20 Rocking Stadium Songs That Make Any Sporting Event More Enjoyable

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL? The NFL season kicks off tonight with the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens, and depending on your allegiance, the new year will bring about all kinds of new rivalries and reasons to trash talk, or simply justify drinking all Sunday long.

Thanks to many sports references that borrow from '80s icons and American hero, Muhammad Ali, Katy Perry's "Roar" is poised to become a perfect fit blasting out of the speakers of 50,000-plus-seat arenas this fall. But before we anoint her as the quintessential pop cheerleader, let's take a look at some of the best soundtracks for any sporting event, guaranteed to entertain even if your team can't.

THE CLASSICS

The Rolling Stones, “Start Me Up”

Lots of people love sports, and large groups of (sometimes) drunk fans need to be told what to do. This is as good a way as ever (unless you're one of the Black Eyed Peas).

Survivor, “Eye Of The Tiger”

The metaphor that would inspire Katy and motivate Rocky to climb that final step at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. This may seem silly to ask now, but what is so special about a tiger's peepers?

Guns N' Roses, "Welcome To The Jungle"

If Axl is going to take his sweet, sweet time with a new album, the least we can do is honor one of his band's greatest hits at the start of every game.

AC/DC, “Thunderstruck”

We wouldn't advise taking a drink every time the word "thunder" is uttered, but if you feel like being adventurous...

Aerosmith, “Walk This Way”

Because baseball's most boring way of filling up the bases deserves a theme song.

Queen, “We Will Rock You”

Not every act can boast both an intimidation tactic and victory parade music. Freddie Mercury, we miss you.

FOREVER '90S

Tag Team, “Whoomp! (There It Is)”

Is "whoomp" a sound humans naturally make? Who cares!

House Of Pain, “Jump Around”

Your legs will most likely get tired after four quarters or nine innings, so take the advice of the artist who'd eventually go on to be known as Everlast.

Blur, "Song 2"

The sonic version of doing the wave...

THE HIP-HOP STANDARDS

T.I., “Bring Em Out”

Again, people like to know when the rosters are going to be announced so they can plan their pre-game bathroom trips accordingly.

Kanye West, “Stronger”

Borrowing Daft Punks instructions to work it harder and make it better works perfectly when taking in some impressive athletic feats.

DJ Khaled Feat. Ludacris, Rick Ross, T-Pain, Snoop Dogg, "All I Do Is Win"

A bit presumptuous, but no one wants to be caught without a celebration song when they need it most.

THE TEAM-SPECIFIC ANTHEMS

Wiz Khalifa, “Black and Yellow” (Pittsburgh Steelers)

As if Da Burgh needed more ways to brag about its football team (six Super Bowl championships and counting...) Wiz gave the musically bereft city something to cheer about.

Jay Z Feat. Alicia Keys, “Empire State of Mind” (New York Yankees)

The Blueprint 3 featured one of the most commercially viable diddies ever to be classified as hip-hop. Jay's ode to the city that made him might as well be featured on the NYC tourism bureau, minus a few lyrical mentions of dope and stash houses. With a swooping chorus courtesy of Ms. Keys, it's a track that's so empowering and heart-warming, you'll actually start to believe Times Square is the most beautiful place on Earth. His team of choice adopted the song in 2009, and ran with it all the way to their 27th World Series title.

Neil Diamond, "Sweet Caroline" (Boston Red Sox)

Diamond hails from Brooklyn, but for some reason or another, Fenway Park sound engineers chose this track as their seat-clearing, stadium sing-along soundtrack. It's so fun it makes us almost want to be Red Sox fans. (Almost.)

Future Feat. Drake, "Tony Montana" (San Francisco 49ers)

The 49ers kickoff squad adopted the 2011 hit as their unofficial warmup jam. So it only made sense that the Atlanta rapper flew out to the Bay to perform the song not once but twice during their playoff run.

The Head-Scratchers

The White Stripes, “Seven Nation Army”

We feel confident saying Jack White by no means intended for his 2003 track to become beloved in arenas around the country, but the relentless, thumping guitar makes it hard not to stomp along to.

Jet, “Are You Gonna Be My Girl”

You may not remember Jet, but years from now you'll still be singing this song at day games.

Vengaboys, “We Like To Party”

You've seen how that old man at Six Flags dances to this song! While the rest of us will never be able to top those moves, we might as well try.

Darude, “Sandstorm”

We all want to get our faces on the Jumbotron. No words make it easier for every family member/friend/coworker/client to dance along to, thus increasing your chances of momentary arena fame.

What song gets you pumped for the big game? Let us know in the comments below.

[Photo Credit: Getty Images]