November 10, 2001
Carrier Dome (Capacity: 49,579)
Syracuse, NY
Syracuse Orangemen vs West Virginia Mountaineers
Final Score: 24 – 13
* The stadium was re-visited for a game on October 3, 2014
** Carrier Dome has been renamed to JMA Wireless Dome
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Despite living in Rochester (an hour and a half away) during my adolescent years, it was not until I went to college at nearby Oswego that I had the chance to see a game live in the Carrier Dome. I went to several football and basketball games during that four-year period. A move to New Jersey ended those fun, frequent visits and I made a return nearly a decade later for a Friday Night game against Louisville. A lot has changed since the last game I saw at the Dome, starting with Syracuse dropping the “Men” portion of the Orange nickname. The team now finds themselves in the ACC, being a main contributor to the sad demise of the Big East. My passion for the team has diminished to a non-interest thanks to their big money ways and over-the-top branding (self-proclaimed “New York’s College Team” signs are everywhere). While the basketball team has been a top program, the football side has struggled with a 72-96 record and just five bowl games in the last 13 years. Before that, it was a proud program, one that includes a national title (1959) and an amazing number of star running backs (Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, Floyd Little and Larry Csonka). In the 1990s, they frequently made New Years Day bowl games, especially with Donovan McNabb leading at quarterback in the latter portion of the decade. The Carrier Dome is a multi-purpose facility built in 1980 that is a part of the city skyline. Though basketball is the most popular sport played in the Dome, the stadium is truly built for football. As the largest on-campus indoor stadium in the country, the Carrier Dome provides a unique and enjoyable setting for football.
Prestige Ranking: 4 out of 5
Location
Syracuse is the fifth largest city in New York, located in the central part of the state. Of course, it is recognized for the substantial amount of snow the region annually receives. There is not much that attracts visitors, save for the massive Carousel Center mall near Onondaga Lake. The University sits right in the city, on a hill just southeast of downtown. SU is a large private school known especially in the sports world for its broadcasting program. Marshall Street is where most of the food/bar options for fans and students can be found and though the stretch of the street is short, there is an ok mix of local and chain places. It’s within walking distance to the Carrier Dome, which is located in the middle of the main campus near the Quad. That also provides a great opportunity to walk around as there are many unique buildings to admire.
Location Ranking: 6 out of 10
Accessibility / Parking
All of the nearby parking lots are reserved for donors, so the main option is to take a shuttle bus from a distant part of campus. With basketball, the closer Manley Field House can be used, but for non-season pass holders with football, the bus pick-up is at Skytop. This is over two miles from downtown and SU and the parking lot is all the way at the top of the hill. Separately from the busses used for football, there is a local transit bus system (Centro) running as well, so you need to make sure to get the right one. Not ideal and it’s important to look for the signage as the dropoff for the Dome is at College Place and the return parking is Skytop. There is a lot of time spent for transportation as there are 10-15 minute intervals between buses, a 10-15 minute bus ride and then a 5 minute walk to the stadium. It might be worth the trouble to try and search for a spot to park close to the Dome. Getting to the shuttle parking isn’t bad from I-81 or I-481. Interstates are generally free of slowing traffic, while the access roads aren’t too bad either.
Accessibility / Parking Ranking: 4 out of 8
Exterior
The most distinguishable feature of the stadium can be found while looking at the Carrier Dome from a distance. The white, Teflon-fiberglass inflatable roof bubbles on top of the facility giving the Dome its defining look. The stadium is so tall that it has become part of Syracuse’s skyline. The rest of the structure is an octagon shape in a rather boring gray concrete material. Walls have narrow vertical dividers and the stadium looks pretty much the same when making a walk around. One spot has a small “Carrier Dome” lettering. Appreciate the view further out as the stadium is less dramatic as you get closer and quite dull upon approach..
Exterior Ranking: 4 out of 10
Concourse
When entering through the rotating doors, a rush of air hit me as air pressure keeping the Dome inflated is felt. Having a duel lower and upper concourse is nice to help space out fans, however the ambience is dark and cold with concrete still the defining feature. Recent splashes of orange paint and older player pictures have helped to spruce the area up. Otherwise both concourses circle the whole stadium and the lower one has a little more width. There are spots that you can see the field of play. Overall, the footprint is small and doesn’t enable a lot of space to roam around as this feels like an arena concourse
Concourse Ranking: 2.5 out of 5
Food
Food can best be described as stadium dreck with standard, bland offerings. Practically every single stand offered the same thing: Hoffman’s Sausage or Hot Dogs. In the past, there were shopping mall type fast food options like Sbarro’s Pizza and Burger King. They have at least been serving beer long before it became natural for college stadiums to do so. The portable stands have quite a bit of variety with several locally crafted favorites.
Food Ranking: 3 out of 8
Interior
Though football in a domed stadium may seem odd, this one just feels natural. I’m probably biased because I grew up a fan and the Carrier Dome is all I’ve seen as Syracuse’s home. The seating configuration fits the exterior as it is octagonal in shape, with longer sides that follow the football field. There are two decks of seating, with both featuring a similar amount of aluminum bleachers, which are uncomfortably narrow. Only the lower deck features back support. A middle deck of seating exists in the end zones, while on the sidelines, that middle deck shrinks to luxury suites and press boxes. Steeper seats can be found in the upper level and sightlines throughout are decent. The rest of the stadium is made of concrete, with touches of orange, like on the railings. Unlike the drab outside, it actually has a sort of rustic appearance in spots inside. For basketball, the court is set up near one of the end zones and a large of set of bleachers is placed on the field. Of course, the most noticeable feature is that dome above, which is made up of many different panels. During the daytime, the roof is designed to let in natural light. Call me weak, but it is nice to be able to watch live football and not have to contend with the elements.
Interior Ranking: 8.5 out of 14
Scoreboard
At the top of each end is a rectangular scoreboard with a relatively sharp video screen. They are restricted with space and it can only be so big in size. Only one corner board continually shows time and score, which is frustrating as a fan. The presence of a small clock in the corner that also flashes the outdoor temperature (typically not pleasant) almost seems like a cruel joke to both fans and visitors.
Scoreboard Ranking: 2.5 out of 4
Displays
Through the concourse, Syracuse honors their football legends with various displays, including a feature on Ernie Davis and his Heisman Trophy win. There is also a statue for Davis outside of the stadium. Along the concourse, there are three display cases at one of the lower ends worth checking out. A very impressive collage of memorabilia exists in this area and the knickknacks include things you don’t typically see in these types of displays. There is also a case full of Bowl trophies and a section dedicated to the 2003 NCAA basketball championship. Inside, banners along the top wall at each end include honors for football, basketball and lacrosse. Jerseys, championships, pictures are all up there in various fashion and of the more unique displays is the retiring of #44, a storied number in Syracuse history.
Displays Ranking: 5 out of 6
Cost
As expected, ticket prices have gone up in the last decade and while common costs are $30 – $45 (not including stupid TicketMaster fees), the best sideline seats in both decks go for an insane $100 – $145. The secondary market is by far the best option as I got a $30 seat to a Friday Night ACC game vs Louisville for just $8. Parking prices are now up to $15 while concessions are moderately high (almost $5 for a slice of pizza).
Cost Ranking: 6 out of 8
Fan Support
Fan support for the Orange is terrific within the region and even nationally, but attendance isn’t stellar for football. Days of near sellouts are long gone and the game I came back to see had many empty seats and sections, with the place about 3/5ths full. I would imagine if the Orange field a Top 15 level squad, you would see a packed Dome again, it’s just unlikely that will happen any time soon. Student turnout is decent as the on-campus location promotes attendance. When the Dome switches over to basketball, the crowds always come out and the team perennially is near the top of the NCAA rankings.
Fan Support Ranking: 6 out of 8
Atmosphere
While crowds do not fill the Dome like they used to, the atmosphere remains pretty good. It is still very loud in here no matter the size of the crowd and fans get on their feet during 3rd downs and most big plays. The enclosed nature of the stadium helps to enhance and build the noise, making this place known as “The Loud House” back in the day. For true big games where the crowd is rocking, this is arguably the loudest stadium in the country. Syracuse has a catchy fight song and the band plays on occasion during the event.
Atmosphere Ranking: 10.5 out of 14
Other Stuff
The legend of #44 is very important to Syracuse as many football players (running backs) have found remarkable success at the school while wearing the number. The last player to have the honor is #44 Rob Konrad from 1995-1998…..One of the best mascots in college sports is Otto the Orange, the lovable (and not so intimating) ball of orange who goofs around through the game with a fixated big smile….The prior home to football before the Carrier Dome was the outdated Archbold Stadium, while Manley Field House was the home for basketball….Lacrosse plays inside the Dome as well and with six NCAA titles, they are a popular draw in a region that has a passion for the sport….The “Carrier” name is actually for a naming rights sponsor as Carrier is a heating and air conditioning company. Remarkably, there is no air conditioning inside the Dome, which given the climate is only an issue during those few early season home games.
Game (Initial Visit)
In the game, the Syracuse defense dominated and kept the Orange in it by helping to set up all 24 points. Dwight Freeney had 2 sacks and 2 forced fumbles to up his total to 16.5 sacks in 10 games. A blocked punt helped give SU a 17-6 lead and West Virginia never recovered as the Orange went on to win.
Stadium and Arena Visits 
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