The college football season is fast approaching and if you’re coming to watch the Syracuse Orange at the JMA Wireless Dome, then we have some recommendations for you.
Explore the Area
If you plan wisely, you can use the Friday or Sunday of your visit to take a day trip to a Finger Lakes vineyard, the Baseball Hall of Fame, or if you’re willing to go about 2 1/2 hours away you can take in Niagara Falls. Fall is the best season to visit so give yourself time to see what we have to offer.
The perfect spot
for a gameday getaway is about a 20 minute drive to Cazenovia where you can hit two breweries, a vineyard and a distillery in a small town on a beautiful lake. This would work ideally for a Saturday night kickoff, or be the spot to unwind after a Noon game.
Gameday
You’re not going to find elite tailgating in widespread areas before Syracuse games, but there are pockets of Orange fans getting ready for kickoff in various spots around campus. With the current construction near the Dome, park on the other side of campus and walk over to the Quad to sample some of the pregame festivities. The other recommendation is parking at Skytop and riding the free shuttle to campus- but be warned that getting back up to Skytop after the game can take a while.
If you’re new to town, stop and say hello to those groups you see in the lots around campus. You’ll meet fans who have had season tickets since Archbold Stadium and they will hand you a Gianelli Sausage sandwich and a Blue Light and regale you with stories of the magical 1987 season and Don McPherson’s stolen Heisman. They will laugh at what happened to Steve Spurrier’s Gator team when they came to Syracuse and bemoan what’s become of the Orange since leaving the Big East.
Syracuse has a number of activities right on campus for fans. You’ll find pregame radio shows, activities for kids, food, drink, plus the team’s Quad Walk and the SU Marching Band performance on the steps of Hendricks Chapel. Get a spot next to the Ernie Davis statue and get pumped for the game.
Inside the Dome
The JMA Dome has been upgraded significantly in recent years. You’ll find individual seats and a massive scoreboard along with new LED lighting that enhances the in-game atmosphere. But don’t worry, the concourses can still get cramped and the men’s bathrooms still feature the urinal troughs that fans either love or loathe.
When it comes to views of the field, most of the Dome offers pretty good views of the action. Those of you who like seeing a play unfold will love the upper deck end zone seats and fans in the lower bowl are pretty close to the action….close enough that you might hear Fran Brown plead his case to the side judge.
One other bonus-you don’t have to worry about sweating through an early-season game or freezing in late November. It’s always 70 in the Dome and the gang can enjoy the game in comfort.
Post-game food
After the Orange win, the band and fans head down to Varsity for the traditional flipping of the opponent’s banner. This campus landmark will be full of Cuse fans celebrating a win and it’s a reminder that no matter how much changes in the sport, there are still some traditions that remain unique to the game.
The number of campus bars have decreased over the years, but you’ll want to be heading downtown anyway. Armory Square offers plenty of options for food and drink. The lines will be long at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que and Pastabilities, but Syracuse offers more than what the alumni announcers calling the game will mention during the broadcast.
When it comes down to it, Syracuse can be a great spot to enjoy a college football game. If you ever need more tips, just reach out and the Nunes Magician crew will give you their recommendations.
