Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will perform at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, NY, on Thursday, April 18. It will be The Boss’ first concert in Central New York since 2010 and his first in Syracuse with his famous backing band since a 1985 performance at the Dome (then the Carrier Dome).
“First time I came to Syracuse was 1973 and you were looking at the only two members of the E Street Band that were there 51 frickin’ years ago,” Springsteen said in an Instagram video alongside original E Street Band bassist Garry W. Tallent on Monday. “50 years later and guess what? Me, this gentleman Garry W. Tallent, and the rest of the E Street Band have plans to destroy your city and rock you into the ground!”
Thursday’s concert, originally scheduled for September, was postponed after Springsteen was diagnosed with peptic ulcer disease. Tickets purchased for the original date will be honored for the new date.
Pete Sala, Syracuse University’s vice president and chief facilities officer, encouraged fans to follow three simple words: “Get here early.”
Gates open at 5:30 pm and the show will begin promptly at 7:30 pm Springsteen has no opening act.
Here’s everything you need to know before you go, including ticket information, where to park, and traffic tips:
TICKETS
Tickets purchased for the original Sept. 7, 2023, date will be honored for the rescheduled date of April 18, 2024.
A few thousand tickets are still available through Ticketmaster (prices start at $74.40), as well as VividSeats, StubHub, TicketNetwork or SeatGeek. Attendees are encouraged to download their ticket on their phone before arriving.
Sala said very few people had requested refunds when the show was postponed, so many ticketholders have been waiting about a year since the concert was first announced.
GA PIT
Guests with a General Admission Pit ticket should enter through Gate D. Fans looking to line up for front of the pit entry can also line up outside Gate D beginning at 8:00 am
Bottles and cans are not permitted on the floor. All beverages (including water) must be filled into a cup prior to accessing the floor seats and the GA pit.
SHOW START TIME / END TIME
The concert will begin at 7:30 pm Springsteen is expected to take the stage promptly as there is no opening act.
There is no end time for the concert, but at Monday’s MVP Arena concert in Albany, Springsteen reportedly played for 2 hours and 45 minutes. If the Syracuse show starts at 7:30, expect the Boss to be rocking until about 10:15 or 10:30 pm
PARKING / TRAFFIC
Concertgoers are encouraged to arrive early due to traffic. Syracuse city police will be shutting down Comstock Avenue to one-way traffic to help drivers get in and out as quickly as possible.
If you purchased advance sale parking, please display your parking pass on your rearview mirror so it is easily viewable for the parking attendants and to help with traffic flow. If you purchased a parking pass for the original concert date, that pass is still valid. West Lots by the stadium and Irving Garage will open at 3:30 pm
If you don’t have parking passes booked in advance, Sala strongly recommends parking at Skytop (1600 Jamesville Avenue) on SU’s South Campus, and then take the shuttle to the Dome. The Skytop Lot will open at 1 pm
Syracuse University also recommends using the Waze app for help with directions and navigating traffic to get to your parking lot. (See a list of parking lot addresses.)
- On event day, $35 parking will be available at the University Avenue Garage, UAG, (1101 E Adams St) and Comstock Avenue Garage, CAG, (501 Comstock Ave). Additional parking may be available at UNVN, UNVS, Harrison and Waverly. All lots will accept major credit cards, debit cards and mobile payments (Apple Pay, Android Pay and Google Pay). Cash will not be accepted.
- $30 paid parking will be available at the Skytop (1600 Jamesville Avenue) parking lots. Free shuttle transportation is provided between the College Place shuttle drop off and the Colvin, Comstock and Skytop parking lots. These lots will open at 1 pm with shuttle service starting at 4 pm
- Skytop: If you are using I-81 South to get to the SKY or SKYD lots, SU suggests you use Exit 17. At the bottom of the ramp turn LEFT and at the next light head up Brighton Ave., then left onto Ainsley Drive to your lot. If you’re taking I-81 North from south of Syracuse, get off at Exit 16A for I-481 North and then take the first exit for Rock Cut Road.
All lots will accept major credit cards, debit cards and mobile payments (Apple Pay, Android Pay and Google Pay). Cash will not be accepted.
CASH OR CREDIT?
Credit. All official SU parking lots are now cashless (though there may be some cash options near campus). Everything inside the Dome is also cashless, including the merchandise stands. Beverages, including alcohol, will be grab-and-go.
CLEAR BAG POLICY
The Dome’s Clear Bag Policy will be in effect. Therefore, one clear bag and one small clutch or purse is allowed. Fans will be asked to return non-approved bags to their vehicle prior to stadium entry. There will be no check-in location for prohibited bags at the Stadium. Please plan accordingly.
An exception will be made for medically necessary items after proper inspection.
ITEMS NOT ALLOWED
Metal detectors will be in use. The following items are not permitted:
- Audio Recording Devices
- Vinyl Album Covers
- Pocket Knives
- Weapons of any kind
- FOOD & BEVERAGES (excluding items needed for health/special reasons)
- ALCOHOL of any Kind
- BACKPACKS or large purses
- Containers/Coolers (including soft sided)
- Baby Strollers
- Animals (excluding service animals)
- Laser Pointers
- Noise Makers/Air Horns
- Video Recorders (including Go Pros)
- iPads
- Cameras with a lens 6″ or larger
- Large Chains
- Spiked Bracelets
- Wallet Chains
- Waist Packs
- Selfie Sticks
WIRELESS / WIFI
Sala said Verizon users will see fast 5G service after JMA Wireless installed a new distributed antenna system for cellular service. The same work is in progress for AT&T and T-Mobile, according to Sala, and will be in place by the time football season begins. For Springsteen, that means some cell phone users may see potentially slower speeds especially at peak moments, like when everyone tries to take a photo as soon as Springsteen comes out on stage and tries to send them to friends and family.
For more information, visit cuse.com/feature/Springsteen.
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