While this Syracuse Orange academic year might be over, Syracuse Athletics will have a lot on its place this summer as it sets out to finalize several major projects on current and new athletics facilities.
Most of that work begins, and to an extent ends, with the JMA Wireless Dome especially as SU continues to make progress on renovations. In addition, the university will also be finishing construction on a new esports gaming facility as well as building a new recreational field for soccer and rugby.
Last week, Pete Sala — SU vice president and chief campus facilities officer — and members of the Campus Planning, Design and Construction team held a virtual info session to provide the latest updates for these projects, among others.
Beginning at the Dome, two major construction projects remain underway — the current phase of changing the bleachers to chairback seating and the new Miron Victory Court.
SU has already begun to install the new seats in the Dome, with Mike sharing his thoughts on the new seats in a previous story. Most recently, Mike got a good look on Thursday at the progress of installing the new seats in the Dome:
Once graduation and commencement ceremonies wrap up, expect the university to double-time it when it comes to getting all the new seats in.
The university previously announced that this phase would be completed by the start of the 2024 Syracuse football season. SU’s new student convocation is on August 22 and the Syracuse football team’s season opener is on August 29 versus Ohio.
It’s clear USA most definitely wants this project done regardless, but there will definitely be more urgency now considering the arrival of Fran Brown as the program’s new head coach coupled with some early signs of optimism and turnover among Syracuse fans. (Writer’s note: based on some early observations inside, SU is already making pretty fast progress with installing the new seats).
Outside of the seating, we’ve also seen progress already underway with the Miron Victory Court, which will connect the Dome to the adjacent Barnes Center at The Arch. The court is projected to be completed around November, according to the university.
Syracuse University, Pete Sala and SU’s Campus Planning, Design and Construction team
Football aside, SU will also be finalizing two new additions to its campus: the new esports and recreational field facilities.
The new esports facility, which will be located at SU’s Schine Student Center, will be 5,600 square feet and include roughly 35 gaming consoles plus a 10-person stage for competitions, among other equipment.
Preparation for construction began last summer, and while it remains on-going, that should be all wrapped up around September 21, according to the university.
Syracuse University, Pete Sala and SU’s Campus Planning, Design and Construction team
As for the new recreation field, it will be located on SU’s South Campus near Skytop Field. The new field will be “regulation size” for soccer and rugby, according to SU, and serve as a venue for intramural and club sports.
And yes, while it isn’t a venue directly for Syracuse Athletics, it’s good to keep the enthusiasm for the SoccerSchool brand that’s been tapped into recently.
Syracuse University, Pete Sala and SU’s Campus Planning, Design and Construction team
Expect a lot of new changes the next time you visit campus in the fall.
