User:Dome105/sandbox

= Carrier Dome =

First opened in 1980, the Carrier Dome is the most exciting spot on campus. Home to the Syracuse Oranges, the university wanted to open an indoor stadium to use for its athletic teams. The first-ever game played at the stadium was on September 20th, 1980, with the capacity reaching 49,057. However, before the Carrier Dome, Syracuse owned Archbold Stadium, which stood strong from 1907 to 1978. Archbold Stadium was named after John D. Archbold, who was a member of the board of trustees at Syracuse University, as well as the board’s president. Archbold gave almost 6 million dollars that have been used for the construction of Archbold Stadium, Carrier Dome, and more.

The famous Carrier Dome that sits on SU’s campus is one of the most well-known and largest domed stadiums on any college campus. Individuals from all around the country gather together to cheer on the Syracuse Football, Lacrosse, and Basketball teams, bringing together fellow peers hosting numerous events for over four decades. The Dome holds thousands of spirited fans that heavily add to the exuberant energy displayed to those watching the Orange on televisions, earning the name “Loud House.” For instance, Otto’s Army is seen as the designated area for the student section within the elated Dome, providing positive game day attitudes for the crowd to join in. With this much dedication, Syracuse has won numerous games influenced by the amazing fans.

Syracuse’s large spirit has not only prevailed through events such as athletic games, but many other major occasions the Carrier Dome hosts as well. Although the Dome has held many important college sports events such as the 1981 Big East Conference basketball tournament, seven men’s NCAA basketball east regional semi-finals and finals games, two NCAA men’s lacrosse championships, two NCAA men’s indoor track and field championships, pre-season games for both the NFL and NBA, they have also hosted many non-sports-related events. Musical performances by artists like Paul McCartney, Prince The Chainsmokers, Bon Jovi, Drake, and many more have performed in the Dome. Another event the stadium annually hosts is the New York State Field Band Conference. In recent years, when there are no events taking place, it serves as a Covid-19 testing facility for Syracuse students and faculty.

Throughout the many years that the Dome has occupied such numerous sporting events, concerts, and other occasions, it should be acknowledged that the stadium has undergone a lot of changes. Not only is this due to the increase of modern infrastructure, but most importantly, the use and demand of technology. In 2020, a new scoreboard and large HD video screen was implemented which is hung over the center of the stadium. New light fixtures, sound systems, restrooms, and concessions have also been fulfilled as upgrades to the facility. Additionally, being that the Carrier Dome is owned by the city that receives the most snowfall annually in the United States, the stadium is indoor, with an enclosed roof and dome shaped top. Along with the other said upgrades, a very significant change was the renovation of this roof. In 1993, the Dome’s roof started to deflate due to the weight of the snow, then collapsed on March 16, 2020. A new cable supported steel crown truss and concrete ring-beam roof has replaced the original air-supported roof, and the enclosure now can be heated up to 145 degrees to prevent damage and the possibility of collapsing. Today, the stadium sits tall, overlooking the city of Syracuse, and remains as The Carrier Dome we call home.

Construction, Cost, and Carrier Corporation
The Carrier Dome is Syracuse University’s sports and event stadium that was built to fit a capacity of 49,250 people. This stadium is known as the only domed stadium in the Northeast, as well as being the largest domed stadium on any college campus. It was constructed from start to finish for over a year from April 1979 to September 1980, and initially cost around 26.85 million dollars. The Carrier Dome is 497 feet wide and 570 feet long, with a height of about 165 feet above the field. Materialistically, the stadium is made out of 30,000 cubic yards of concrete and 880 tons of steel, along with the addition of a renovated roof weighing about 220 tons of Teflon coated fiberglass. This newly constructed steel roof was made in May 2020, requiring 6.5 acres of fabric and holds up to 7,700 tons of snow. This fiberglass fabric takes up the material used for the 64 roof panels of the Dome and is held together by 14 bridge cables, which can weigh up to 7 tons. The roof can be heated to a temperature high enough to melt the snow before it lands, turning the snow into water, where it then flows to the Dome’s 36 drain pipes connected to the city’s sewer system.

From the start of SU’s 1980 Carrier Dome to 2021, the stadium has undergone a lot of changes ranging from the external appearance to interior wiring, all coming at an estimated cost of about 145 million dollars. This price includes the new renovation costing approximately 118 million dollars, on top of the starting cost of a little under 27 million dollars. However, 2.75 million dollars of that total was financed by Carrier Global Corporation, which is who the stadium is named after. Although the arena was first named Archbold, the switch to Carrier Dome has been an ongoing debate among many Syracuse residents, students, staff, faculty, and other sports fans around the world. Not only were people stating that the “Carrier Dome doesn’t have air conditioning despite being named after a company that provides air conditioning”, but also the fact of how Carrier Corporation is functioning. According to Rick Moriarty at syracuse.com, “Carrier, with roots in Syracuse, has gone independent for the first time in 41 years.” A business going independent is defined as one that is free from external control and is considered more as a privately owned company compared to a public limited company, which is owned by a small group of individuals. This development caused Carrier to voluntarily layoff 1,200 workers in 2004 and refused two union offers of 7.8 million dollars in wage cuts. They once employed around 7,000 people in DeWitt alone, which is a suburb of Syracuse, however, now only employs about 1,000 people. Carrier Global has been controversially operating as a practice many disagree with, and previously argued with former president, Donald Trump. Trump stated, “These companies that are leaving us have to know that when you leave us and fire all our people from Syracuse… there’s going to be a penalty”. He continued to mention that he was going to tax Carrier’s product when it “comes back in”, and also criticized the company during his presidential campaign in 2016. Carrier Corporation’s behavior has been recognized by many individuals around the world, especially through the people who reside in Syracuse.

Numerous individuals believe that the Carrier Dome should be renamed; however, others don’t think it is that large of an issue. Athletic director John Wildhack, stated to a reporter that “eliminating the word ‘Carrier’ from numerous guides and websites was not a message to the company.” He proceeded to back up the question, saying, “I think our fans, they ask, ‘Are you going to the Dome today?’ I’ve been a fan for 30-plus years. I’m an alumni. They say, ‘I’m going back to Syracuse, we’re going to the Dome for a game.’” The name “Carrier Dome” is so widely known in history, college life, and sports, that the modification in its name will partially lose its historical legacy. It is only a matter of large opinion and public awareness to provoke the change that many have been waiting for under Syracuse University’s name.

The History of Orange Spirit
The dedicated spirit of the die hard SU fans within the Carrier Dome is difficult to compete with. SU fans from all over the country look forward to game day and prepare to dress to impress as well as shout their hearts out. The House of Orange was not always the beautiful colors of orange and blue, triggering the responses that this is Syracuse University. More specifically, in 1872, the SU’s first official colors were pea green and a rose pink clashing horribly together; this led to many students disliking these colors and demanded for a change. So, the school changed the pea green to a blue color and rose pink in 1873, lasting until 1890. Finally, in the year of 1939, the vibrant color of orange that holds sacred to Syracuse became official and known throughout the country. While being an orange, however, Syracuse was in need of a mascot to show off this beauty of a color. As a result, in 1895, the first mascot was named Bill Orange, or Mr. Bill, who came along after a Syracuse victory over Colgate created by an SU freshman, which caused him lots of fame. Moreover, Mr. Bill was a personification of the average Syracusan with made up words and different music for this such creation, the fans raved over this idea and eventually went on for many years to come. After Mr. Bill made his claim to fame during those fun years, the Saltine Warrior was the new and improved mascot between the years of 1931 and 1978, creating an anthem for its persona - being known as “a bold, bad man.” Finally, after many years of battling between which mascot was the best and more fit to earn the title of the Syracuse University mascot name, Otto the Orange entered with pride in 1980, receiving the pronouns of “It” due to being neither a female or male. However, people around the country were confused as to what Otto portrays as a fuzzy fruit but that did not stop Syracuse from claiming this mascot for good. Otto is known to be happy-go-lucky, and kind, always spreading sunshine and Syracuse school spirit, from the sidelines at Syracuse University games to community events and anywhere it is needed for extra spirit and positive attitudes.

Fast forward to today, Otto the Orange, dressed in orange and blue, causes numerous fans to gather before games dressed in spirited wear and participate in before game activities, including tailgates with family and friends. After tailgating, fans are spread all throughout the colossal Carrier Dome showing a wave of blue and orange in each and every seat. The most spirited section within the Dome would have to be Otto's Army, a designated seating area for SU students and fans being known as the loud ones. If SU scores a win for that day, fans are always welcomed to gather and celebrate at Varsity Pizza on Marshall Street for the flipping of the losing team’s pennant after the game.

Archbold Stadium and The Men's Football Team
Opened in 1980, the Carrier Dome is the most exciting spot on campus. SU wanted to open an indoor stadium to use for its athletic teams. The first-ever game played at the Carrier Dome was on September 20th, 1980, with the capacity reaching 49,057. One of the many cool designs of the Carrier Dome is that it is heated to 145º Fahrenheit when snow is approaching to keep it from collapsing. However, in 1993, the weight of the snow caused the Carrier Dome to deflate!

Called the “Storm of the Century”, or by locals, the “Blizzard of ‘93”, Syracuse residents were treated to a maximum of 43 inches of snow. The University was not prepared for this March snowstorm, as the 27 million dollar Carrier Dome deflated under the literal tons of snow. However, the stadium quickly recovered, as both the basketball and football teams played in the Carrier Dome the following season. Since then, the dome has been renovated, and now can be heated to prevent snow from collapsing the roof of the dome.

Before the Carrier Dome, there was Archbold Stadium, which stood strong from 1907 to 1978. Archbold stadium was named after John D. Archbold, who was a member of the board of trustees at Syracuse University, as well as the board’s president. Archbold gave almost 6 million dollars that have been used for the construction of Archbold Stadium, Carrier Dome, and more.

From Archbold Stadium to the Carrier Dome, Syracuse Football has been a centerpiece of Syracuse University. Archbold Stadium is mainly known for Syracuse’s historic 1959 undefeated championship season, ending with a national championship. However, the reason why the championship is so famous is because of the emergence to stardom by Ernie Davis. The Heisman winner carried the already stacked 1959 team to a ring. The impact of Syracuse Football has continued today beyond just championships. Current players like Sean Tucker always try to get involved in the campus community. After every game, Tucker tweets what he thinks about his performance, which not many pro or college athletes do. My favorite Sean Tucker tweet is, “finally, an ACC win Syracuse 41 VT 36. I'm pleased with my performance and happy with the outcome. I ran 20 Att for 112 Yds with 2 Rec for 14 Yds. Thanks to my Oline for helping me reach 1k Yds and more to come... I'm just getting started.” These little things help connect the students to the team, broadening the impact of the football team beyond just the fans watching in the stadium. However, you cannot talk about Syracuse athletics without talking about the 2010 YMCA scandal. From 1996 to 2006, the local YMCA was providing unfair benefits to Syracuse players and staff by giving them free gym memberships, paid community service jobs, and more. They also falsified documents for the athletes who needed community service hours requirements filled. Syracuse University claimed the investigation into the scandal was the longest in NCAA history. Following the investigation, Syracuse punished itself by withdrawing from post-season sports for a year. This was nothing compared to the NCAA punishment, as they took away a total of 101 wins from Syracuse athletics.

The Men's Basketball Team
The Carrier Dome, or “the Dome”, is the name of the stadium that showcases the major sporting events that take place at Syracuse University. Basketball, along with football and lacrosse, are played here, with basketball being the most widely recognized and prestigious sport of the three. The Syracuse basketball program is classified as NCAA Division I, and they have been part of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) with teams like Duke and UNC Chapel Hill since 2013. They were formerly part of the Big East Conference.

The Syracuse men's basketball team is one of the most prestigious college basketball programs in the United States and generates significant revenue for the university through its games at the Dome. Only five schools in the United States draw more revenue from their basketball program than Syracuse. As a result of the team’s continued success, Syracuse invests in its team, which receives national attention and occasionally produces players that go on to play in the NBA. The basketball team has been coached by Jim Boeheim for 46 seasons, and he is considered one of the best college basketball coaches of all time. The best basketball players to come out of Syracuse’s basketball program are Carmelo Anthony, Gerry McNamara, Sherman Douglas, and Derrick Coleman.

The Syracuse men’s basketball team has a lengthy list of achievements. They include 10 Big East regular-season championships, 5 Big East Tournament championships, 35 NCAA Tournament appearances, and one NCAA Tournament championship. Their most notable year was in 2003 when they beat the University of Kansas to win the entire NCAA tournament, or March Madness as it’s called. The team was led by Carmelo Anthony, a freshman at the time, along with Gerry McNamara, and Hakim Warrick. Carmelo Anthony was also awarded the Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament. Championship banners and retired jersey numbers remind the Syracuse crowd of these successes and are proudly hung from the rafters of the Dome.

The Carrier Dome itself carries significant prestige since it is the largest college basketball stadium in the United States. Its white, metal-like structure dominates the skyline of the city of Syracuse, but it is the capacity of the Dome that makes it stand out against other arenas. Although the capacity is different for football and lacrosse games, the Dome has reached a maximum capacity of 35,642 people in attendance for a college basketball game. This NCAA on-campus attendance record was set in 2019 when the Syracuse Orange played against their biggest rival, the Duke Blue Devils, who were #1 at the time. For reference, the next largest stadium only holds approximately two-thirds of this capacity. Having a home crowd of this size provides Syracuse teams with leverage over their opponents and is why the Dome is often considered to be one of the best college basketball home-court advantages.

Given the large numbers that can fill the Dome, it is an exciting arena for the men’s basketball team to play in. The Dome is often referred to as “Loud House” because of the cheering and electric atmosphere that is created by a crowd of this size. Syracuse fans are also known to show a tremendous amount of school spirit and pride, and people travel from near and far to watch the Syracuse men’s basketball team play. Not only is the team supported by the students and faculty of the university, but the surrounding city of Syracuse is just as dedicated. The large numbers drawn to Syracuse basketball games and the noise level created at the Dome can make playing there intimidating for opposing teams.

The dimensions of the Dome also contribute to the Syracuse home-court advantage. The ceiling of the Carrier Dome is much higher than any other college stadium. This creates an echo that opposing teams are not used to playing with and causes a distraction. Recent upgrades to the Dome also include the largest center video board in college sports as well as a new audio system that teams have found intimidating. The Syracuse team’s familiarity with the Dome and its features allows them to feel more comfortable playing in such a large arena.

For the first time ever, the Carrier Dome was closed to fans for the 2020-2021 basketball season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Dome will return to full capacity in the Fall of 2021 with no social distancing requirements. Fans will have to comply with the Dome’s COVID-19 rules and regulations which require attendees to either be fully vaccinated or have proof of a negative COVID-19 test. The Syracuse men’s basketball team has a bright future ahead, and it will be exciting to watch them play in person at the Carrier Dome and kick-off a much anticipated new season.