Club 4•4 Offers Fans Unique Dome Experience
2/8/2010 3:09:48 PM | Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, Football, Men's Lacrosse, Women's Lacrosse, General
by Don Muret, Sports Business Journal
In a perfect world, Syracuse University would build a new retractable-roof stadium for its football and basketball teams.
“They do them more efficiently these days,” said Daryl Gross, the school's athletic director.
Short of spending a few hundred million dollars on new construction, however, Syracuse is content with investing a fraction of the cost to periodically renovate the 30-year-old Carrier Dome.
The building's most recent upgrade, a new 3,000-square-foot premium space called Club 4•4 membership does not include the price of event tickets.
To date, the athletic department has sold 150 memberships. Syracuse expects the club to generate $350,000 in revenue annually, a nice chunk of money on top of its concessions revenue and additional fees from renting the space for non-game-day corporate functions, Gross said.
Club 4•4 opens two hours before every game. “People are really enjoying themselves and the crowds grow every game,” he said.
The new club follows dome improvements that include the two-year-old Executive Club suite, mid-level in the southwest corner, and 208 courtside seats established four years ago that generate $1 million in revenue a year.
In the future, Gross wants to add a New York-style pub at the Carrier Dome where fans can grab a burger and beer before the game.
“People spent a lot of time there and we need to do what we can to make sure they continue to enjoy the entire experience,” Gross said.
