Why Are Hundreds of Fans Bringing Garbage Bags To Syracuse Basketball Games?

Have you heard of the garbage bag tradition at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse? Why are hundreds of fans bringing garbage bags to the dome for each Syracuse Orange men's basketball game?

There are many traditions in college and professional sports. For example, in the National Hockey League, Detroit Red Wings fans throw octopuses on the ice for good luck. In Syracuse fans bring garbage bags but it has nothing to do with good fortune for the team.

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Recently I scrolled upon an Instagram video showing countless Syracuse fans sitting in the stands of the JMA Wireless Dome surrounded by garbage bags. Most bags, on seats and under seats, looked stuffed full like they were ready for the trash can. The caption of the video reads "A tradition like no other." #ifykyk.

Guess what? I don't know, so a brief explanation would have been great. Take a look at this video and scroll down for the answer to why Syracuse fans bring garbage bags to games.

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According to epicgrilledchees on Reddit, "It’s super cold walking to and from the dome. There’s not a coat check at the dome. So people bring clean garbage bags for their coat to put in. Then under their seats on the floor. If you hung it off your seat it would be on the floor behind you and it would get walked on."

It appears this "tradition" started before the dome was renovated. In the older days fans sat on benches and had nowhere to store winter coats so they brought bags to protect them from the wet of snow melt, ice melt and the occasional spilt beer.