View source for Sports in Syracuse

{{short description|Overview article}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2014}}
[[File:NBTBankStadium1021.jpg|thumb|right|300px|[[NBT Bank Stadium]] is home to the [[Syracuse Mets]]]]

[[Syracuse, New York]], United States, is a top-division, minor-league and college sports city. Teams include the [[Syracuse Mets]] of [[Minor league baseball|AAA Baseball]] and the [[Syracuse Crunch]] of the [[American Hockey League|AHL]]. The most attended sporting events in Syracuse are those of the [[NCAA Division I]] [[Syracuse University]] [[Syracuse Orange|Orange]].

==Professional teams==
[[File:Onondaga County War Memorial side.jpg|thumb|[[Upstate Medical University Arena at Onondaga County War Memorial|War Memorial at Oncenter]], venue for the [[Syracuse Crunch|Crunch]]]]
{{Main article|Syracuse Mets|Syracuse Crunch}}

The Syracuse Mets, who play in the [[International League]], are a AAA [[Minor League Baseball]] affiliate of the [[New York Mets]].

The Syracuse Crunch are an [[American Hockey League]] affiliate of the [[Tampa Bay Lightning]].

== History ==

Syracuse has had several top-level pro teams. Most notable are the [[Syracuse Nationals]], an [[NBA]] team which played 17 seasons in Syracuse (1947–1963) before moving to [[Philadelphia]] to become the [[Philadelphia 76ers]]; and two different [[Major League Baseball]] teams: the [[Syracuse Stars (National League)|Syracuse Stars]] of the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] in 1879, which didn't finish their first season; and the [[Syracuse Stars (American Association)|Syracuse Stars]] of the [[American Association (19th century)|American Association]] in 1890.

=== Baseball ===
[[File:Syracuse Stars 1877.JPG|thumb|[[Syracuse Stars (National League)|Syracuse Stars]] baseball team, 1877]]
Syracuse has been represented in [[professional baseball]] for all but four years since 1877, when the [[Syracuse Stars (National League)|Syracuse Stars]] competed in the [[League Alliance]], an early minor league. Syracuse fielded two [[Major League Baseball|major league]] versions of the [[Syracuse Stars (AA)|Stars]]: in the {{baseball year|1879}} [[National League (baseball)|National League]] and the {{baseball year|1890}} [[American Association (19th century)|American Association]]. Apart from those seasons, however, the Stars were members of high minor leagues such as the Eastern League (forerunner to the International) and the [[New York State League (1885-1917)|New York State League]] through 1917. From 1918 to 1927, the Stars competed in the [[International League]] and were an early [[farm system|farm team]] of the [[St. Louis Cardinals]]. In 1928 the IL franchise moved to [[Montreal, Québec|Montreal]] and became the [[Montreal Royals]]. The Stars moved down one classification to the [[New York-Pennsylvania League (early 20th century)|New York–Penn League]] for 1{{fraction|1|2}} seasons before moving to nearby [[Utica, New York|Utica]].<ref name="encyc of milb">Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, eds., ''The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball'', 3d edition. Durham, N.C.: [[Baseball America]], 2007</ref>

=== Basketball ===
{{See also|Philadelphia 76ers#1946-1963: Syracuse Nationals}}
[[File:Syracuse Shot Clock Monument.jpg|thumb|The basketball [[Shot clock#Creation|shot clock]] was invented and first used by the [[Syracuse Nationals]].]]

Syracuse was from 1946 until 1963 home to the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]]'s '''Syracuse Nationals''', which are now the Philadelphia 76ers. They played 17 seasons in Syracuse and won the NBA championship in 1955. The NBA's [[24-second clock]] was invented in and first came into use in Syracuse. In March 2005 the city dedicated a monument to this fact. It is a 125% scaled model of the original shot clock used.

The [[Syracuse Stallions]] were founded in 2017, and played in the [[American Basketball Association (2000–present)|American Basketball Association]] (ABA) and [[The Basketball League]] (TBL) before folding in 2023. 

The Syracuse Upstate Trojans played a single season in the [[American Basketball Association (2000–present)|American Basketball Association]] (ABA) from 2023 to 2024. They rebranded as the Syracuse Monarchs for the 2025–26 ABA season.<ref name="g559">{{cite web | last=Ditota | first=Donna | title=CNY group brings pro basketball to Syracuse. Monarchs will hold tryouts | website=[[Syracuse.com]] | date=July 30, 2025 | url=https://www.syracuse.com/sports/2025/07/cny-group-brings-pro-basketball-to-syracuse-monarchs-will-hold-tryouts.html | access-date=August 16, 2025}}</ref>

=== Cycling ===
{{Main article|History of cycling in Syracuse, New York}}

=== Football ===

Syracuse had a professional football team from 1890 to 1900 known as the '''Syracuse Athletic Association''',<ref>[http://www.twobillsdrive.com/buffalo-bills-history/articles/october_12_1892_syracuse_university_vs_syracuse_athletic_association/ Crippin, Ken. (2008, October 11). "October 12, 1892: Syracuse University vs. Syracuse Athletic Association,"] TwoBillsDrive.com. Accessed: July 6, 2014.</ref> the independent All-Syracuse team which was known in 1921 as the '''[[Syracuse Pros]]''' in the [[National Football League|American Professional Football Association]] before leaving the league and reverting to the All-Syracuse team, and briefly in the [[1936 American Football League season]] known as the Syracuse Braves.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billsbackers.com/1936.htm |title=History of Pro Football in Western New York-1930s |publisher=Billsbackers.com |access-date=2011-01-28}}</ref>

In 1902, the first '''[[World Series of Football (1902–03)|World Series of Football]]''' was played at New York's original Madison Square Garden. The five teams in the tournament were the New York Knickerbockers, Syracuse AC, Warlow AC, the Orange (New Jersey) AC, and New York. Syracuse won the tournament 6–0 with [[Glenn Scobey Warner|Glenn (Pop) Warner]] at guard.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.profootballhof.com/history/general/chronology/1869-1939.jsp |title=History: Chronology (1869 to 1939) |publisher=Profootballhof.com |access-date=2011-01-28}}</ref> The December 28, 1902, game where Syracuse defeated New York 5–0 at Madison Square Garden is credited as the first indoor pro football game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.profootballhof.com/history/story.jsp?story_id=1476 |title=History Story » Football Firsts |publisher=Profootballhof.com |access-date=2011-01-28}}</ref>

The '''Syracuse Express''' were established in 1984, and were members of the Mid Continental Football League, before that league contracted into the Midwest. They joined the upstart New York Amateur Football League (NYAFL), where they became one of the league's premier teams, along with their rivals, the Buffalo Gladiators. After absorbing the Cortland Warriors, in 1999 the team became the Central New York Express, although they still played their games in suburban Syracuse. The Express won one NYAFL title in 2003. The NYAFL merged to become the Northeastern Football Alliance and with the change, the team changed and was replaced by a new team named the Syracuse Shock.

Syracuse had a team for one season in the American Indoor Football League called the [[Syracuse Soldiers]].

Syracuse has a minor league football team, [http://www.syracusestrong.com/ Syracuse Strong].

=== Ice hockey ===
Syracuse has had several [[American Hockey League]] teams, which traditionally did not last longer than three seasons. The [[Syracuse Blazers]] began play in the [[Eastern Hockey League]] in 1973. The league disbanded in 1973; the team then affiliated with the [[North American Hockey League]]. 1994 marked the introduction of a new team, the [[Syracuse Crunch]], which have been playing at the [[Upstate Medical University Arena]] since.

=== Lacrosse ===
The [[Syracuse Spirit]] was a member of the [[American Lacrosse League (1988)|American Lacrosse League]], a short lived professional lacrosse league in 1988, based in Syracuse, New York. The Spirit played their home games at the Griffin Field in Liverpool, New York. The general manager of the Spirit was Tom Scofield and the head coach was Jim Booth. The Spirit had a 4–1 record when the league folded.

Syracuse had a team in the [[National Lacrosse League]] (NLL) called the [[Syracuse Smash]] for three seasons from 1998 to 2000. They moved to [[Ottawa]] in 2001 and became the [[Ottawa Rebel]].

=== Soccer ===
The first professional team in the city were the [[Syracuse Scorpions]], who played in the [[American Soccer League (1933–1983)|American Soccer League]] in the 1970s.  The [[Syracuse Salty Dogs]] existed for two seasons (2002–2004) until folding due to financial problems. The game attendance had been among the highest in the [[USL First Division|A-League]]. The [[Syracuse Silver Knights]] played in the [[Major Arena Soccer League]] from 2010 before moving to Utica and becoming [[Utica City FC]] in 2018.<ref>[https://www.syracuse.com/silver-knights/2018/06/syracuse_silver_knights_moving_to_utica.html Syracuse.com.  (June 2018).  "Syracuse Silver Knights Moving to Utica"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418154141/https://www.syracuse.com/silver-knights/2018/06/syracuse_silver_knights_moving_to_utica.html |date=April 18, 2021 }} Syracuse.com. Accessed:June 10, 2018.</ref>

== Venues ==
Sports venues in and around Syracuse include the following:

=== JMA Wireless Dome ===
[[File:Carrier Dome Basketball View.JPG|thumb|Basketball at [[Syracuse University]]'s [[JMA Wireless Dome]] stadium]]
{{Main article|JMA Wireless Dome}}

Syracuse University's JMA Wireless Dome can hold over 33,000 and 50,000 people, for [[NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship|basketball]] and [[college football|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, with the Orange at times drawing over 6,000 fans.

=== NBT Bank Stadium (baseball) ===
{{Main article|NBT Bank Stadium}}

=== Other indoor arenas ===

* [[Tennity Ice Skating Pavilion]], Syracuse University (ice hockey)
* [[Upstate Medical University Arena at Onondaga County War Memorial|Upstate Medical University Arena]] (ice hockey)

===Golf courses===
* [[Turning Stone Resort & Casino|Atunyote Golf Club]], Turning Stone Resort
* [[Burnet Park#Golf|Burnet Park Golf Course]]
* [[Syracuse University#Campuses|Drumlins Country Club]] (36-hole golf course)
* [[Green Lakes State Park#Golf course|Green Lakes Golf Course]]

===Ski areas and resorts===
* [[Bristol Mountain Ski Resort]], [[Canandaigua (town), New York|Canandaigua]]
* [[Four Seasons Golf and Ski Center]], [[Fayetteville, New York|Fayetteville]]
* [[Greek Peak Mountain Resort]], [[Cortland, New York|Cortland]]
* [[Highland Forest (county park)]], [[Fabius, New York|Fabius]] ([[cross-country skiing|cross-country]])<ref>[http://onondagacountyparks.com/highland-forest/ "Highland Forest,"] Onondaga County Parks. Accessed: January 8, 2014.</ref>
* [[Labrador Mountain]], [[Truxton, New York|Truxton]]
* [[Osceola Tug Hill Cross-Country Ski Center]], [[Osceola, New York|Osceola]]
* [[Song Mountain Resort]], [[Tully, New York|Tully]]
* [[Toggenburg Mountain]], Fabius

==College teams==

=== Syracuse University Orange ===
{{Main article|Syracuse Orange}}

[[Syracuse University]], [[NCAA Division I]]

{{div col}}
;Men's teams
* [[Syracuse Orange men's basketball|Basketball]]
* Cross Country
* [[Syracuse Orange football|Football]]
* [[Syracuse Orange men's lacrosse|Lacrosse]]
* Rowing
* [[Syracuse Orange men's soccer|Soccer]]
* Track & Field

;Women's teams
* Basketball
* Cross Country
* [[Syracuse Orange field hockey|Field Hockey]]
* [[Syracuse Orange women's ice hockey|Ice Hockey]]
* Lacrosse
* Rowing
* Soccer
* Softball
* Tennis
* Track & Field
* Volleyball
{{div col end}}

=== Le Moyne College Dolphins ===
{{Main article|Le Moyne Dolphins}}

[[Le Moyne College]], [[NCAA Division I]]

{{div col}}
;Men's teams
* Baseball
* [[Le Moyne Dolphins men's basketball|Basketball]]
* Cross Country
* Golf
* Lacrosse
* Soccer
* Swimming/Diving

;Women's teams
* [[Le Moyne Dolphins women's basketball|Basketball]]
* Cross Country
* Lacrosse
* Soccer
* Softball
* Swimming/Diving
* Tennis
* Volleyball
{{div col end}}

=== SUNY-ESF Mighty Oaks ===
{{Main article|SUNY-ESF Mighty Oaks}}

State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, [[USCAA]]

{{div col}}
;Men's teams
* Basketball
* Cross Country
* Golf
* Soccer
* [[Woodsman]]

;Women's teams
* Cross Country
* Soccer
* Woodsman
{{div col end}}

=== Onondaga Community College Lazers ===

[[Onondaga Community College]], NJCAA Division III

==National championships==
[[File:Mikey Powell.jpg|thumb|2004 [[Syracuse Orange men's lacrosse]], National Champions]]

;Baseball
* 1878: Syracuse Stars: [[International Association (baseball)|International Association]] (AAA Baseball) Pennant

;Basketball
* 1955: Syracuse Nationals: NBA World Champions
* 2003: Syracuse University Orange: NCAA Division I Basketball National Champions

;Field Hockey
*2015: Syracuse University Orange: NCAA Division I Field Hockey National Champions - 1st Women's program at Syracuse to win a national championship

;Football
* 1959: Syracuse University Orange: NCAA Division I-A Football National Champions

;Lacrosse
* Syracuse University Orange: NCAA Division I Lacrosse National Champions:
** 1983, 1988, 1989, 1993, 1995, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2009.
* 2004: Le Moyne College Dolphins: NCAA Division II Lacrosse National Champions
* 2016: Le Moyne College Dolphins: NCAA Division II Lacrosse National Champions
''Note: Until 2004, Syracuse University's teams were called the Orangemen and Orangewomen. Now they are known as the Orange.''

== See also ==
{{Portal|Sports}}

* [[Athletics in upstate New York]]
* [[History of lacrosse]]
* [[List of ski areas and resorts in the United States]]
* [[New York State Canalway Trail]]
* [[Ski country]]
* [[Sports in New York (state)|Sports in New York]]
* [[Sports in New York's Capital District]]
* [[Syracuse Orange baseball]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==

* {{Commons category-inline|Sports in Syracuse, New York}}
* [http://syracusebaseballhistory.blogspot.com/ Gersbacher, Ron. (2012). "History of Syracuse Baseball, 1858 to Present"]
* [http://www.syracuse.com/golf-courses/ Syracuse.com. "CNY Golf Course Guide: Searchable Guide of Local Golf Courses"]
* [http://www.onondagalazers.com/ Onondaga Community College Lazers]

{{Sports in Syracuse|state=expanded}}
{{Syracuse, New York}}
{{New York Sports}}

[[Category:Sports in Syracuse, New York| ]]