New Addition to Campus Skyline: JMA Wireless Dome Sign Installation to Begin

Rendering of the new JMA Dome sign.

The campus and greater Syracuse communities will start to notice a new distinctive element being added to the campus skyline. Workers are beginning today to install the official JMA Wireless Dome signs on the facility’s crown truss and exterior.

First letter of the JMA Dome installed.

In May, Syracuse University and JMA Wireless (JMA) announced a 10-year partnership for naming rights of the University’s iconic on-campus stadium. For the first time since the venue opened its doors in 1980, the stadium has a new name, only the second in its history—the JMA Wireless Dome, referred to as the JMA Dome.

“Much like the enhancements to the signage inside the JMA Dome, the exterior sign installation is another exciting moment in our partnership with JMA Wireless,” says John Wildhack, director of Athletics. “These new signs are a visible display of Syracuse University’s proud partnership with JMA Wireless, two organizations that have a deep-rooted commitment to the Central New York community.”

Letter “A” being affixed to the crown truss.

The signs were designed by Geiger Engineers in Suffern, New York, and are being fabricated and will be installed by JPW Companies, a local company, located on Thompson Roadin Syracuse.

“We are proud to work with a local company to fabricate these signs made from steel sourced right here in the U.S.,” says Vice President and Chief Campus Facilities Officer Pete Sala.

Some facts on the main JMA Dome sign to be installed include the following:

• The westward-facing sign will be attached to the crown-truss portion of the JMA Dome’s roof and will be 2,220 square feet, approximately the same size as two basketball courts.
• It will stand approximately 200 feet off the ground and become one of the largest stadium signs in the country.
• It will weigh in at 68,500 pounds, which translates to 32 tons or the weight of 17 cars.
• Standing 47 feet tall, including the JMA rings, it will be slightly taller than the iconic Hollywood sign in California.
• The letters alone will be 7.5 feet tall, which is about the size of the Statue of Liberty’s index finger.
• Two cranes are required for the installation due to the size and sheer mass of the signs.

Additional smaller exterior signs will be installed in the future, above select gates and will be 28 feet tall each.

Steel fabricated letter “J.”

The new partnership between Syracuse University and JMA Wireless, the continuing transformation of the JMA Dome and the impact of the Dome’s enhancements on the Syracuse University community and more broadly Central New York was outlined earlier this year.

To allow for this continued work, the upper sidewalk on the west side of the JMA Dome, between the two sets of stairs, will continue to be closed. Additionally, the Irving Avenue pull-off (across from Dineen Hall) and the adjacent sidewalk will be closed. This will provide the contractors a safe location to unload and assemble the signage. All pedestrians will be required to use the sidewalk on the west side of Irving Avenue during this time. Accessible pathways up to campus will not be affected.

To allow for the assembly and disassembly of the aforementioned cranes, there will also be required closures of Forestry Drive. These closures will be for approximately two days each: one occurred in mid-January (for assembly) and one in February (for disassembly). Short additional closures may be required to lower the crane to the ground during high wind events. During each of these Forestry Drive closures, other roads on the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry campus will remain open.