Carrier Dome

[Orangejet]

Just read the article on syracuse.com from a former NYS assembyman regarding the aging Carrier Dome and my questions are as follows:
- How much would it cost to install a retractable roof like Miller Park in Milwaukee and would that be the way to go
- What changes would you make to improve the aesthetics inside and outside of the Dome
- Should the Dome football seating be reduced from 49,262 to around 45,000 similar to what Stanford did when upgrading their stadium several years ago.

 

[Marsh01]

Putting in a retractable roof is a waste of money in my opinion. Why spend the money on that?

I love the Dome. I wish the aisles were wider inside the dome and I wish they would put new bench seating in replacing the original seating they have now.

Its working now and I'd rather see the money go to the new IPF before the Dome

 

[RCDICK44]

Just read the article on syracuse.com from a former NYS assembyman regarding the aging Carrier Dome and my questions are as follows:
- How much would it cost to install a retractable roof like Miller Park in Milwaukee and would that be the way to go
- What changes would you make to improve the aesthetics inside and outside of the Dome
- Should the Dome football seating be reduced from 49,262 to around 45,000 similar to what Stanford did when upgrading their stadium several years ago.

I would definately replace the bench seating with individual seating and make it much more comfortable for the fans. Also they should add railings for climbing up and down the stairways.My wife had a hip replacement and it is quite hard for her to climb up or down those stairs without a railing.

 

[Van111]

Putting in a retractable roof is a waste of money in my opinion. Why spend the money on that?

I love the Dome. I wish the aisles were wider inside the dome and I wish they would put new bench seating in replacing the original seating they have now.

Its working now and I'd rather see the money go to the new IPF before the Dome

A retractable Dome would address the AC issue, otherwise, that has to be addressed. The early games are rediculous and you see halh the stadium outside trying to breath. Either way, this should be addressed if you want a full stadium. Also would help to play the USC's and PSU's of the world in Syrcause as well, not to mention that Irish Ball Club next year.

 

[Moontan]

Just read the article on syracuse.com from a former NYS assembyman regarding the aging Carrier Dome and my questions are as follows:
- How much would it cost to install a retractable roof like Miller Park in Milwaukee and would that be the way to go
- What changes would you make to improve the aesthetics inside and outside of the Dome
- Should the Dome football seating be reduced from 49,262 to around 45,000 similar to what Stanford did when upgrading their stadium several years ago.

Welcome to SyracuseFan.com. This subject has been discussed at least 2-4 times per year over the past 5-10 years.

The current dome was designed for the roof that it has. Changing the type of roof to anything other than what it has, or what is on the Georgia Dome - assuming it could be tweaked for snow, is impractical. There is no room for the additional supporting structures that would be required. Considering the expense required, and the value of the Dome's land, any such thought should be reserved for its successor.

The only, apparent, consensus reached here for the current stadium would be to install individual seats in the lower sections between the 20 yard lines in association with a revamping of the Preferred Seating plans. These seats need to be filled.

All other talk should be about a wish list for the Carrier Dome's successor to be built 20-25 years from now... unless some magic money were to appear before then.

 

[Marsh01]

A retractable Dome would address the AC issue, otherwise, that has to be addressed. The early games are rediculous and you see halh the stadium outside trying to breath. Either way, this should be addressed if you want a full stadium. Also would help to play the USC's and PSU's of the world in Syrcause as well, not to mention that Irish Ball Club next year.

Yea I know its hot in September in the Dome but to spend millions of dollars on a retractable roof that may get used 5 times all year doesnt make good economic sense.

 

[Van111]

Yea I know its hot in September in the Dome but to spend millions of dollars on a retractable roof that may get used 5 times all year doesnt make good economic sense.

Addressing the AC issue may open up summer events (concerts and such) where the Dome is usually pretty much empty.

 

[shandeezy7]

Putting in a retractable roof is a waste of money in my opinion. Why spend the money on that?

I love the Dome. I wish the aisles were wider inside the dome and I wish they would put new bench seating in replacing the original seating they have now.

Its working now and I'd rather see the money go to the new IPF before the Dome

Agreed, the amount it would cost to put in a retractable roof vs. the number of games during a year that it would be worth using would make it a pretty unwise financial investment. I think they need to widen the concourses, update the facade, maybe build a new grand entrance lobby and upgrade the suites. I also wouldn't mind replacing the bleachers with individual seats, at least in the lower level.

 

[JJReddawg]

I would definately replace the bench seating with individual seating and make it much more comfortable for the fans. Also they should add railings for climbing up and down the stairways.My wife had a hip replacement and it is quite hard for her to climb up or down those stairs without a railing.

Railings in some areas is a definite; however, the aisles may be too narrow to allow for them. Individual seating would significantly lower the capacity and give people another reason to not stand.

 

[Marsh01]

Addressing the AC issue may open up summer events (concerts and such) where the Dome is usually pretty much empty.

For what it would cost I just dont see why they would do it. It would cost more than what the Dome was originally built for.

 

[Marsh01]

Its still hard to believe how many people dont use the oldest Dome trick in the book when trying to get around the crowds during halftime. The old up and down the stair method. People were complaining going to the bathroom Saturday because of the congestion in the aisles. The up and down the stair trick worked again and I was able to get back and forth in no time.

 

[OrangeDW]

Just read the article on syracuse.com from a former NYS assembyman regarding the aging Carrier Dome and my questions are as follows:
- How much would it cost to install a retractable roof like Miller Park in Milwaukee and would that be the way to go
- What changes would you make to improve the aesthetics inside and outside of the Dome
- Should the Dome football seating be reduced from 49,262 to around 45,000 similar to what Stanford did when upgrading their stadium several years ago.

1)I can't think of any reason why we would want/need a retractable roof. Nobody uses the Dome in the summer. The roof would be down for like 2-3 football games per year and that's it. It would be a huge waste of money, even if we could afford it(which I doubt we could).

2)The aesthetics are already much improved in recent years. They covered up a lot of ugly, gray concrete with orange, got the bigger and better replay boards. The Dome looks fine. My only problem is that the big #44 jersey comes off like an ugly garbage bag or something. Hate that. Take it down, quietly unretire it, and pretend the whole thing never happened.

3)Not really necessary, but would be nice. If they put in chairs rather than benches, and reduced the capacity, I wouldn't have any problem with that. Occasionally you get some bigger guys in your row that makes it a tighter fit than you'd like.

I've never understood the whole "aging Dome" thing though. This isn't the NFL/MLB where almost everybody has new stadiums. Most of the college football stadiums out there are older than the Dome.

 

[upperdeck]

changing the seating works for the fball stuff.. but it would take away seats for bball as well..

 

[orangeinjersey]

The dome needs better lighting. I was there after almost 10 years for clemson, the lighting is awful. And they need to do something with the aluminum seats. Put in real seats, in ORANGE COLOR. That way it looks packed even when its not. Take the capacity hit, we'll never sell out ever again anyway.

 

[PhatOrange]

The dome doesn't need AC for 2/3 Saturdays once a year.

I'd go theatre seating around the whole first level. It would reduce capacity some but we could live with that. Though that would also reduce capacity for hoops and they wouldn't want that.

I'd love to see the concourses widened but that won't ever happen.

Outside I'd ring the entire dome with brick up about 10 or 12 feet capped with nice finished white concrete or whatever. dress it up further with greenery/vines growing on it.

My major project would be blowing out the western end of the dome. I'd go all new locker rooms, meeting rooms training rooms whatever. I'd put in (expand) the club 44 restaurant bar and add a large executive suit and lounge over the field to entertain football as well as basketball recruits.

I'd also expand or rethink entirely the coaching boxes and I don't like that the coaches have to walk through the fans. That's sort of embarrassing

Lastly I'd build a state of the art 35k basketball only facility with the seats on top of the court designed solely for basketball. Right on the Manley footprint if possible.

 

[Orangejet]

Agree with you here for I think reducing capacity with new seating affords more room for larger ex-players like myself when I need to get up and visit the john or concession stand.

 

[OrangeViking]

Yea I know its hot in September in the Dome but to spend millions of dollars on a retractable roof that may get used 5 times all year doesnt make good economic sense.

A retractable roof for the Vikings new stadium was rejected due to the cost. Adding a retractable roof was estimated to cost an additional $25 million to $40 million ( 65000 seats ). The total project will cost $975M.

SU better start filling a huge piggybank with ACC money for a future stadium.

 

[Marsh01]

Can we start with getting Final Four banners? I mean seriously why do we not have these???

Also lets replace the chicklet size banners/jerseys with real ones. For those in that department we have been and won more bowl games than the pinstripe bowl so can we please hang banners for those bowls as well?

 

[shandeezy7]

Its still hard to believe how many people dont use the oldest Dome trick in the book when trying to get around the crowds during halftime. The old up and down the stair method. People were complaining going to the bathroom Saturday because of the congestion in the aisles. The up and down the stair trick worked again and I was able to get back and forth in no time.

Used that a couple of times on Saturday. There were a few people doing the same, but not many. I don't want everyone doing it though. Stay out of my way!!

 

[Eric15]

- How much would it cost to install a retractable roof like Miller Park in Milwaukee and would that be the way to go

Incomprehensibly unrealistic and cost prohibitive.

 

[Scooch]

The various, relatively cheap, aesthetic enhancements that folks are mentioning seem doable, and SU has been sprucing the place up slowly but surely over the past few years.

To me, the big question is to determine what SU has in mind long-term. Do they want to reclaim the land the Dome occupies for academic buildings? If so, do they want to ultimately build a new facility on South Campus? Would it be another domed stadium for multi-purpose use, or separate football and basketball facilities?

IMHO if SU has plans for replacement on the mid-to-long term horizon it doesn't make a lick of sense to put any more money into the Dome than necessary. It's an entirely serviceable facility, and as hoops attendance suggests, it's condition and amenities do't keep any significant number of people from attending as long as the teams playing in it are successful.

 

[Moontan]

changing the seating works for the fball stuff.. but it would take away seats for bball as well..

Not too much if you start on the 115 & 102 aisles on the basketball side. They could go to the 118 & 129 aisles on the other side.

There are other options to increase decent seating for hoops.

 

[upperdeck]

what would bball ticket sales be if the last 10K seats were as almost good as the first 20K ? we dont need 35K only a few times, would a 27-28K sold out all the time be better? only 1 game a year you have to worry if you want to get in. if we had a 28K place with all good or decent seats it would force more to buy season. even 30K might force more decisions

 

[Eric15]

To me, the big question is to determine what SU has in mind long-term. Do they want to reclaim the land the Dome occupies for academic buildings? If so, do they want to ultimately build a new facility on South Campus? Would it be another domed stadium for multi-purpose use, or separate football and basketball facilities?

The thought of playing on South Campus just depresses the hell out of me. I love being on the SU campus, especially for football games in the fall.

I hope we play in the Dome for another 50 years - making improvements, as necessary. The Dome is the most iconic thing about the city of Syracuse, by far. I just have no interest in playing in some soulless pro-arena with a stupid corporate name (i.e. KFC Yum).

 

[VaSaltine]

A retractable Dome would address the AC issue, otherwise, that has to be addressed. The early games are rediculous and you see halh the stadium outside trying to breath. Either way, this should be addressed if you want a full stadium. Also would help to play the USC's and PSU's of the world in Syrcause as well, not to mention that Irish Ball Club next year.

Open the roof for opponents field goal attempts to get the wind current going. Close it on our attempts. You feelin me Beamer?