Carrier Dome

History

Toward the end of the 1970s, Syracuse University was under pressure to improve its football facilities in order to remain a Division I-A football school. Its small concrete stadium, Archbold Stadium, was 70 years old and not up to the standards of other schools. The stadium could not be expanded; earlier in the decade it had been reduced from 40,000 seats to 26,000 due to fire codes. Therefore, Syracuse University decided to build a new stadium on the site of Archbold, which, appropriately for Syracuse's often cold weather was to have a domed Teflon-coated, fiberglass inflatable roof. While the dome was being built during the 1979 season, Syracuse played "home" games at three different locations—Giants Stadium, home of the NFL's New York Giants; New Era Field (then known as Rich Stadium), home of the NFL's Buffalo Bills; and Schoellkopf Field, home of the Cornell Big Red. When it opened in September 1980, it was made clear just how loud it was inside; that night the dome's famous nickname, "the Loud House", was coined. The inflatable roof causes the sound produced to echo many times, multiplying the loudness produced inside. It would also serve as the home for the men's basketball team, as a replacement for Manley Field House.

Attendance records

Syracuse University's men's basketball per-game and single-season attendance numbers are annual contenders for the top rank in the nation. Lacrosse crowds are not as large, but the venue allows Syracuse's lacrosse teams to play home games throughout the February–May regular season.

The Dome has seen many of NCAA basketball's largest crowds. On February 1, 2014, the attendance record for a NCAA men's basketball on-campus game was broken by a few hundred spectators in the Duke vs. Syracuse ACC matchup. Attendance was announced as 35,446, as Syracuse went on to win 91-89, in dramatic fashion in overtime. This win marked the 21st straight win of the season for the Orange, breaking a school record for the longest unbeaten streak to start a season. The previous attendance record was set February 23, 2013 (35,012), the final game vs. long-standing Big East Conference rivals Georgetown Hoyas, as a member of the Big East. The Orange were defeated 57-46, ending the Orange's home win-streak at 38 games. Prior to the Georgetown Hoyas attendance record, Syracuse University held the previous attendance record also. On February 27, 2010, an announced attendance of 34,616 came to see the Orange beat the Villanova Wildcats 95-77. University officials briefly considered moving the basketball court to the middle of the football field for the 2014 regular season game with Duke- a move that could have pushed the attendance over 50,000. It was decided, to appease season ticket holders, that the court would stay in its usual location. However, the university did reconfigure the Dome to hold a new record capacity of 35,446.

On March 19, 2007, a new NIT attendance record was set, at 26,752, in the second-round men's basketball game against the San Diego State University Aztecs.

On November 22, 2014, the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League set a new "United States Indoor Professional Hockey" record by playing in front of 30,715 fans at the Carrier Dome for the "Toyota Frozen Dome Classic". Syracuse defeated the Utica Comets 2-1.

Tournaments

The 1981 Big East Conference men's basketball tournament was held there, as were the 1988 and 1991 Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championships. The Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament East Regional semi-finals & finals have been held at the Dome seven times (1983, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2010, and 2015). The NCAA Men's Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships were held there in 1984 and 1985.

Performing artists

Artists who have performed at the stadium include Prince, Bon Jovi, David Bowie, Elton John, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Rod Stewart, U2, Genesis, The Rolling Stones, The Police, Frank Sinatra, Garth Brooks, The Who, Neil Diamond, Kid Cudi, Grateful Dead, Kid Rock, Duran Duran, Paul McCartney, Kenny Chesney, Ludacris, Rick Ross, Meek Mill, Taylor Swift, Pink Floyd, Zac Brown Band, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Kesha, Kaskade, Trey Songz, Drake, among others.

Other events

Each October, the dome hosts the New York State Field Band Conference marching band championships.

It also hosts the New York State High School Football Championships each November.

A Billy Graham crusade took place at the Carrier Dome in 1989.

Monster Jam played a sold out show to nearly 40,000 fans on March 10, 2012.

On October 14, 2014, Carrier Dome held an NBA preseason game between the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers. Coincidentally, the 76ers were originally located in Syracuse as the Syracuse Nationals.

On November 22, 2014, the Syracuse Crunch and Utica Comets hosted an American Hockey League game inside the Carrier Dome as part of the Toyota Frozen Dome Classic, which served as the 2014-15 edition of the AHL Outdoor Classic. This event was part of a day-long hockey event that also included the Utica College Pioneers and Oswego State Lakers, both based in NCAA Division III. Also, the cities of Syracuse and Utica participated in a law enforcement charity game. The Crunch-Comets game had an attendance of 30,715, a US indoor professional record, the UC-Oswego game drew 7,074 fans, a new NCAA Division III record.

Accidents

The Dome has also been the site of a tragic accident. In June 1999, worker Bryan Bowman was killed when he fell through the Dome roof to the bleachers 60 feet below. He had been working with a crew from Birdair Incorporated, to replace the roof. The next month an electrician fell down a 50-foot shaft while installing cables for a new speaker system. He survived with injuries to his leg, arm, back and ribs.

Construction and financing

The Carrier Dome was constructed between April 1979 and September 1980. The total construction cost was $26.85 million, including a $2.75 million naming gift from the Carrier Corporation allegedly. Huber, Hunt and Nichols, Inc. was the general contractor.

It was speculated at the time that political considerations helped this project advance. The State of New York provided a $15 million grant in 1978 for the Dome's construction. Democratic incumbent Governor Hugh Carey was thought to have trouble in his re-election campaign with upstate voters. He visited the site of the old Archbold stadium and was convinced by local officials and SU administrators on the utility of a Dome. Carey won re-election to a second term following the approval of state funds, although the extent to which it helped him may never be known.

Heating and cooling

Despite carrying the name Carrier (an HVAC manufacturer), there is no air conditioning in the dome. The need for it is presumed low, as the facility is primarily used during the academic year (August–May), during most of which the outside temperatures rarely go far above room temperature, although it can get very hot in August and September. However, the temperatures greatly rise when filled to capacity even in November.

Remodeling and updates

The Dome has been upgraded several times throughout the past 25 years. Most recently the university installed a LED video display system with two video boards (15' x 25') that are located on the east end and northwest corners of the third level, along with 58 color TVs for the back rows of the second and first levels. The inflatable roof was replaced in 1999 at a cost of $14 million.

FieldTurf was installed at the beginning of the 2005 football season, replacing the outdated AstroTurf. Additionally, the Dome also received orange paint and banners between its decks, and its corridors were lined with historic photographs.

Controversy

In November 1988 a grandson of the former president and CEO of the Carrier Corporation, which provided the naming gift for Syracuse's Carrier Dome, was convicted of beating and raping a Syracuse University student.

Transportation

The Dome is served by CENTRO buses. Shuttle buses transport fans to and from remote parking lots.

Dedications

In the 2009 football season the field turf was dedicated to Ernie Davis, the first African American Heisman Trophy winner. The field now reads "Ernie Davis Legends Field" between the 45 yard lines on the home side. Davis's number 44 was also placed along that yard line. The dedication took place at the Syracuse vs. West Virginia game October 10, 2009.