An iconic concert and sports venue in Central New York is set to undergo a “major interior transformation.”
Upstate Medical University Arena at The Oncenter War Memorial will undergo improvements beginning this summer, Onondaga County, ASM Global Syracuse and the Syracuse Crunch announced together Tuesday. The upgrades will be unveiled in the fall, ahead of the War Memorial’s 75th anniversary and the start of the 2026-2026 AHL hockey season.
Changes include brand-new lower bowl seating, improved accessibility, and expanded event spaces to “elevate the sports and entertainment experience” for fans, guests and event organizers alike. Onondaga County will contribute $2.6 million towards the project.
“The entertainment, tourism and hospitality industries are a vital part of our local economy,” Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said in a statement. “As a growing community, it is more important than ever that we continue to make strategic investments in this space.”
The new seating from the Irwin Seating Company will be high-quality permanent seats with more space, cushioned seats and backs, vinyl upholstery, cup holders and a color scheme to match the existing upper bowl seating. ASM Global, which manages the Oncenter and other venues like the Empower FCU Amphitheater at Lakeview, said Irwin’s seats are currently featured in top NHL, NBA, MLB and NFL venues across the U.S.
Sample seats are currently being displayed near Guest Services on the second floor. Fans can test them out during Crunch games or by appointment.
Upstate Medical University Arena at The Oncenter War Memorial is the home of the Syracuse Crunch, the AHL affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team.Scott Thomas
Additional improvements include expanding wheelchair access to nearly double ADA seating capacity in Section 123 for Crunch hockey games. Lower bowl seating in front of the stage will also be removed to create a new, flexible event area with retractable seating added to the stage, allowing for multiple configurations to accommodate different groups.
Upstate Medical University Arena, which first opened in 1951 as the Onondaga County War Memorial, is a 6,700-capacity venue that hosts Syracuse Crunch games and a variety of other events, including ice shows, family shows, car shows, concerts, conventions and other events. The venue was renamed in 2019 when Upstate Medical University purchased the naming rights.
Notable events at the venue include the Syracuse Nationals’ 1955 NBA Championship victory, the 1961 NBA NBA All-Star Game, two NCAA Frozen Four tournaments, and scenes filmed for the 1977 Paul Newman movie “Slap Shot.” Famous artists who’ve performed at the arena include Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Frank Sinatra, Tom Petty, New Kids On The Block, James Taylor, and comedian Kevin Hart.
Frank Sinatra singing at the Onondaga County War Memorial on Oct. 16, 1976. Called a “very special night” in a Herald American review, the only blip was the lighting early in the show. After Sinatra wordlessly “glared” at the guy in the press box the issue was settled. Dick Blume/The Post Standard SYRSYR