Upstate Medical University Arena

{{Infobox venue

| stadium_name = Upstate Medical University Arena

| fullname = Upstate Medical University Arena at Onondaga County War Memorial

| logo_image = 100px

| image = 250px

| caption = Exterior of the venue (c.2008)

| pushpin_map = New York#USA

| address = 515 Montgomery Street

| location = Syracuse, New York

| coordinates = {{Coord|43|2|41|N|76|8|54|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| pushpin_map_caption = Location within New York##Location within the United States

| pushpin_relief = 1

| pushpin_label = Upstate Medical University Arena

| mapframe = no

| broke_ground = October 22, 1949{{cite news |title=Memorial Opening to Make History|url=http://media.syracuse.com/news/other/Freddie.pdf|newspaper=The Post-Standard|location=Syracuse, New York|page=23|date=September 12, 1951|access-date=February 20, 2012}}

| opened = September 12, 1951{{cite news |title=Around...Our Town And Country|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tcpGAAAAIBAJ&sjid=r3oMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6319,3832023&dq=en|newspaper=Warsaw Times-Union|date=October 11, 1951|location=Warsaw, Indiana|access-date=September 22, 2011|volume=97|issue=240|page=2}}

| renovated = {{hlist|1994|2018}}

| owner = Onondaga County

| operator = ASM Global

| surface =

| construction_cost = $3.7 million{{cite news |title=Cities to Vote on Bonds Issues over Billion|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/498202412.html?dids=498202412:498202412&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Nov+05%2C+1951&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=CITIES+TO+VOTE+ON+BOND+ISSUES+OF+OVER+BILLION&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108032416/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/498202412.html?dids=498202412:498202412&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Nov+05,+1951&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=CITIES+TO+VOTE+ON+BOND+ISSUES+OF+OVER+BILLION&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 8, 2012|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=November 5, 1951|access-date=September 22, 2011}}
{{small|(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|3719000|1949}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})}}

| architect = Edgarton & Edgarton

| structural engineer = Ammann & Whitney

| general_contractor = W. E. O'Neil Construction Co.

| former_names = Onondaga County War Memorial (1951–1999)
Oncenter War Memorial Arena (2000–2019)

| tenants = Syracuse Warriors (AHL) (1951–1954)
Syracuse Orange men's basketball (NCAA) (1951–1952; 1955–1962)
Le Moyne Dolphins men's basketball (NCAA) (1951–1952; 1955–1957)
Syracuse Nationals (NBA) (1951–1963)
Syracuse Blazers (EHL/NAHL) (1967–1977)
Syracuse Eagles (AHL) (1974–1975)
Syracuse Firebirds (AHL) (1979–1980)
Syracuse Crunch (AHL) (1994–present)
Syracuse Smash (NLL) (1997–2000)
Syracuse Soldiers (AIFL) (2006)
Syracuse Silver Knights (MASL) (2011–2018)

| seating_capacity = 7,000
{{Collapsible list|expand=|framestyle=|titlestyle=|title=Detailed capacity{{cite web|url=https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:b9b20dbf-997e-4d13-b8d0-994194d1b464|title=War Memorial Arena: Seating Capacities|author=|date=March 19, 2020|website=The Oncenter Official Website|publisher=ASM Syracuse|access-date=June 1, 2019|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210404084638/https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:b9b20dbf-997e-4d13-b8d0-994194d1b464%23pageNum=2|archive-date=April 4, 2021|via=Adobe Document Cloud|url-status=live}}|liststyle=|hlist=|bullets=|Concerts (in the round): 7,200|Concerts (end stage): 6,800|Banquets: 1,340|Assembly Hall: 350|Hockey: 5,800}}

}}

The Upstate Medical University Arena (originally known as Onondaga County War Memorial and later as the Oncenter War Memorial Arena) is a multi-purpose arena located in Syracuse, New York. It is part of the Oncenter Complex. Designed by Edgarton and Edgarton and built from 1949 through 1951, the structure is significant as an example of a World War I, World War II and Aroostook War commemorative{{cite web |title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Onondaga County War Memorial|first=Kathleen|last=LaFrank|url=http://www.oprhp.state.ny.us/hpimaging/hp_view.asp?GroupView=6369|publisher=State of New York|date=October 1988|access-date=May 2, 2009}}and [http://www.oprhp.state.ny.us/hpimaging/hp_view.asp?GroupView=6204 Accompanying 21 photos, exterior and interior, from construction through 1988] and as "an early and sophisticated example of single-span thin-shell concrete roof construction." It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. The Upstate Medical University Arena has been renovated twice, in 1994 and 2018.

Naming rights

On December 20, 2019, Onondaga County, Upstate Medical University, and the Syracuse Crunch announced an 11-year sponsorship agreement that includes naming rights of the Upstate Medical University Arena at Onondaga County War Memorial. The sponsorship also includes health programming and the continuation of Upstate's sponsorship with the Syracuse Crunch.{{cite web|url=https://syracusecrunch.com/news/2019/12/20/onondaga-county-upstate-medical-university-syracuse-crunch-announce-upstate-medical-university-arena-at-onondaga-county-war-memorial.aspx|title=ONONDAGA COUNTY, UPSTATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY, SYRACUSE CRUNCH ANNOUNCE UPSTATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY ARENA AT ONONDAGA COUNTY WAR MEMORIAL|publisher=Syracuse Crunch|access-date=December 20, 2019}}

Tenants

The Upstate Medical University Arena is home to the Syracuse Crunch ice hockey team.{{cite web|url=https://www.localsyr.com/news/local-news/war-memorial-undergoes-renovations-ahead-of-syracuse-crunch-season/|title=Onondaga County War Memorial Stadium Renovations Ahead of Syracuse Crunch Season|date=11 July 2018|publisher=Local SYR|access-date=December 23, 2019}}

Previous teams to call the War Memorial home included the NBA's Syracuse Nationals, the NLL's Syracuse Smash, the Major Arena Soccer League's Syracuse Silver Knights, and several now-defunct American Hockey League teams. The Nationals defeated the Fort Wayne Pistons in a deciding seventh game at home to win the 1954–55 NBA Championship. The War Memorial also hosted the NBA All-Star Game in 1961{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/history/all-star/1961|work=NBA.com|title=1961 NBA All-Star recap}} and the NCAA Frozen Four in 1967 and 1971.{{cite news|title=Boston University Championship Teams|url=http://www.goterriers.com/documents/2015/4/27/ncaa-championship-teams.pdf|publisher=Boston University Terriers}} The Syracuse Orange women's ice hockey occasionally play their games at the arena, having played 13 games there since 2008.{{cite news |last1=Wilcox |first1=Timmy |title=SU ice hockey's return to Upstate Medical Arena reflects strong bond with Syracuse Crunch |url=https://dailyorange.com/2024/02/su-hockeys-return-upstate-arena-bond-syracuse-crunch/ |access-date=8 February 2024 |work=The Daily Orange |date=8 February 2024}}

The 1977 film Slap Shot included the War Memorial among the various arenas used as shooting locations for in-game action.{{cite news |title=Remembering a Legend|url=http://www.syracuse.com/today/index.ssf/2008/09/remembering_a_legend.html|newspaper=The Post-Standard|location=Syracuse|date=September 28, 2008|access-date=June 10, 2014}}

File:Stp 20170609 156 aurora2017 hdrjpg 34394421614 o (40542565882).jpg

Notable events

The arena played host to four games of the 1954-55 NBA Finals and hosted the pivotal Game 7 where the Nationals beat the Fort Wayne Pistons 92–91.{{Cite web|last=Kirst|first=Sean|date=2015-04-10|title=NBA championship, 60 years ago today: Syracuse Nats beat Pistons, become world champions|url=https://www.syracuse.com/kirst/2015/04/nba_championship_60_years_ago_today_syracuse_nats_beat_pistons_become_world_cham.html|access-date=2021-05-12|website=syracuse|language=en}}

Syracuse also hosted the NBA All Star Game in 1961.{{Cite web|title=1961 NBA All-Star recap|url=https://www.nba.com/history/all-star/1961|access-date=2021-05-12|website=www.nba.com|language=en}} Three of the Syracuse Nationals players were on the team.

The Onondaga County War Memorial was home to the annual NYSPHSAA wrestling tournament in 1968, from 1970 to 1972, and then for 29-straight years, 1974–2003.{{cite web |url=http://www.nysphsaawrestling.com/history.html |title=NYSPHSAA Wrestling Championships - Tournament History |access-date=2013-02-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109090933/http://nysphsaawrestling.com/history.html |archive-date=2014-01-09 }} The championship event has since been hosted by various venues around the state.

Professional wrestling has also experienced its share of history at the War Memorial. Shortly after completion of filming of the WCW-produced film Ready to Rumble, actor David Arquette won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship title on April 26, 2000, in a taping of the company's weekly Thunder broadcast, which is often cited as being the first legitimate sign of the demise of WCW. It also hosted the first WWF In Your House pay-per-view in 1995.{{cite web|url=http://www.profightdb.com/cards/wwf/in-your-house-premiere-40.html|title=WWF In Your House: Premiere|publisher=The Internet Wrestling Database|access-date=February 1, 2016}} In April 1998 the arena hosted WWF Monday Night Raw.{{cite web|url=http://www.profightdb.com/locations/united-states/new-york/syracuse/oncenter-war-memorial-arena-340.html|title=Oncenter War Memorial Arena, Syracuse, New York, United States|publisher=profightdb.com}} The arena occasionally hosts WWE house shows.

The American Hockey League's Syracuse Crunch have hosted the AHL All-Star Classic twice (1998, 2016) and reached the Calder Cup Finals in 2013 and 2017.

The arena hosted the opening ceremonies and several games of the 2015 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship from September 18 to 26, 2015.{{cite press release |title=Lacrosse is Coming Home to Onondaga Nation |url=http://filacrosse.com/lacrosse-is-coming-home-to-onondaga-nation/ |website=Federation of International Lacrosse |date=2 April 2015}}

It is also a prominent concert venue in the region, which includes various Queen, KISS, Bruce Springsteen, The Grateful Dead, Phish, Heart and Aerosmith shows among numerous others over the years. The venue was included among the stops on Bob Dylan's legendary 1965 electric tour with The Hawks.{{cite web|url=http://www.bobdylan.com/date/1965-11-21-war-memorial/|title=NOV 21, 1965 Syracuse, NY War Memorial|publisher=Bobdylan.com|access-date=15 April 2020}}Elvis Presley also performed at the venue, July 25 and 26, 1976. An audience recording featuring both shows was released in 2015 under the title Onondaga Nights.

The Oncenter War Memorial Arena was the first professional hockey arena to install LED lighting in 2012, provided by Ephesus Lighting.{{Cite web|last=Newcomb|first=Tim|date=July 1, 2015|url=https://www.si.com/nhl/2015/07/01/NHL-AHL-hockey-arena-led-lighting-makes-ice-look-brighter|title = How LED lighting in NHL arenas is making game better|website=Sports Illustrated}}

On top of the arena's stage are the words, "In memory of our service veterans."

The War Memorial was also used as a vaccination and testing site during the COVID-19 pandemic.