Stadium question

[DoubleDee]

Other than your likes or dislikes, is there anything wrong with the Dome condition wise?

A lot of phrases like getting too old, or needs to be replaced.

Have yet to see why?
Concrete issue? Some other infrastructure issues?

Just curious, as it's still a lot younger than most stadiums, and half the age of old Archie when it came down.

 

[JJReddawg]

The roof will have to be replaced again within the next 5-6 years.

 

[KellySyracuse]

The roof is a constant issue and will soon need to be replaced for the 2nd time

Edit: JJ beat me to it

 

[Marsh01]

I love the Dome. People need to get over it. Its a unique arena that is a national brand name.

 

[DoubleDee]

The roof will have to be replaced again within the next 5-6 years.

Is that all? That's already been replaced once.

I hope you never need shingles. Be a damn shame to tear down your whole house.

 

[TDTOrange]

The roof is the big thing. The dome is now the only air-supported roof left in the world, thus if there were an emergency situation (like the metrodome a few years ago) then we could be out of commission for a significant amount of time, without anyone else to reach out to for replacement material.

Secondary things like concourses being too narrow, limited concessions and space (thus reducing potential revenues), limited locker room and media space are things that make the building seem older than it is.

Also the "luxury boxes" in the dome aren't big or very luxurious, so that too reduces revenue growth potential.

 

[Chris02M]

would like to have seats at least in lower level, widen concourse, probably want to upgrade luxury suites/seating, rewire to improve phone reception, bigger better locker rooms and media stuff

 

[Rocco]

The lack of a tailgating atmosphere irks me. That has to do more with its location and SU's development of the surrounding land than the Dome itself.

 

[DoubleDee]

The Dome could have different food.
A new stadium will not mean different food.
Who's to say a brand new stadium wouldn't have the same shotty food? That can't be a legit reason.

 

[KellySyracuse]

The press box is also an issue, it stinks

 

[JJReddawg]

Is that all? That's already been replaced once.

I hope you never need shingles. Be a damn shame to tear down your whole house.

The roof has to be replaced approximately every 20 years. It was lasted replaced in 1999 at a cost of $14 million (I think). You also have to factor in the general maintenance, operation costs and any other upgrades they'd like to do. The state funding won't be there for Dome upgrades, but could be there for a new stadium. As much as I love the Dome, a new stadium would be HUGE, especially for football.

 

[bnoro]

The Dome could have different food.
A new stadium will not mean different food.
Who's to say a brand new stadium wouldn't have the same shotty food? That can't be a legit reason.

Yes it is. Certain concession stands don't allow for mass production of certain items. Hence why you can't get Pizza on the 300 level. The concession stands are ancient.

 

[xc84]

Yes it is. Certain concession stands don't allow for mass production of certain items. Hence why you can't get Pizza on the 300 level. The concession stands are ancient.

I believe there are more factors than that. I believe because of the fabric roof and building codes, there can't be open flames, grills, etc. to cook with. That really limits the way food is cooked...even our great Hofmann dogs.

 

[bnoro]

I believe there are more factors than that. I believe because of the fabric roof and building codes, there can't be open flames, grills, etc. to cook with. That really limits the way food is cooked...even our great Hofmann dogs.

Bingo.

 

[RCDICK44]

Bingo.

I would also like to see railings on the isles for climbing up and down stairs.my wife had a hip replacemet and she has a tough time going up or down and we only come down 7 or 8 steps.Even the usher has helped her get down to her isle.

 

[Moontan]

In the Chancellor's previous communication it became kind of clear what the University's preferred options are:

1. New stadium
2. Major Dome upgrade with a different roof technology

The Silverdome's new owners claim that they're going with a steel supported roof. I'm skeptical of their plans and wouldn't be surprised to see the venue be torn down. Previous speculation on this board is that the Dome cannot support such weight and there's no room around the Dome for the installation of new supports required for such a roof.

That appears to leave a cable supported roof as possibly the preferred roof replacement option. The most obvious example of such a roof is the Georgia Dome. To make that work, one would expect the addition of snow melting capability to be required. Perhaps a double fabric layer with blown warm/hot air could work with such a design as well.

Replacing the current roof with another air-supported replacement is the least desired option. It remains as the easiest, proven, backup plan.

I believe that the University's preference is/was the the new stadium plan that's been getting the attention of late.

 

[retro44]

I believe there are more factors than that. I believe because of the fabric roof and building codes, there can't be open flames, grills, etc. to cook with. That really limits the way food is cooked...even our great Hofmann dogs.

I did some work in those stands about ten years ago...didn't hear that, but when you turn the lights on early in the morning,man there is a lot of cocker roaches.....aka the roach dome

 

[Scooch]

Anyone who has seen the massive renovations that have occurred at Fenway Park over the past decade knows that with enough money and desire you can utterly reshape a facility. If SU *really* wanted to they could expand the concourses, renovate the press box and luxury suites, redo the concession capabilities, etc. But it'd be expensive and a comprehensive P&L-type assessment might not support it. As an architect friend of mine once told me, sometimes it's best to just build new.

 

[cpatrocks]

 

[TexanMark]

Anyone who has seen the massive renovations that have occurred at Fenway Park over the past decade knows that with enough money and desire you can utterly reshape a facility. If SU *really* wanted to they could expand the concourses, renovate the press box and luxury suites, redo the concession capabilities, etc. But it'd be expensive and a comprehensive P&L-type assessment might not support it. As an architect friend of mine once told me, sometimes it's best to just build new.

You can play in Fenway with a partially torn up stadium...much more problematic with the Dome as you really only have early March to early September where it can be out of commission.

 

[CuseOnly]

I would love a new stadium and am definitely for it for certain.

My biggest fear is that in a new stadium we would lose the great sight lines that we enjoy in the Dome. Every seat is great except for the really low end zone seats. If they are to build a new stadium, they should really, really keep the general placing of the crowd around the field the same. The crowd in the Dome is right on top of the playing field, my other fear is that the crowd gets pushed back negating our Loud House advantage.

Another fear I have is that 44K is not big enough. The Clemson attendance figure was 48K and I think we are short changing ourselves building a stadium to accommodate the recent attendance and performance of the team. I think going to 44K is short sighted thinking. With 3 or 4 good (8-10 wins) seasons I think the average will be over 44K in the dome.

Also, not joking here either, the thought of going to urinals is mind numbing to me. I have been to BC's stadium when they are playing Notre Dame and waited 20 minutes in line at a urinal. Please God no.

Just hoping that the experience doesn't change, I love that most of all.

 

[donniesyracuse]

Yes, please keep the sight lines and the troughs.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

I think it's much easier to build a new stadium than to renovate the dome. Renovations are brutal, expensive, lots of unknown and the demo costs would be quite brutal with the concrete jungle that is the carrier dome. Cost over runs very very prevalent as well. It's sitting on very valuable property, I am sure when the University runs the numbers which I am sure they probably already have the new stadium will win out. Adding to what mark said as well, Syracuse isn't going to pay for a 3-4 phase, 24-7 schedule from March-September like at MSG, although that was May-October. ( Turner, same company building Levi Stadium in San Jose for the niners) The first phase alone would just to put the new roof on. It would be a 3-5 year renovation, the phasing and cost would be brutal. If they did want to pay for that schedule, I think the job would be very cool for somebody, quite the challenge, logistics would be tough to say the least. It can be done but will be very very expensive. Wider concourses would take up seats as well. The schedule and phasing alone will add 30% to the cost.

 

[MadNY3]

Other than your likes or dislikes, is there anything wrong with the Dome condition wise?

A lot of phrases like getting too old, or needs to be replaced.

Have yet to see why?
Concrete issue? Some other infrastructure issues?

Just curious, as it's still a lot younger than most stadiums, and half the age of old Archie when it came down.

I would bet that AEG is consulted up front, meaning things like concessions, merchandise stations, etc will be very well thought out upfront as well as how to maximize overall flexibility of the structure to support more event dates.

 

[Full_Rebar]

IB- if the demo costs are brutal, just how valuable is the Dome property to SU? Just curious because it would seem pretty expensive to put something else on that footprint, wouldn't it?