Syracuse University is investing $118 million dollars to replace the existing Carrier Dome roof and other upgrades that should be ready by Football season 2020 and provide a stadium-like experience. Over the weekend the University’s Board of Trustees signed-off on the plan to install the suspended roof and updates inside. Athletic Director John Wildhack says the focus is on students and the fan experience.
“The new roof will allow more natural light to come into the building. I think the lighting system will be tremendous in terms of what we can do around basketball, football games in terms of team entrances, introductions, etc. and also when we do concerts, Monster Jams, etc. that type of thing. When you have a center hung video scoreboard and then you have a sound system which is state of the art, I just think the overall experience is going to be much, much better than it currently is.”
The new roof will have a 40 year life rating and also allow natural light to filter into the dome. Wildhack is ready to provide sports fans with dome improvement requests that he’s often heard from them. He says the scoreboard will be able to be repositioned for basketball games and is something sports fans rely on.
“The center hung video scoreboard over the center of the basketball court, again, enhanced with the new sound system, there’s a wow factor there and I think so much of when you go to a game (what) fans look to, right, is they look to the video boards for replay. Now, we’re gonna have something which is greatly enhanced versus what we currently have.”
The Dome will also be enhanced with Wi-Fi by the fall of 2020 and accessibility improvements that are A.D.A. compliant. The installation of air-conditioning and restroom upgrades are set for the year 2022. The project is a part of the $255 million dollar West Campus transformation strategy that was announced in 2016. The Dome roof will be paid for through philanthropy, university reserves and long-term financing. To view the full press conference click here.
