SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – The JMA Wireless Dome is a one-stop-shop for sports teams, Grammy-winning artists, and treasured university events. You name it, and in a matter of hours, the Dome can fulfill your expectations for a variety of occasions.
Before this Saturday, the Syracuse staple will become almost unrecognizable, with up to 6,000 tons of dirt on the floor and monster trucks revving up ramps. Monster Jam returns to the Dome this Saturday, April 4 for an action-packed day of thrills and competition.
Pete Sala, who is the Vice President and Chief Facilities Officer at Syracuse University, said that the Dome’s changeover process began Monday night after an event and carried on into Tuesday.
“Our student workforce came in yesterday at 8:00 in the morning and by noon they had the plywood and everything covered. We stripped the building of all the pads, the wrap, all the things that we don’t want down by the dirt, we took off.”
Sala said the next step is to pile and roll the dirt, which is owned by the university and sits at Skytop Apartments on SU’s South Campus. Then the trucks can start doing their thing.
“A 10-wheeler hauls about 18 tons [of dirt] into the building,” Sala said. “We can have anywhere from 250 of those trucks to 300, so it could be 4,500 tons to as much as 6,000 tons [of dirt].”
After the dirt is in the Dome, the track is laid out and ramps are built depending on this year’s show. Safety measures, finishing touches, and a rehearsal lead to the big moment – Saturday at 3 p.m.
In past years, the show has been later in the evening, around 7 o’clock. However, this year’s Monster Jam will be earlier, which Sala says is a positive for not only the spectators with young children but also the surrounding city.
“I hope the restaurants are ready. I hope all the different places in Syracuse are ready for that 30,000 to leave here. They’re going to be hungry, and they’re going to be going and hitting the city.”
Monster Jam’s presence in Syracuse has become a “fan-favorite” event, according to Sala. That makes the hands-on effort, quick turnaround, and extra dust all worthwhile.
And, at the end of it all, the Dome will be back to its regular operations, ready for a spring reception on Monday morning.
