Skytop is dead

[OttoMets]

SU clearly needs a track since the indoor one at Manley doesn't work for the distance runners, sprinters, and certainly not for any field events. However, I would agree somewhat with those who question the location on Skytop. It appears to be another short-sighted decision by the SUAD once again.

We all know that Skytop is listed as a potential site for a new stadium/arena and it's certainly not beyond the realm of possiblility that in 10 years that track complex is taking up prime parking there. I know that SU doesn't want to get into another fight with the Meadowbrook neighbors, but I wonder if they looked into building a track on Hookway with the thought that it would could also be used by the community except for practice times?

They should have built the IPF over the Coyne site, with some replacement bleacher seating, and kept the track as is, with a turf infield for field hockey. Even that would have been imperfect, though, with athletes being bussed up to Skytop for the field events during meets.

Skytop is a bad location for the track, but some of the complaints about tailgating are over the top. Yes, every intercollegiate sport is more important than maintaining deeply discounted parking spaces (and SU's not taking away any Skytop parking spaces, anyway). Sorry that some people lost some green space; that stinks. SU should and could do a better job of accommodating tailgaters in a pleasant environment in and around campus. Complaining about track construction (at a 20,000-student university with a top-5 program that doesn't have a facility) is absurd and won't do anything to improve the tailgating experience.

 

[Cuseregular]

Oh it's just a matter of time before the Fine Lot is gone and then we'll get a 10 page thread from the Board Blue Hairs bitching about it but we're wrong because we're "low end supporters".

Better than non supporters though, right?

you're not kidding. SU is the only school I've EVER seen who actively alienates it's fan base with things like this. Between what's going on up by you and with what's happening down by us (the FINE lot which you're right it's just a matter of time til they boot us out), with taking the lots all around us they actively discourage attendance. This despite the measures they take elsewhere to get people up there.

Which is all well and good but when they make the gameday experience more difficult logistically they're shooting themselves in the foot. People underestimate just how much this issue (little parking and very little tailgate possibility) negatively effects attendance. Add a struggling football team and they're adding nails to the cofffin.

Just makes no sense and acts to further distance folks who are already distanced or heading in that direction, more and more each day.

 

[OttoMets]

Holy Crap guys chill out. It was a prime tailgaiting location. Theres a reason people got there 3-4 hours early to claim the spots up front. I wonder what would happen if they took away your Fine lot and put you guys in a bunch of mud and gravel. I understand the need for a track. I get that the Student-Athletes take priority, it still sucks that they killed one of the best family locations for tailgating. It's the only grassy area I know of. The kids loved it. I wasn't calling for Gross' head because of it though. You can all step off your soap boxes now.

Try heading a little north; there's a lot of grass around the Real Estate building and there's another large field east of that, past the entrance to the research park that hasn't been built.

I haven't been up there in a couple weeks, but I don't doubt that SU's made a mess of construction (since they're perpetually slow and inefficient with their building projects; see: sidewalk reconstruction all over campus that wasn't begun until the students returned in August and is still underway as of this morning). Too bad to lose a good tailgating spot, but there should be other good options up there.

 

[Pyle]

Try heading a little north; there's a lot of grass around the Real Estate building and there's another large field east of that, past the entrance to the research park that hasn't been built.

I haven't been up there in a couple weeks, but I don't doubt that SU's made a mess of construction (since they're perpetually slow and inefficient with their building projects; see: sidewalk reconstruction all over campus that wasn't begun until the students returned in August and is still underway as of this morning). Too bad to lose a good tailgating spot, but there should be other good options up there.

Bravo Sir, after 2 pages of mud slinging someone finally offered up something constructive. Thank you.

 

[Full_Rebar]

They should have built the IPF over the Coyne site, with some replacement bleacher seating, and kept the track as is, with a turf infield for field hockey. Even that would have been imperfect, though, with athletes being bussed up to Skytop for the field events during meets.

Your idea is a better option. Track has never hosted a meet since the facility was built in the early 90s, so keeping the throwing area at Skytop wouldn't have been a big deal. In fact, I don't think SU has had anyone in those events for a couple of years now.

I'd also like to see SU expand the seating for soccer and take over that one grass field, so bleachers are on both sides. You could use this for soccer and w.lacrosse games, not to mention high school events, and there are enough grass practice fields on Hookway.

 

[OttoMets]

When you are up there on Saturday for the Duke game ask if they will consider letting people tailgate on the track infield it would be a nice well groomed space for a tailgate making this a short problem not a long term one.

They won't, but that's the sort of reasonable suggestion that should be made after a change like this. (And if SU were to deny that request without a good reason, that would justify some disappointment and harsh criticism.)

 

[OttoMets]

Your idea is a better option. Track has never hosted a meet since the facility was built in the early 90s, so keeping the throwing area at Skytop wouldn't have been a big deal. In fact, I don't think SU has had anyone in those events for a couple of years now.

I'd also like to see SU expand the seating for soccer and take over that one grass field, so bleachers are on both sides. You could use this for soccer and w.lacrosse games, not to mention high school events, and there are enough grass practice fields on Hookway.

I was thinking this while sitting at the game on Friday night. It would close in the field nicely and maybe even block a little noise/light from reaching the homes on Lancaster. Maybe they'll consider this if the program continues its success.

The original IPF plan included moving the track bleachers to the south end of the soccer stadium for this season, but the hillside seating has proved so popular that that plan's been scrapped.

 

[Millhouse]

Bravo Sir, after 2 pages of mud slinging someone finally offered up something constructive. Thank you.

pun intended?

 

[TheCusian]

Duh. No offense but you guys coming here and acting like we're ready to riot the AD's office are just coming off as jerks. It WAS a great spot. I'm very SAD to see it go. I UNDERSTAND the track got moved for the IPF. I UNDERSTAND the IPF is what this program needs. I UNDERSTAND that the University will put the needs of it's student-athletes above the needs(or wants) of the fanbase. IT STILL SUCKS FOR SOME OF US! I've been going there for years. Get it now?!?!?!?!?!

Yep. Got it.

You said it was another way that the university was failing it's fans.

Being disappointed is one thing. Saying that because you lost your tailgate spot the university is failing you - is at odds with UNDERSTANDING and was also lacking from the OP. You came off as a jerk who didn't UNDERSTAND.

I truly get the suckiness of it, I do.

 

[Ozcuse]

They should have built the IPF over the Coyne site, with some replacement bleacher seating, and kept the track as is, with a turf infield for field hockey. Even that would have been imperfect, though, with athletes being bussed up to Skytop for the field events during meets.

Skytop is a bad location for the track, but some of the complaints about tailgating are over the top. Yes, every intercollegiate sport is more important than maintaining deeply discounted parking spaces (and SU's not taking away any Skytop parking spaces, anyway). Sorry that some people lost some green space; that stinks. SU should and could do a better job of accommodating tailgaters in a pleasant environment in and around campus. Complaining about track construction (at a 20,000-student university with a top-5 program that doesn't have a facility) is absurd and won't do anything to improve the tailgating experience.

Do you know something we don't? They have eliminated about 300-400 spots with the location of the track and adjacent seating with potential to eliminate more if they add additional roads and curbing. Are they going to add 300-400 parking spots somewhere else?

Not trying to sound like a jerk but you responded like you either know something the rest of us don't or you think this is just temporary construction inconveniences (which it's not).

 

[Ozcuse]

Yep. Got it.

You said it was another way that the university was failing it's fans.

Being disappointed is one thing. Saying that because you lost your tailgate spot the university is failing you - is at odds with UNDERSTANDING and was also lacking from the OP. You came off as a jerk who didn't UNDERSTAND.

I truly get the suckiness of it, I do.

Actually I think I was the one who said the University is failing the fans (at least more forcefully than Pyle did). It's not just due to this but a lot of things that I think are boiling over during a particularly difficult season. I would have taken it better if we knew about this beforehand but I don't remember any communication regarding it and it was snuck in during the two away games.

It's mostly due to the fact that this home football season has been a complete failure (1-4 with one to go and the one win against a FCS team in 2OT) and the tailgating experience had become the only redeeming part of each weekend for our friends and family that show up. Then to arrive on a cold wet Saturday morning and being cordoned to a mud puddle and told to set up our tailgate there was salt in the wound.

 

[OttoMets]

Do you know something we don't? They have eliminated about 300-400 spots with the location of the track and adjacent seating with potential to eliminate more if they add additional roads and curbing. Are they going to add 300-400 parking spots somewhere else?

Not trying to sound like a jerk but you responded like you either know something the rest of us don't or you think this is just temporary construction inconveniences (which it's not).

I think I'm misinformed about the parking situation at Skytop. Sounds like you're saying that they've been parking cars on the grass? If so, I'm wrong and those spaces are gone.

I meant that they're not eliminating spaces in the gravel and paved lots up there.

 

[Jake]

They should have built the IPF over the Coyne site, with some replacement bleacher seating, and kept the track as is, with a turf infield for field hockey. Even that would have been imperfect, though, with athletes being bussed up to Skytop for the field events during meets. Skytop is a bad location for the track, but some of the complaints about tailgating are over the top. Yes, every intercollegiate sport is more important than maintaining deeply discounted parking spaces (and SU's not taking away any Skytop parking spaces, anyway). Sorry that some people lost some green space; that stinks. SU should and could do a better job of accommodating tailgaters in a pleasant environment in and around campus. Complaining about track construction (at a 20,000-student university with a top-5 program that doesn't have a facility) is absurd and won't do anything to improve the tailgating experience.

500 parking spaces were permanently lost with this move.

 

[Ozcuse]

I think I'm misinformed about the parking situation at Skytop. Sounds like you're saying that they've been parking cars on the grass? If so, I'm wrong and those spaces are gone.

I meant that they're not eliminating spaces in the gravel and paved lots up there.

Yeah there was parking on the grass and you would set up your tailgate between the rows of cars. If they open up new areas that would be great but I won't count on it.

 

[OttoMets]

Yeah there was parking on the grass and you would set up your tailgate between the rows of cars. If they open up new areas that would be great but I won't count on it.

Gotcha, that's too bad. Grass makes for a much nicer tailgate.

 

[TexanMark]

This problem calls for a Tailgate Czar/Consultant...hmmm, whom do we ask?

 

[FAL]

This problem calls for a Tailgate Czar/Consultant...hmmm, whom do we ask?

You!

The Godfather of SU tailgates and your consigliere, Jeremy!

 

[TheCusian]

Actually I think I was the one who said the University is failing the fans (at least more forcefully than Pyle did). It's not just due to this but a lot of things that I think are boiling over during a particularly difficult season. I would have taken it better if we knew about this beforehand but I don't remember any communication regarding it and it was snuck in during the two away games. It's mostly due to the fact that this home football season has been a complete failure (1-4 with one to go and the one win against a FCS team in 2OT) and the tailgating experience had become the only redeeming part of each weekend for our friends and family that show up. Then to arrive on a cold wet Saturday morning and being cordoned to a mud puddle and told to set up our tailgate there was salt in the wound.

Fair enough.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

I have the perfect solution.

Park cars inside the IPF on game days.

Granted, it's turf instead of grass, and there's probably some restrictions on BBQ grills...

 

[CuseOnly]

I agree, the university has to make the students and the athletic program a higher priority than low end supporters of the football program. Sorry for the loss of that area but what do you expect for the prices you have been paying? If you were paying $1000 a year to park there, this would be a different story...

Out of curiosity, where is the open area that was taken away? The area just below the phone number (near the top of the picture)?

There is a large open field in the lower right hand corner of this picture that is just off the access road. Might be perfect for tailgating. I wonder if the university owns it?

View attachment 29629

That's an old picture. Where you see the "turnaround" on the acces road then the square parking lot. After that are piles of bricks and the "field" you see is weeds and tall grass now.

 

[KellySyracuse]

The lot on Harrison where I've been tailgating with about 20 other people for the past few years was bought by SU this year. Last week some of us couldn't get into the lot because another tailgate group highlighted by the Post Standard on Sunday got moved here by SU and bought up most of the spots beforehand, some of which went unfilled. We were forced to find a place to relocate to at the last minute. There clearly is a disconnect between the university and the fan.

By the way I have no problem relocating that giant tailgate group here but at least give those of us that have been using the lot for years to buy spots in advance as well. No such opportunity was given.

 

[OttoMets]

The lot on Harrison where I've been tailgating with about 20 other people for the past few years was bought by SU this year. Last week some of us couldn't get into the lot because another tailgate group highlighted by the Post Standard on Sunday got moved here by SU and bought up most of the spots beforehand, some of which went unfilled. We were forced to find a place to relocate to at the last minute. There clearly is a disconnect between the university and the fan.

By the way I have no problem relocating that giant tailgate group here but at least give those of us that have been using the lot for years to buy spots in advance as well. No such opportunity was given.

Is that a permit lot now that SU owns it? (I assume you're talking about the lot at Harrison and University that SU bought from Crouse this summer.)

That's weird. Definitely inconsiderate behavior by SU.

 

[KellySyracuse]

Is that a permit lot now that SU owns it? (I assume you're talking about the lot at Harrison and University that SU bought from Crouse this summer.)

That's weird. Definitely inconsiderate behavior by SU.

No, not a permit lot and yes, located on Harrison & University. It's always been an open lot even after SU purchased it so it sucks for those of us that have been tailgating there for a few years now. We used to set up in the same corner until this giant crowd moved in, now they've got close to one half of the parking lot reserved for them.