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Talk Syracuse football, or Syracuse basketball, and you come up with images of
programs that compete and win, year in and year out. And nowhere is this more
evident than in the Carrier Dome, which serves as both football and basketball venues
for their teams. Across one end zone are NCAA/NIT banners, marking the team's
appearances in the Big Dance going all the way back to 1956, and of course,
highlighted by their stunning 2003 championship. Then across the sidelines are post
season bowl banners, and it seems that the Orange have appeared in a bowl game in
quite a few years of their existence.
The Carrier Dome dominates the Syracuse skyline, and one can't help but see the
building when driving along any of the interstates that bisect the city. The stadium sits
right on the middle of the SU campus, just about two miles south of downtown, a pretty
campus with tree lined paths and a mix of traditional older buildings and ultra moden
newer ones.
Parking here can be a chore, as on campus parking is scarce and precious spaces
are allocated to staff, VIPs and season ticket holders. So have a strategy when
coming here. The best bet is to catch the Syracuse Express, a shuttle train which runs
from Armory Square in downtown Syracuse and deposits you three blocks from the
stadium's doors. Round trip is $4 and the service is quick and reliable.
Also there is Skytop, where you park your car and shuttle buses take you to a spot just
steps from the Dome. For hoops fans, parking is provided at Manley Fieldhouse and
buses shuttle fans to and from the game.
Opened in 1980, the Dome itself is a pretty ordinary building - grey concrete facades
and a white teflon canvas air supported roof, there are entrances on all sides of the
building. An adjoining square serves as a central meeting spot, with pregame food,
games for the kids and entertainment courtesy of the SU marching band. With
50,000(33,000 for hoops) seats on two decks, the stadium is small, intimate, and
being an indoor facility, can get pretty loud when the place is full, all adding to an
electric atmosphere.
For our day at the Dome, we witnessed an exciting game between national
powerhouse Florida State and the homestanding Orange. Syracuse surprised all by
jumping out to a 10-3 halftime lead and tried to hold off the mighty Seminoles as they
made a second half charge. Much to the chagrin of the home folks, the 'Noles rallied to
win by a 17-13 margin fending off a late SU drive in which a pass was intercepted in
the end zone in the final seconds.
programs that compete and win, year in and year out. And nowhere is this more
evident than in the Carrier Dome, which serves as both football and basketball venues
for their teams. Across one end zone are NCAA/NIT banners, marking the team's
appearances in the Big Dance going all the way back to 1956, and of course,
highlighted by their stunning 2003 championship. Then across the sidelines are post
season bowl banners, and it seems that the Orange have appeared in a bowl game in
quite a few years of their existence.
The Carrier Dome dominates the Syracuse skyline, and one can't help but see the
building when driving along any of the interstates that bisect the city. The stadium sits
right on the middle of the SU campus, just about two miles south of downtown, a pretty
campus with tree lined paths and a mix of traditional older buildings and ultra moden
newer ones.
Parking here can be a chore, as on campus parking is scarce and precious spaces
are allocated to staff, VIPs and season ticket holders. So have a strategy when
coming here. The best bet is to catch the Syracuse Express, a shuttle train which runs
from Armory Square in downtown Syracuse and deposits you three blocks from the
stadium's doors. Round trip is $4 and the service is quick and reliable.
Also there is Skytop, where you park your car and shuttle buses take you to a spot just
steps from the Dome. For hoops fans, parking is provided at Manley Fieldhouse and
buses shuttle fans to and from the game.
Opened in 1980, the Dome itself is a pretty ordinary building - grey concrete facades
and a white teflon canvas air supported roof, there are entrances on all sides of the
building. An adjoining square serves as a central meeting spot, with pregame food,
games for the kids and entertainment courtesy of the SU marching band. With
50,000(33,000 for hoops) seats on two decks, the stadium is small, intimate, and
being an indoor facility, can get pretty loud when the place is full, all adding to an
electric atmosphere.
For our day at the Dome, we witnessed an exciting game between national
powerhouse Florida State and the homestanding Orange. Syracuse surprised all by
jumping out to a 10-3 halftime lead and tried to hold off the mighty Seminoles as they
made a second half charge. Much to the chagrin of the home folks, the 'Noles rallied to
win by a 17-13 margin fending off a late SU drive in which a pass was intercepted in
the end zone in the final seconds.
Syracuse,
New York
October
9,
2004
Florida
State
Seminoles
at
Syracuse
Orange
| Syracuse, New York |
Carrier Dome