Pittsburgh Skyline

The buildings making up the downtown Pittsburgh skyline are all lit as part of the city's annual light up night festivities in 2011. A Central New York man suggests Syracuse should light up downtown during the NCAA tournaments in March.

(AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - You could say a light bulb came on for Jay Bauer.

He had an idea to market Syracuse that seemed simple until he started knocking on doors at City Hall and other power places.

Jay Bauer, of Clay, wants to "Light Up Syracuse" during the NCAA basketball tournament games in March.

Bauer wants Syracuse to leave the lights on as thousands of visitors leave the Carrier Dome after the NCAA East Regional basketball games March 27 and 29.

Imagine the view, he said, if every office tower, hospital, government building, restaurant and downtown business turned on its lights those Friday and Saturday nights.

Bauer turned his idea into a video presentation and shopped it around to staff at Syracuse University, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner and Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney.

"We can turn on the lights and it costs nothing. It takes five minutes for the mayor or the county executive to call a press conference and say this is what we're going to do," he said.

He tried to get attention on Twitter from Gov. Andrew Cuomo, U.S. Rep. John Katko and David Muir, the ABC World News Tonight anchor and former Syracusan.

So far, the most promising response came from Mahoney Tuesday in a live chat on Syracuse.com.

Bauer asked: "Do you support "Light Up Syracuse?" Are you willing to call a press conference to proclaim it and promote it during the NCAA weekend March 27-29th?"

Mahoney mentioned her efforts to light up Columbus Circle as symphony and theater patrons leave events at the Civic Center.

"I imagine that a full-scale lighting could do even more and we will look into it," Mahoney wrote.

David Holder, president of the Syracuse Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the idea has a lot of merit. But his staff is already focused on many other moving parts for that weekend. They are training volunteers to greet people at the airport and hotels. There will be shuttle buses to take people from Armory Square and Destiny USA to the Carrier Dome. Other volunteers will man the bus stops to give directions and information.

The games are expected to attract tens of thousands of people who could spend up to $7 million.

Holder said building momentum for an idea is not as simple as holding a press conference.

"I think we've got to put that in our pocket as a community and hold onto that and use it for another event, or make an event around that, a celebration of Syracuse," Holder said.

Bauer has already scaled back his original idea. At first, he thought the city should launch fireworks when the games ended. When someone suggested the cost of extra fire personnel, he looked into lasers instead.

With only 7 days before tip off, Bauer would be happy if everyone simply flipped on their light switches.

Bauer lost both of his parents before the age of 10 and was raised by an aunt and uncle in Syracuse. He left for a teaching career in New Jersey and retired to Clay because of the low cost of living.

He said he never lost his passion for the city he says "saved my life."

People who know me know that I use the phrase "God. Family. Syracuse."

After he moved, Bauer would return to Syracuse for basketball games and other events. He has written letters to the editor to defend the city against other visitors who were less than impressed.

He said the most passionate people about Syracuse are often those who moved away and realize what they have left behind. Some of those people will be here to watch the games as well as the fans of the teams that make it to the NCAA semi-finals.

People who can afford spur-of-the-moment plane tickets and hotel rooms are the kinds of wealthy visitors he believes could come back and invest in Syracuse businesses.

He said the lights would also bring Syracusans out to participate. He said the residents of Pittsburgh look forward to a similar event around the holidays.

"I think 'Light Up Syracuse' is as much about Syracuse seeing ourselves in a different light as it is for all the visitors who are going to come to Syracuse and see it lit up," he said. "Why not just turn on the lights?"

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