Syracuse Basketball: So long Carrier Dome, and say hello to “the Stadium”

Get ready to check out Syracuse basketball from its lovely new home, known simply as “the Stadium.”

During Syracuse basketball games in the upcoming campaign, we shall see you at “the Stadium” – literally or figuratively, depending on if fans are allowed in the stands amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The squad issued a press release on Monday that details its scheduled game on Tuesday, Nov. 10, when the Orange will host 2018 Virginia-slayer UMBC.

Tucked into the announcement is that the ‘Cuse will play the Retrievers inside “the Stadium.” No reference to the Carrier Dome, the Dome, or even the Loudhouse.

Hmmm. That the Syracuse athletics department and basketball officials are going with “the Stadium” certainly could be construed as the latest indication that university administrators would perhaps like to end their naming-rights agreement with Carrier on an iconic Central New York building where the roof came off this past spring and is getting replaced with a new one over the summer.

Per Mike Waters of Syracuse.com, Carrier bought the naming rights to the facility for $2.75 million in 1979. In today’s economy, that is a bargain-basement price, as far as I can tell. Waters, by the way, notes in his story that the original agreement “extended the naming rights in perpetuity.”

I asked Orange basketball officials about the use of the word “Stadium” in their announcement on the UMBC match-up. They declined to comment further.

So there you have it. It appears that, moving forward, ‘Cuse hoops will play its home affairs at “the Stadium.” Or maybe some other name, likely without “Carrier” in it, if not the “Dome,” too.

As someone who graduated from Syracuse University and has attended a ton of games there, it feels a tad strange to call this facility “the Stadium,” but I’ll get used to it in time.

If this is it for the Carrier Dome semantically hosting Syracuse basketball, it’s been real.

In terms of the Orange’s battle versus the Retrievers this November, it will mark the second instance where these two teams will face off, says the cuse.com statement.

Back on Dec. 15, 1992, former ‘Cuse star Lawrence Moten collected 22 points to pace Syracuse in a 93-86 victory against UMBC from the – wait for it – “Carrier Dome.” Sorry. I couldn’t resist the urge.

As we’ve previously discussed, the Retrievers wrapped up their 2019-20 stanza at 16-17 overall and 8-8 in the America East Conference, where UMBC finished tied for fourth in its league.

Cuse.com says that the Retrievers will return three double-digit scorers this season, which means that Syracuse better not underestimate its opponent.

Naturally, UMBC is famously known for its shocking upset, as a No. 16 seed in the 2018 NCAA Tournament, over fellow Atlantic Coast Conference member and No. 1 overall seed Virginia in the round of 64.

This bout between the Retrievers and the Orange will prove a fun and challenging non-conference clash for the ‘Cuse in the early part of the 2020-21 campaign. In just a few short months, coming to you live, from “the Stadium.”