Syracuse football: New dome, new atmosphere earns positive reviews

The newly renovated Loud House did not disappoint in Syracuse’s home opener against Ohio

Everything about game day on Saturday in Syracuse felt electric. The finished dome, the new and improved quad walk, and a new head coach leading the charge. All was right for the near 40,000 passionate Syracuse Orange football fans sitting inside the renovated JMA Wireless Dome, eager to watch Fran Brown kick off the 2024 Syracuse football season.

“When you walk in the JMA Wireless Dome it looks like a professional arena and it looks great,” Syracuse University Athletic Director John Wildhack said.

The new dome did not disappoint. SU completed ‘phase two’ -which included the reseat, among a few other small renovations- of the dome construction plan in 2022, after the University finished working on the new roof, upgraded scoreboard, and air conditioning installation. And despite the max capacity being reduced by almost 7,000 seats from 49,057 to 42,784, it didn’t feel that way sitting in the press box watching the waves of Orange fans pour into the stadium.

Syracuse University also moved its student section behind the end zone in section 102, a 500-seat increase from SU’s previous student section location near SU’s tunnel entrance. I heard from several students affiliated with Otto’s Army, the official student section of Syracuse Athletics, that the initial reaction to this news was not as positive as expected, but after Saturday’s game, it’s safe to say that feeling has since changed.

Otto’s Army President RJ Joshi said he was ‘super proud’ of the student turn out, and that he and his organization are excited to raise the bar at future games this season.

“Otto’s Army was back and better than ever,” Joshi added. “The whole section was a sea of orange and I’m super proud of everyone who showed up and brought the energy.”

Fellow TNIAAM writer Christian DeGuzman and I discussed the lack of tradition on this Syracuse football team ahead of Saturday’s game. We agreed that the new quad walk could be just what the team needs, especially if SU continues to promote it well and draw a big crowd ahead of the game with worthwhile events and activities scheduled on the quad.

In the post game press conference, Orange WR Trebor Pena said the quad walk was ‘amazing’.

“I’ve never felt something like that before, and just seeing how the community came together to support us was just incredible,” Trebor Pena added. “I love the changes that have happened, and I’m just excited to see what happens next.”

Syracuse University has certainly turned a page in the last couple of years with athletics and for the better. Hopefully, the positive feedback continues to move the needle in the right direction for the best fans in all of college sports.