Before any game begins, before fans file into a stadium or arena, before the first roar of the crowd, before the first point, music plays a role in enhancing the competition. Athletes lock in. Their heartbeats speed up. Adrenaline rises. And nearly every athlete will say they play a specific playlist as part of their game-day routine. Either in the locker room or out on the court or field during warmups. Listening with their teammates or in their own headphones. I would have a pregame playlist when I was an athlete and listen to it before every game to hype myself up, but also to lock in. Right before warmups, my team and I would blast music through the big locker room speaker and dance around together. It would always put everyone in a positive mood. It lifted our energy, boosted our confidence, and got our adrenaline going.

Music is more than just entertainment in this context. It is a tool for performance. 

It is the key to preparation and getting in the right mindset before a competition. Teams create playlists that are usually a mix of upbeat, hype, pop, hip hop, and rap songs. This helps bring teams together and creates excitement as a game approaches. Teams feel a sense of unity, confidence, and focus that prepares their mindset and emotions. According to the article, “The College Basketball Players Redefining Game-Day Music Culture Through Athlete-Curated Playlists” by College Insider, listening to preferred music can increase an athlete’s performance up to 20% and lower perceived effort. Sometimes, athletes switch their personal game-day playlist depending on their mood and motivations for the day. This tool that connects to athletes emotionally can provide them with confidence and clarity, enhancing their athletic performance (Collegeinsider, 2024).

Also, baseball and softball players’ walk-up songs can enhance their performance. Other sports do not have this kind of opportunity to listen to their preferred song during competition, like baseball and softball do. Listening to their chosen song right before an at-bat can increase the player’s focus, motivation, confidence, and energy. According to ESPN, Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera had an “89.7 save percentage in 15 seasons” when he started using the song “Enter Sandman” in 1999 (ESPN, n.d.). Not many people realize that walk-up songs can have a huge impact on a batter’s performance. We as an audience enjoy hearing the songs and get excited. Players may strategically pick their song they love and think will help them perform their best. The song they pick can help them focus on the moment that they are in and what they are about to do. Most baseball players are superstitious and have routines each game day, so a walk-up song can give them a sense of routine and comfort in a song they know (Jafri, 2025).

According to the article, “Can music make you a better athlete?” by L. Strum, when listening to music, it reaches parts of the brain that can’t be easily reached. Music reduces cortisol levels (stress hormones) and helps stimulate a rhythm in how the body moves. It regulates mood and helps get rid of distractions. When athletes listen to music, their brain releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in motivation, pleasure, and movement. This helps athletes feel motivated, confident, mentally focused, and energized. Some athletes prefer fast-tempo songs, some thrive on rap or hip hop, some on rock or heavy metal, and some even on slow and calming songs. For example, a high-energy song can increase adrenaline, a positive song can increase confidence, and a slow song can reduce anxiety levels in an athlete (Strum, 2016). I would always listen to fast-paced, positive, and upbeat music before my volleyball games. This music would get me moving and ready to jump into the game at full speed. I was more confident when I listened to my playlist before games. I had a sense of urgency to get started, but was still focused. This is why athletes’ playlists matter. They are very intentional about what they play before competition. There isn’t a “right” choice of music; it is a right feeling.

As mentioned above, music helps shape the experience of students and fans in the stands. A stadium without music would be boring. It would feel flat. It would be a lot quieter, slower, less energetic, and less emotional. Music fuels the energy in the stadium and connects the crowd with the game. I love going to sporting events and listening to music in between halves, plays, or timeouts. I have more fun and feel like I am getting the most out of my experience when music comes on. When I am with my friends at Aggie Football, Basketball, Volleyball, or Baseball games, I have the most fun when we are all jumping up and down, yelling or singing to the music. It makes the experience unlike any other.

Today, college athletics uses stadium or arena DJs that control the energy and excitement. They read the room and keep fans engaged in the game. With the right song, they can shift a calm, quiet environment into an intense, highly energetic one in a matter of seconds. They help shape the pregame hype, the timeout mindset, post-score celebrations, and fan-participation moments. Whoever is on aux during home football games at Kyle Field needs a raise. They play a major role in shaping the fan experience and making the atmosphere at Kyle Field truly one-of-a-kind. They play the right music at the right time, and all the students and fans interact. The crowd gets louder and more energetic, making Kyle Field a hard atmosphere for opposing teams to play in. When an entire stadium or arena is alive, it is mostly because of the music.

School bands also keep the crowd engaged and provide entertainment by bringing school spirit. Through timeouts, media breaks, halftime shows, and pre-game moments, they utilize music to make the environment more fun for the fans. When they are in smaller arenas, such as basketball or volleyball games, their sound seems to be more impactful because it fills up the entire atmosphere. No matter if the team is winning or losing, bands are always there to rally the crowd when morale dips or respond to what is happening in the game. They constantly create an atmosphere where fans can be emotionally connected with the game. A key role of the band is to put on an impressive halftime show. During halftime, fans stand and rally for their band as a way to demonstrate their school’s pride and superiority. It is filled with creativity, emotion, energy, and school spirit. Halftime shows keep the momentum going and continue to enhance the gameday experience.

When I went to Darrell K Royal Memorial Stadium in Austin for the Texas A&M vs. UT football game, the stadium environment was totally different compared to Kyle Field’s. They didn’t play as much music as Kyle Field does. In between timeouts, plays, and quarters, they did more promotional things, like ads or interactive games where fans won prizes. They even had a in-game show host. I thought it was pretty weird. The environment didn’t seem energetic enough. It wasn’t pulsing with excitement and team spirit. Fans were not jumping up and down to the music. I wasn’t that impressed, but I will say that their drone light show was insane and probably the coolest part of the fan experience. I just thought they would play more hype songs like “Party till we die” by MAKJ and Timmy Trumpet or “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes. Also, I’m not just saying this because I’m biased, but Texas Football’s entrance was also very underwhelming. I was ready for the stadium to shake in excitement when their team ran out, and I was ready to experience gameday at DKR Stadium. The start of their entrance was pretty cool, with the beginning of “Hells Bells” by AC/DC playing and lights flashing, but the rest of it was not exciting at all. The beginning of the song ended, and they announced the team as they ran out. The crowd didn’t seem that hype. I know nothing can match Kyle Field and the music and fans that create its atmosphere, but I still expected DKR’s music to be better than it was.