Syracuse, N.Y. – Construction at the Carrier Dome has limited the time Syracuse students can spend camping in “Boeheimburg” to secure prime spots for tickets to Saturday’s men’s basketball game against Duke.

Usually, said Otto’s Army president Kennedy Hagens, students begin the camping process about a week before a big game. But with construction workers building the bones of a new Dome roof, people in general have been discouraged from roaming the property during non-game days.

“They wanted to minimize the amount of students that are around the construction,” Hagens said, “and we got word that we would only be able to do it for one day around a week or two ago.”

Students seats are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and for big games, students are encouraged to show up early, pitch their tents and anticipate front-row seats and the national television exposure they guarantee.

Otto’s Army, SU’s student-led cheering command, outlines the rules for securing premium tickets to Saturday’s 8 p.m. Duke game. This year, there’s an interesting incentive.

Students who attend Thursday’s home SU women’s basketball game vs. Virginia Tech will be placed on a list that dictates when students enter the dome and slots their seating order for the Duke men’s game. It also prioritizes camping arrangements.

The higher students are on the list, the greater their chances of securing a camping spot in the well of Gate E. (Hagens describes it as “a cave.”) Lower list numbers mean more camping exposure to the Syracuse elements on the outside concourse of the Dome.

Syracuse student Ariel Wadarcyk works on homework in her tent at the makeshift “Boeheimburg” at the bottom of Gate E of the Carrier Dome Tuesday evening as she and about 40 others are camped out to get good seats for the game against Duke Wednesday night. Wadarcyk and her friend, Ryan Turf camped out Sunday night. Photo by N. Scott Trimble | Post-Standard. SYRSYR

“Students have to check in with us at the beginning of the (SU women’s) game and they have to stay through to the end of the women’s game because we’re also trying to support the women as well,” Hagens said. “They need to stay and check in with us at the end of the women’s game to ensure that they have that spot. Then there will be one more check-in at 6 p.m. Friday at Gate E to make sure people are still in the same groups. And that will be another opportunity for people to be added to the list if they didn’t come to the women’s game.”

Hagens, a 21-year-old SU senior from Bowie, Md., majoring in public health, said this will be her fourth year camping in “Boeheimburg.” There are camping rules that dictate how many students can band together to form groups that allow members to drift in and out for the duration of the campout. (One member of the group must be present at all times.) There are check-in deadlines with dire end-of-the-line consequences for those who fail to meet them. And this year, there is a suggestion that a break from noon to 3:15 on Saturday be used to shower.

The 8 p.m. Saturday date with Duke is particularly alluring, Hagens said, because it sets up a Syracuse basketball/Super Bowl weekend of sports partying.

“For me, the campout is particularly attractive, one because of the coveted seats that you get,” Hagens said. “But then the experience itself, you’re surrounded by people who have the same interests as you – people who love sports. We really do have a good time during the campout. You’ll see people bring like the type of games you’ll see at cookouts like cornhole, mini-basketball courts. People have speakers. It’s almost like camping out with your friends that you haven’t really met before. You start talking to people, sharing snacks and stuff.”

Donna Ditota is a reporter for the Syracuse Post-Standard and Syracuse.com. Got a comment or idea for a story? Reach her at dditota@syracuse.com.

Syracuse has sold more than 31,000 tickets for Saturday’s Duke game

Watch: Mike Krzyzewski screams at Cameron Crazies for taunting former Duke player and coach

Thanks for visiting Syracuse.com. Quality local journalism has never been more important, and your subscription matters. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.