Upstate Medical University Arena sits at 515 Montgomery Street in downtown Syracuse, New York, inside the building long known as the Onondaga County War Memorial. Opened on September 12, 1951 after a two-year, $3.7 million construction project, the arena was designed by Edgarton & Edgarton with structural engineering by Ammann & Whitney, and its single-span thin-shell concrete roof earned it a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.
The venue has carried three names over its history: Onondaga County War Memorial from 1951 to 1999, Oncenter War Memorial Arena from 2000 to 2019, and its current title following an 11-year naming-rights agreement with Onondaga County, Upstate Medical University, and the Syracuse Crunch announced in December 2019. It remains one of the longest continuously operating arenas of its era in upstate New York.
- Philadelphia 76ers played here 1951–1963. See every 76ers arena →
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): Syracuse Crunch (AHL)
- Location: 515 Montgomery Street, Syracuse, New York
- Opened: September 12, 1951
- Capacity: about 6,700
- Operator: ASM Global
- Notable fact: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988
A Downtown Syracuse Landmark
Before it carried a university’s name, the building was the Onondaga County War Memorial, built to honor veterans of World War I, World War II, and the Aroostook War. Its distinctive curved concrete roof was considered an engineering achievement when it opened in 1951, and the arena became an anchor of downtown Syracuse’s Oncenter complex alongside the convention center and performing arts theater that share its block.
The arena’s basketball history runs deep. It was home to the Syracuse Nationals of the NBA from 1951 to 1963, and the team won the 1954–55 NBA Championship on its floor before relocating to become the Philadelphia 76ers. The building also hosted the 1961 NBA All-Star Game, two NCAA Frozen Four hockey tournaments in 1967 and 1971, and the 2015 World Indoor Lacrosse Championship.
Home of the Crunch
Since 1994, the arena has served as home ice for the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League, the top development affiliate for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Renovations in 1994 and 2018, along with a $4 million upgrade completed in October 2025 ahead of the building’s 75th anniversary, brought new lower-bowl seating, expanded accessible seating, and an upgraded sound system to the arena while preserving its landmark concrete roof structure.
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For upper-deck seats. Watch line play at the stadium, or the far side of the park from the top of a lift hill.
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Upstate Medical University Arena FAQs
Why is it called Upstate Medical University Arena?
Onondaga County, Upstate Medical University, and the Syracuse Crunch signed an 11-year naming-rights agreement announced in December 2019, giving the university’s medical center title sponsorship of the arena.
What was the arena called before?
It opened in 1951 as the Onondaga County War Memorial, was renamed Oncenter War Memorial Arena in 2000, and became Upstate Medical University Arena in 2019.
What is the arena’s seating capacity?
The arena seats about 6,700, following lower-bowl seating upgrades completed in October 2025 ahead of the Syracuse Crunch’s 2025-26 season.
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Photo: Crazyale / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.