There have been several comments lately about crowd noise being sub-par and that this brings the team down (or fails to unsettle the opponent, which is the same thing).  Various theories have been posed, from the basic "new stadium lets the noise out" to my favorite "corporate hacks, who are the only ones who can afford/acquire tickets, and who are only there to show off, don't cheer loudly".  J-rod noticed this and posted on his blog about it:

http://johnrodriguez.mlblogs.com/johnrodriguez/2006/10/supp_was_on.html

I do just want to say one thing to the fans, though. I want to hear all of you just a little bit more. We heard them, but not quite as much. I want to hear them a little bit louder tomorrow. I want that red sea to come out. Everybody wear red T-shirts, red sweatshirts, red jackets, whatever. Just bring it all out tomorrow.

I'd like to propose one more - the ushers in the new stadium are jerks.  Check out this comment from j-rod's blog:

J-Rod, We are trying to cheer loud but fans and ushers are telling us to sit down and be quiet. I'm not talking about profanities either. For example, my friend stood up and cheered "lets go redbirds" and the ladies behind him told him to sit down because they couldn't see! Also, a women called into to KMOX radio and said she was told she could only cheer when the rest of the fans were cheering or she would be asked to leave. THIS MAKES ME WANT TO STAND THE ENTIRE GAME AND CHEER AS LOUD AS I CAN! GO CARDS!!!!!

http://johnrodriguez.mlblogs.com/johnrodriguez/2006/10/time_to_move_on.html#comments

Is anyone who has been to a game lately able to confirm this?  It seems realistic, based on the behavior of the ushers at the one game I was able to get to this summer.  I've been to 5 other games in 3 other cities this year and none of the ushers in those towns were even close to being as overbearing and obnoxious as the ones at Busch3.  I had my ticket checked 3 different times, was told I could not stand in front of my chair at the railing, that I had to sit down, etc.

I don't know if this is really something that has been happening, but I hate to lay blame on the fans when something out of their control is keeping them down.