Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - A Friday night game at the Carrier Dome between Syracuse University and Pittsburgh means a lot of preparation for staff, but those preparations are just the beginning of a busy month for the facility.
As soon as the game is over, crews will begin turning over the arena for a special event featuring the Dalai Lama and more than two dozen performers.
"It's a daily challenge of dealing with change, trying to find 20 dressing rooms, which we've never done. We're being very creative with space, that's going to consume a lot of the day tomorrow, moving things around to create space for all these different artists, that's been very challenging,” said Dome Managing Director Pete Sala.
A little more than a day after the game, the Dome locker rooms will be turned into dressing rooms for some of the artists for the concert Tuesday night.
"The football schedule dictates what we can and can't do. With an open date last weekend, this Tuesday night event was kind of okay, having the football game on Friday allows us to have the concert on Tuesday,” Sala said.
But the Dome’s crews won’t stop after the Dalai Lama visit. Shortly after that, they will be preparing for Orange’s Midnight Madness event on Friday, followed by the Orange Alumni Lacrosse Classic on Saturday .
Then, personnel will need to switch back for an SU/UConn football game before preparing the facility for an NBA exhibition game featuring Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks, as well as the Philadelphia 76ers.
“It doesn't end...we're pretty busy. This is our busiest October we've ever had,” Sala said.
Because his position is comparable to that of a head of state, the Dome will have a lot more security in place for the Dalai Lama's visit. Handbags, backpacks, and cameras will not be permitted inside the Dome.
There will be no parking in the lots near the Dome for the general public. Visitors should use the Skytop Lots and shuttles to go to the Dome for the One World Concert event on Tuesday, Oct. 9, at 7 p.m.
