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via syracuse.com
For basketball recruits lucky enough to have an offer from the Orange, Syracuse can entice him with another impressive feature: the Carrier Dome was named the second-best college basketball venue in the country by StadiumJourney.com (Rupp Arena at the University of Kentucky was ranked the top college basketball venue).
Orange Nation has worked hard for this ranking, and it is well deserved. Syracuse basketball is consistently a successful program, and it is the pride and joy of Central New York. One of the biggest successes for the university is the power of the men’s basketball team. Not only does it prove to be big for undergraduate recruitment, but it’s huge for athletes, too. Playing in the Dome gives the basketball players the opportunity to play in front of large crowds. Other than the thrill of it all, it helps prepare them for the next step. These players have the chance to play in front of a crowd of 35,000 and that is an experience they want. Having 18,000 people supporting you is one thing, but nearly 30,000 is something just a bit more special.
This is another advantage for the university in its annually recruiting process. Not only does the team have winning seasons under Jim Boeheim, but the crowds and continued support for SU also contribute to bringing some of the best talent to the Dome. Although the players come to get better and hopefully make it to the next step, they’re still putting on a show for the fans. This ranking has just as much to do with Boeheim’s strong recruiting.
The recent change to the ACC will bring more recruits, but this ranking shows how successful the program already is. The Duke game brought out the largest crowd in the history of the Dome for an on-campus college basketball game. For a high school kid on the line between schools, watching a game at the Dome and being one of the fans who contribute to this ranking is something worth experiencing at least once.
Syracuse has a legacy of winning and success. The Loud House gets its name because of the crowds. Being named the second-best college basketball venue in the country is good right now—and it may only get better. Coach Boeheim believes his Class of 2015 is his best class ever, and that could draw more people to the Dome.
If that is the case, do not be surprised if the ranking jumps a spot. 
Posted by: Austin Pollack
