A record crowd of 30,715 were on hand at the Frozen Dome Classic in the Carrier Dome on the Syracuse University campus in Syracuse, New York on Saturday, November 22, 2014.
Nikon D7100/Tokina 11-16mm, 1/320s, f/3.5, ISO 900, EV +0.3, 13mm focal length, Intensify Pro.

Yes, this is the famous Carrier Dome and that is a hockey rink. Back in June, this was what the dream of the Syracuse Crunch’s owner, Chief Operating Officer and staff was. It became a reality last week as a dedicated team worked around the clock to construct a hockey rink in only four days to fit the Syracuse University owned facility’s event schedule window. Normally, such a job takes two weeks.

Syracuse Crunch and Utica Comets players face-off in the Frozen Dome Classic American Hockey League (AHL) game at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York on November 22, 2014.
Photo by Dennis Dunkman.
Nikon D700/24-70mm, 1/800, f/4, ISO 2000, EV +1.0, 35mm focal length, Intensify Pro.

The Frozen Dome Classic consisted of five hockey games played over two days. The Main Event was the game played between the Syracuse Crunch and, their upstate New York rivals, the Utica Comets. Both teams were playing their third game in four days. The players could feel this was a big game with over 30,000 people filling the Dome.  The energy from the huge crowd brought out the best in both teams. It was a close, hard fought game with the Crunch posting a 2 to 1 win much to the delight of the mostly Syracuse crowd. Great to see all the fans from Utica and Oswego, too.

Fans enjoying the Frozen Dome Classic from Section 336 at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York on November 22, 2014.
Nikon D7100, Tokina 11-16mm, 1/200s, f/5.6, ISO 2000, EV 0, 11mm focal length.

When there is a huge crowd for Carrier Dome basketball games and, in this case, hockey, the seating goes way back. You can still see the game but it is a LONG view.  I found some fans which were having a grand time. Central New York sports fans love a big event. Whether it be the first AHL outdoor game which the Crunch hosted back in 2010 or putting a hockey rink in the Carrier Dome. It was fantastic to see them all…30,715 strong, rocking the Carrier Dome like SU was beating Georgetown in the old Big East basketball conference.

How did the Frozen Dome Classic come about? Watch this video…