Got horns? Venue deciding for AC Milan vs. Panathinaikos FC

PONTIAC, MICH — When two of Europe's premier professional soccer teams play at the Silverdome next week, will attendees and TV viewers hear the now-famous drone of vuvuzela noisemakers? The owners and managers of the Silverdome are asking for soccer fan input at their SilverdomeEvents.com web site in advance of the “Match of the Titans” featuring AC Milan and Panathinaikos FC on August 6.

One long-time soccer fan already knows how he'll vote. Roger Faulkner was the chairman of the Detroit host committee for the 1994 FIFA World Cup at the Silverdome, which was the last time top-level international soccer was played in Metro Detroit. Today, he's a senior advisor for soccer to Silverdome managers Triple Sports & Entertainment.

“I simply cannot stand those terrible things,” he said “The noise drowns out the singing, the chants and the cheers that make a soccer game such a unique experience and replaces all of that with the sound of an attack by giant plastic bees.”

However, rather than simply following international venues that have banned

the vuvuzela outright, the Silverdome is asking fans for their input before making a decision.

“The most important thing is the fan experience," said Steve Apostolopoulos, director of sports for Triple Sports & Entertainment. "Many people say they don't like the vuvuzelas, but plenty of fans clearly enjoyed blowing them in the stands at the FIFA World Cup. We're trying to see how many of our potential visitors feel strongly one way or the other before we make a decision."

To influence the Silverdome's decision or see what others are saying about

the vuvuzela, visit www.SilverdomeEvents.com: http://www.silverdomeevents.com/> .

ABOUT THE SILVERDOME

Completed in 1975, the Silverdome is an 82,000-seat domed stadium located in

Pontiac, Mich. It is owned by Triple Investment Group LLC, which acquired the facility and began renovations in 2009 and is operated by Triple Sports & Entertainment. For more information about upcoming events, visit www.SilverdomeEvents.com: http://www.silverdomeevents.com/  or follow@SilverdomeNews on Twitter.

Last updated: Aug 26 2010 at 5:41 PM