If your problem is Syracuse is the #39th hottest stadium for 2 games a year, then that’s on you. Yes, #39 is an arbitrary number, but it’s been my experience that it’s not hotter than any of the SEC venues (except possibly UK and MIZZOU - I wouldn’t know), many of them CUSA venues, many of the southern ACC venues, many of the AAC venues, virtually all of the Sun Belt venues, and many of the Big XII venues. Try sitting through a game at Kyle Field when it’s between 115-120 out, with 80% humidity, and you’re in the sun (there is virtually no shade if you’re on the wrong side of the stadium), and then tell me that the Dome is “hot.” TAMU is an extreme, but it’s not like our friends in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, etc. enjoy cool and refreshing early season weather. The fact that it’s 55 outside the Dome is irrelevant to how the Dome compares to other stadiums.
I also don’t get your comment about the Dome having an 80’s appearance inside. The last PSU game I went to was in October of 2011, so times may have changed, but Beaver Stadium didn’t have credit card machines in their concession stands - at least not in the upper level of the stadium. That’s 80’s. Lacking a bigger TV screen (which is what I assume you mean by 80’s appearance inside) is at best champaign problem, especially given how great the site lines are. And in what way is it ‘drab?’ Yes, there is concrete (it’s a concrete building, so it’s hard to not have concrete), but it’s not like the school doesn’t cover it up with a ribbon screen, and orange coverings (unless you mean the ground itself - then the same could be said for every stadium that I’ve ever been in at any level).
Next, most concessions come from centralized vendors. Syracuse doesn’t make the chips and “cheese.” It’s the same junk that every other stadium gets. In fact ~90% of the menus at ~90% of the stadiums are the same. It’s usually sourced from Sysco. The difference is that most stadiums also add a touch of local flare. That’s really what you’re comparing when you evaluate stadium food, and that difference is trivial at best.
The same is true for the seats. Granted, we don’t have any bucket sears, sure. But that problem is mitigated by the fact that you can purchase seats with backs and cushioned bottoms if you really care, and it’s not like bench seating is rare in college stadiums, even amongst the big guys. We’re at an extene for how much of it we have, but we’re not outside the norm for having it.
Lastly, as for the hallways, I have no idea what your problem is. Yeah, it’s crowded. Hold hands and walk. I don’t know what to tell you other than that system has worked at Syracuse for 40 years.
The things that are different at the Dome vs other stadiums are:
A) there are no bad seats in the house. Sit in cheap seats at Beaver Stadium, and tell me how much of the game you can see. And it’s not like at Wriggly or Fenway, where you can buy a ticket, only to discover that you literally can’t see 40% of the field because of a beam that’s 1-2 feet in front of you.
B) it never rains. Sit through the misery of being poured on for 3 hours if you don’t appreciate being dry.
C) contrary to some people’s belief on this site, the weather is extremely mild. Try sitting through a November game at Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Penn State, BC, etc. or an early season game at noon in the south on a sunny, humid day, and then let me know what you think of the Dome if you don’t believe me.
D) the cover holds in noise, which makes it MUCH louder/more exciting than it should be.
I’d absolutely disagree about your assessment of the excitement level of the Dome. It can be magical when it’s packed and the crowd is into the game. Florida almost went an entire generation without leaving their home state for an OOC game after what we did to them in ‘92. The excitement level is elite, and we punch far above our weight. Our issue is that our fans are spoiled, not that the Dome is worse than other venues. It’s not.
***I’d agree about the tailgating scene, but that isn’t really a Dome issue. It doesn’t affect the Dome itself, and no amount of rebuilding/remodeling the Dome will help it.***