvanise the support by showing a compilation with inspiration music as well as the commentary over the PA system. Something like this, to really get everyone in the mood for the clash and with a bit more relevance than ACDC’s Thunderstruck.
The Celtic support are an incredible asset to the club in terms of noise and intimidation but they are currently handicapped by the fact that any pre-match noise that the Green Brigade or Bhoys wish to start gets cut off by flashing lights and boring dance songs.
The club should continue to use the lights when doing the team and pre match as it’s an incredible spectacle but what triumphs that is a a Celtic support singing in unison. Celtic should be finding ways to cater to the supporters unique atmosphere and bringing about a way to compliment the supporters at Celtic Park ahead of the big games under the lights.
My view on the matter is that Celtic should fusion the incredible support that we enjoy with the lights by creating an audio visual experience on the big screens to really get the supporters up for a game. It is a working progress but the club can try different ways to really take advantage of the lights.
What do you think? Would you like Celtic to experiment with different ideas to get the best out of the lights and new music system around the ground?
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