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Some SU Students Unhappy About Announced Dome Renovations SU Students Unhappy About Announced Dome Renovations

Otto's Army says the reduced capacity will negatively affect the Dome atmosphere

By Lindsey Fine

Carrier Dome from the 20th Floor of Lawrinson Hall
© 2021 Lindsey Fine

Anchor: Syracuse University will receive $20 million from the 2023 New York State budget for the Carrier Dome renovations. NCC News’ Lindsey Fine is here to break down why students may not benefit from these changes.

Reporter: The Carrier Dome will be swapping classic metal bleachers for new plastic stadium seats Syracuse University’s student run fan organization Otto’s Army says this might not be the best idea. Otto’s Army has helped S.U. break the national record for largest student section at a regular season NCAA men’s basketball seasons. But Otto’s Army senior adviser Jonathan Danilich says SU will probably never be able to break that record again.

Danilich: The records that we broke this year will probably never be broken again because the fact that those seats are going to drastically, not drastically, but they will reduce the capacity

Reporter: Danilich also says new chairs might hurt the Dome’s reputation as the “Loud House.”

Danilich: One of the big things for football is pounding the bleachers and making noise that way, so we’re gonna have to come up with different ways to you know a plastic seat doesn’t make too much sound

Reporter: Renovations will take place during Summer 2023. Lindsey Fine, NCC News.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) —  The Carrier Dome will undergo another round of renovations in Summer 2023,  and some students are not happy about the changes being made.

Gov. Kathy Hochul included $20 million towards replacing the metal bleachers in the Dome with plastic stadium seats in the 2023 New York State budget.

Syracuse University’s student run fan organization Otto’s Army’s senior adviser Jonathan Danilich said the records Otto’s Army set this past basketball season will never be broken by SU because the renovation will reduce capacity in the Dome.

“The records we broke this year will probably never be broken again,” Danilich said.  “Those seats are going to reduce the capacity [in the Dome].”

Danilich also said the tradition of students banging on the back of metal bleachers to make noise during the opposing team’s third down will not be possible with the new plastic stadium seats.

“We are going to have to come up with different ways to [make noise],” Danilich said. “A plastic seat doesn’t make too much sound; I don’t know if you’ve tried, but I have.”

Danilich said the new metal roof makes the Dome louder than the old air-inflatable roof, which will help the Dome maintain its reputation as the “Loud House” once the new seats are put in. Renovations are set to take place Summer 2023.

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