SU Announces $118 Million Carrier Dome Renovations
By Gabrielle Caracciolo – Syracuse, N.Y. (CitrusTV) – Syracuse University students, faculty, and fans will have a new stadium experience when visiting the Carrier Dome beginning in the fall of 2020, according to an announcement made by the university on Monday morning.
This new experience will include a fixed roof, new sound and lighting systems, additional WiFi capabilities, a vertically hung scoreboard and improved accessibility. The $118 million plan was approved by the Board of Trustees after a review and assessment process. Other features that are expected to be completed by the fall of 2022 are air conditioning, accessible restrooms and new concessions spaces.
The official statement released by the university did not include the name Carrier Dome, causing some Syracuse fans to speculate if the Dome could be changing its name as well as the roof. The university has not given an official response to these questions.
Work on the renovations will begin as early as this summer but will not affect football, basketball or lacrosse season, according to the university. Head Men’s and Women’s Basketball Coaches Jim Boeheim and Quentin Hillsman as well as Head Football Coach Dino Babers say they are excited about the impact the renovations will have on the fan experience.
Otto’s Army member Zach Regenstein knows quite a bit about that fan experience. As a rising senior, he has spent a considerable portion of his college experience in the Carrier Dome attending nearly all football and men’s basketball games as well as several lacrosse, soccer, and women’s basketball games each year. He says he arrives least an hour early to every game to ensure a front row seat.
“I’m extremely excited about the updates to the dome,” Regenstein said. “It has been something I’ve been waiting for them to announce for a while now. One of my biggest questions is what will happen to the way seating is now.”
The announcement by the university did not specify whether or not the current bleacher style seating will change in the coming years.
Pete Sala is the chief facilities officer in the Division of Business, Finance and Administrative Services, He says although the replacement of the Carrier Dome’s current aging inflatable roof is a priority in the renovation plans, it is only the beginning.
“My team and I are eager to get this project underway and we look forward to providing our visitors an experience unlike anything they’ve had on our campus before,” Sala said in a press release to SU Today.
In May of 2016, Chancellor Kent Syverud first announced plans for a $255 million transformation of West Campus known as the Campus Framework. The project includes the previously announced National Veterans Resource Center and a new health and wellness complex named The Barnes Center at The Arch.
University officials say they will keep the website up to date with photos and posts about the progress of the Dome transformation project as well as the rest of the campus framework activity.
CitrusTV News will continue to keep you updated as more information comes out. For the latest, follow us @CitrusTVNews on Twitter.
