State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie made a rare stop in Syracuse today to announce $3 million in additional state support for Syracuse University’s ongoing Dome renovation project. Crews continue to replace the aluminum benches with contoured, individual seating that will now have backs. Heastie says the investment benefits the entire region, even if the venue is owned by a private university.
“Knowing how important staples of communities are, and that's why I was supportive of funding the Buffalo Bills Stadium and we were supportive of funding the baseball stadium in Rochester," Heastie said. "And part of that was to do right by the city of Syracuse and Syracuse University. We tried to help all of the sports arenas and all of upstate New York.”
Heastie credited Central New York’s assembly delegation for advocating for the Dome as an economic engine. SU Vice Chancellor Mike Haynie says the Dome hosts more than college athletics, attracting some 935,000 visitor every year.
“The Dome also hosts statewide high school sports contests, athletic events, band competitions, countless other community activities," Haynie said. "And as a year round venue, particularly because of the renovations that we've done in recent years, Dome operations contribute more than $240 million in income to the Central New York economy.”
Haynie says modernizing the JMA Wireless Dome enables the region to compete for national and regional events. The venue has undergone a multiyear, $200 million series of improvements, ranging from seating and restrooms, to the addition of air conditioning and improved wi-fi service.
The $3 million in state support is in addition to earlier commitments of $20 million. Assemblymember Bill Magnarelli, an SU alumnus, says the new money is intended to cover higher costs due to inflation.
State support for the dome is not unprecedented. In 1978, New York provided a $15 million grant in toward its construction.
