SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse University wants to break the Carrier Dome single-game attendance record for an Orange women’s basketball game.
It’s hoping an upcoming matchup against a highly-ranked conference opponent will help attract a record-breaking crowd.
A total of 13 Central New York companies have purchased group-ticket packages for the matchup between the Syracuse Orange women and Notre Dame on Sunday, Feb. 19, the school announced Wednesday.
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The game between the 20th ranked Orange and 7th ranked Fighting Irish is set for a 5 p.m. tip off. ESPN2 will televise the game.
The women’s program held a press event in the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center to make the announcement.
The Orange are looking to top their single-game attendance record in the Carrier Dome, which was set on Jan. 25, 2012 when 4,357 people attended the team’s game against women’s basketball powerhouse Connecticut.
This is a “very monumental moment” for the Syracuse women’s basketball program, following its appearance in the NCAA Tournament national championship game in 2016, head coach Quentin Hillsman said in his remarks during the event.
“As you look at where our program has come from and how much we’ve grown as a program and also how much our program has grown in this community is certainly … remarkable,” said Hillsman.
The companies purchasing tickets include Central NY Chevy Dealers; Crouse Health; Syracuse–based Galaxy Communications; Rochester–based Excellus BlueCross BlueShield; Cleveland, Ohio–based KeyBank; Geddes–based Metro Mattress; Binghamton–based Mirabito Energy Products; United Kingdom–based National Grid (NYSE: NGG); Milwaukee, Wisconsin–based Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company; Oswego–based Pathfinder Bank; Newington, New Hampshire–based Planet Fitness (NYSE: PLNT); TK99 (WTKW-FM), which is part of the Galaxy Communications; and Visions Federal Credit Union, which is headquartered in Endwell in Broome County.
The companies that are headquartered outside Central New York have locations and operations in the region.
A season ago, the Orange lost to Connecticut in the national-championship game, while Notre Dame captured the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament championship with a 68-57 win over Syracuse.
BJNN asked Orange senior guard Alexis Peterson if a larger-than-average crowd can help the team feed off the energy a bigger crowd can produce.
“It gets you going. It gets you feeling the energy. We feed off of energy from each other, so having the support from our fans … people that want to see us be successful … is great for us … we don’t want let them down. We want to give them a good show,” Peterson said.
The Orange women have won their last 17 games in the Carrier Dome, which is a program record.
Game promotions
The school has several promotions planned for the Syracuse-Notre Dame game.
Syracuse will provide the first 5,000 fans with a free Orange t-shirt. Fans can also participate in the ‘Cuse Carnival in the backcourt, featuring inflatables and games.
The Orange women will also host its annual alumni and team day. Syracuse plans to recognize former players during a halftime ceremony.
At the same time, the school says local basketball teams, including school and recreational leagues, can visit website cuse.com for information on complimentary tickets for the game.
Teams can also purchase tickets for $2 per person “to avoid waiting in lines on the day of the game,” according to the school.
In addition, the Syracuse University Women in Sports and Events group will host a pregame “Shoot for Success” panel, featuring ESPN personalities Gail Goestenkors and Pam Ward and ESPN coordinating producer Kate Jackson.
The event is free and open to the public with the purchase of a ticket to the game, the school said.
Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com
PHOTO CAPTION: The Syracuse University women’s basketball program on Wednesday said that 13 area companies had purchased group-ticket packages for the Orange women’s Feb. 19 matchup with Notre Dame. Syracuse is hoping the Atlantic Coast Conference matchup will draw a crowd that sets a new record for a Syracuse women’s game in the facility. Fans set the current women’s attendance record of 4,357 on Jan. 25, 2012 when Syracuse hosted powerhouse Connecticut. (Eric Reinhardt / BJNN)
