Syracuse Crunch, Onondaga County agree to new 12-year lease extension

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Syracuse Crunch, Onondaga County, and arena manager SMG have agreed to a new, 12-year lease extension that will ensure the Crunch continue to play home games at the Onondaga County War Memorial Arena through the 2029-30 season.

As per Crunch policy, terms of the lease extension were not disclosed during the Friday afternoon announcement at the War Memorial.

SMG is short for Service Management Group, a Kansas City, Missouri–based firm that handles management of the Onondaga County War Memorial Arena.

Friday’s announcement comes a day before the Syracuse Crunch are set for their 25th home opener on Saturday, hosting the Charlotte Checkers at 7 p.m.

The lease extension is a “great moment” for the Syracuse Crunch, team owner Howard Dolgon said in his remarks at a Friday press conference at the War Memorial.

“We had a six-year lease remaining, but the fact that this commitment was made was instrumental and important for us to make the commitment for 12 years. We had no problem doing it,” said Dolgon.

The first commitment Dolgon was referring to was the $8.5 million in renovations that continue at the War Memorial.

Joining Dolgon for Friday’s announcement was Ryan McMahon, the current chairman of the Onondaga County Legislature, which has appointed him to soon assume the duties of Onondaga County Executive.

The renovation project at the War Memorial prompted the need for a renegotiated lease, McMahon said in response to a BJNN reporter’s question.

“We invest [in the team] yearly, but we weren’t going to invest $8.5 million of the public’s money [in the arena] without a long-term commitment [from the Crunch],” he added.

McMahon will take over as Onondaga County Executive once current County Executive Joanie Mahoney vacates the position to become COO with the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

Dolgon also noted the work of Onondaga County Deputy County Executive William Fisher “who really has his finger prints all over our lease and this building.”

“The SMG management team at the Onondaga War Memorial are thrilled to execute a long-term lease agreement with Syracuse Crunch,” Matt Hollander, SMG’s general manager at the War Memorial, said in a Syracuse Crunch news release about the lease extension. “Today’s lease signing ensures that professional hockey will continue to enhance the quality of life for Onondaga County residents for many years to come.”

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com