Here's an area where consumers can't easily control their consumption, and tighter regulation would make sense.

The Dallas arena PA announcer sounds like the PA announcer near the end of "Idiocracy."

Allan,

Sure you cane, you just have to use ear plugs.

Think of the marketing opportunity! They turn the sound up so loud that you have to go to the concession stand and buy team branded hearing protectors. ;)

Consumers can easily control their consumption, and tighter regulation wouldn't make sense.

Don't go or wear earplugs!

Now for the players and employees, thats another mater.

Now if they can get the rock concerts at the Rose Garden to follow suit. One shouldn't be able to hold a conversation in the stands at an Ozzy concert. "LOUDER! I... can't... HEAR YOU!"

Perhaps this noise gambit can be viewed as another involuntary experiment upon humans in the manner of recent probing of great white sharks:

"Divers in Australia have been playing music underwater and recording how sharks react. When AC/DC came on — particularly the band’s hit single 'You Shook Me All Night Long' — sharks started acting less aggressive.

They even starting cuddling up to the speakers, according to one report.

'Their behavior was more investigative, more inquisitive and a lot less aggressive – they actually came past in a couple of occasions when we had the speaker in the water and rubbed their face along the speaker which was really bizarre,' a charter boat operator told the Australian news network ABC."

http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/2011/06/06/experts-explain-why-sharks-like-acdc/

Given violent incidents among professional sports attendees, this might not be misguided: if fans turn out to be less aggressive when subjected to high volumes, then loud arenas may prove to be a little safer. Unless, of course, spectators turn to earplugs to protect their hormonal inclinations toward assault and battery.

One of the primary reasons I repeatedly turn down Blazers tickets. I attend a sporting event for the entertainment provided by witnessing the event competition LIVE. Why they find it necessary to blast the constant bang-bang thump-thump soundtrack is beyond me. To me, it is distracting, and beyond annoying. Actually keeps me from attending the event in person.