Syracuse to play three football games at Meadowlands
Photo credit: AP | Syracuse head coach Doug Marrone talks with Mike Owen (85) and Dalton Phillips (79) before a team picture at Syracuse media day last week.
Syracuse University and the new Meadowlands stadium announced Tuesday that the Orange will be hosting games at the future home of the Giants and Jets in 2012, 2014 and 2016.
Syracuse is scheduled for three games at the stadium, starting with USC on Sept. 8, 2012. The Orange will also host Notre Dame on Sept. 27, 2014, and Sept. 3, 2016. More games are possible.
"We're very excited to have the opportunity to host the student athletes from Syracuse, their coaches, the administration, their staff and their many thousands of fans to the new Meadowlands stadium in 2012 and beyond," said Mark Lamping, CEO of New Meadowlands Stadium Corporation.
Talks began between the two sides about a year ago, and an agreement was eventually made to bring Syracuse football to the Meadowlands and to fans who may not be able to travel to the Carrier Dome, Syracuse's on-campus venue.
"We are the [only] BCS school in the state of New York," said Daryl Gross, Syracuse's director of athletics. "We really feel it is a responsibility of ours to represent this area, not just in Syracuse, but all of New York and the metropolitan area."
The Orange also hope that the games will help broaden their recruiting to areas around New York City.
"The Meadowlands is an NFL venue," Gross said. "If you are a player or a recruit, you want to play in the NFL venue. I think that is a fabulous opportunity."
The new Meadowlands stadium could host college football games on a yearly basis. It is scheduled to host Notre Dame versus Navy in 2010. Discussions are already under way about bringing a bowl game to the stadium, as well.
"We're in active discussion with a number of schools," Lamping said. "We are really looking for those big-time college games."
The new Meadowlands stadium, scheduled to be completed in 2010, will seat 82,500, including 9,500 club seats and 22 luxury suites. It will be the third-largest stadium in the NFL.
