Sports in Syracuse

=History=

Syracuse, New York is a top-division minor-league city. Its teams include the Syracuse Chiefs of AAA Baseball and the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL. Syracuse has had top-level pro teams in the past, but these have failed. Most notable are the Syracuse Nationals, a NBA team which played seventeen seasons in Syracuse (1947-1963) before moving to Philadelphia to become the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Syracuse Stars which became a Major League Baseball team in 1879 but didn't finish their first season.

The most attended sporting events in Syracuse are those of the Division I Syracuse University Orange. Its Carrier Dome can hold over 33,000 and 50,000 people, for basketball and football respectively, making it the largest domed stadium in the Northeastern United States and the largest on a college campus. Especially the Orange's basketball games have been making use of the Dome's capacity over the past few years. The third most attended college sporting events are lacrosse games. The Syracuse University Orange often draw over 6,000 fans, while the Division II Le Moyne College Dolphins are very popular as well. In 2004 both teams won their respective divisions' national championship.

Professional Teams

* Syracuse Chiefs (International League affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays) Stadium: Alliance Bank Stadium
* Syracuse Crunch (American Hockey League affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets) Arena: War Memorial at Oncenter

College Teams

* Syracuse University Orange (NCAA Division I-A)
** Men's
*** Basketball
*** Crew
*** Cross Country
*** Football
*** Lacrosse
*** Rowing
*** Soccer
*** Swimming/Diving (Removed 2007)
*** Track & Field
** Women's
*** Basketball
*** Cross Country
*** Field Hockey
*** Lacrosse
*** Soccer
*** Softball
*** Swimming/Diving (Removed 2007)
*** Tennis
*** Track & Field
*** Volleyball
*** Ice Hockey (Added 2007)
* Le Moyne College Dolphins (NCAA Division II)
** Men's
*** Baseball
*** Basketball
*** Cross Country
*** Golf
*** Lacrosse
*** Soccer
*** Swimming/Diving
** Women's
*** Basketball
*** Cross Country
*** Lacrosse
*** Soccer
*** Softball
*** Swimming/Diving
*** Tennis
*** Volleyball

National Championships

* 1878: Syracuse Stars: International Association (AAA Baseball) Pennant
* 1955: Syracuse Nationals: NBA World Champions
* 1959: Syracuse University Orange: NCAA Division I-A Football National Champions
* 1983: Syracuse University Orange: NCAA Division I Lacrosse National Champions
* 1988: Syracuse University Orange: NCAA Division I Lacrosse National Champions
* 1989: Syracuse University Orange: NCAA Division I Lacrosse National Champions
* 1990: Syracuse University Orange: NCAA Division I Lacrosse National Champions **
* 1993: Syracuse University Orange: NCAA Division I Lacrosse National Champions
* 1995: Syracuse University Orange: NCAA Division I Lacrosse National Champions
* 2000: Syracuse University Orange: NCAA Division I Lacrosse National Champions
* 2002: Syracuse University Orange: NCAA Division I Lacrosse National Champions
* 2003: Syracuse University Orange: NCAA Division I Basketball National Champions
* 2004: Syracuse University Orange: NCAA Division I Lacrosse National Champions
* 2004: Le Moyne College Dolphins: NCAA Division II Lacrosse National Champions
* 2008: Syracuse University Orange: NCAA Division I Lacrosse National Champions

"Note: Up until 2004 Syracuse University's teams were called the Orangemen and Orangewomen. They are now both known as the Orange."

** After the 1990 championship, the NCAA Committee on Infractions determined that Paul Gait had played in the 1990 championship while ineligible. Under NCAA rules, Syracuse and Paul Gait’s records for that championship were vacated. The NCAA does not recognize Syracuse and Coach Roy Simmons Jr.’s 3-0 record, and Paul Gait’s 7 goals, 7 assists and his participation in that championship. (http://www.ncaasports.com/lacrosse/mens/history)