ATHENS - In an effort to keep fans in the stadium, rather than at home or a tailgate, the SEC has loosened its rules on what replays can be shown on video scoreboards during games.

Starting this weekend, schools have the ability to show all the replays that they want - with the exception of plays that are under official review. But even in that case, the stadium video board may show the television feed. In other words, see exactly what the fan at home is watching.

Prior to this year, the SEC prohibited home teams from showing any more than one real-time replay after a play. So while a critical play was being reviewed, fans at home could see all the different angles, but fans in the stadium were left twiddling their thumbs.

The change was adopted earlier this month by athletics directors, and announced on Monday.

“The change in policy will allow our fans to see more of the action, including great plays and close calls,” SEC Commissioner Mike Slive said in a statement.  “Fans in the stadium now can see many of the same views of a play seen by fans watching on television.  This should add to the overall game experience for fans inside our stadiums.”

But term "game experience" is the key here.

While SEC football is as popular as ever, along with football in general, actual game attendance has been down. Part of the reason for that, worry the powers-that-be, is that fans prefer the experience of watching at home, with HDTV and other amenities, and without having to shell out for a ticket.

This is an effort to make the experience of being at a game worth the price of the ticket.

The SEC announced one more change: Bands can now be "amplified" during designated times. This is how the SEC worded it in a release:

"Bands will not be allowed to play once the center takes his place over the football until the play is whistled dead.  Previously, bands were not allowed to be amplified during the game and were not allowed to play once the offensive team broke the huddle."