The home of the Carolina Hurricanes is sometimes called the "loudest house in the NHL."

According to NC State experts, the arena’s design and crowd-rallying sound effects help create its spirited atmosphere.

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Nearly a quarter of NHL players who participated in 2025 survey claimed Lenovo to be one of the toughest arenas to play in due to the relentless noise.

Scientists say the shape of Lenovo makes loud sounds reverberate for longer periods of time, hovering between the audience and the dome-shaped roof. The ice flooring and the screen that circles the rink do not absorb sound energy, making it even more noticeable for the players. 

Even sports analysts and commentators have noticed the high volume during the Stanley Cup Final. 

Steve Levy with ESPN shared a post on X, saying: "Forever, I've said the loudest sports arena I've ever been in was the old Chicago Stadium. After these first 2 #StanleyCup games in Raleigh, I might have to rethink that. My ears still hurt!"

The sound of the crowd, alongside the loud starting siren and other horns that go off during the game, could give the Canes a distinct psychological advantage, according to researchers.  

"When we process the sensory information, when the player is on the ice, they need to be able to see what's going on in the game," said Yingchen He, an assistant professor with NC State's Department of Psychology. "But when there is distracting information, from either the sound or the visuals that is occupying that processing capacity, grabbing their attention, in some cases, that could make it harder to focus, and they may take longer to process the information." 

He said we all have a naturally occurring "startle reflex" that initiates when we hear sudden and loud noises. She also noted the high contrast colors of and flashing lights that sometimes circulate throughout Lenovo Center. 

"We don't like static and boring stuff, so when there is a flashing light, high contrast, and changing light going on, especially in our peripheral vision, that side of our vision grabs our attention. For an opposing team who is not familiar with this setup, their attention may be easily attracted to the distracting signs," He said. 

He mentioned changes in audience can play a pivotal role in players' attention. Hurricanes players credited the energy during Game 2 against the Vegas Golden Knights to the team clinching a 4-3 win in overtime Thursday night. 

"If they are dressed in a certain way and they are moving in a group, like they have group movements with a certain pattern, that movement could grab attention, especially because our peripheral vision is very sensitive to those changes," He said.