The Alhambra, formerly located at 275 James Street saw the first game of basketball in Syracuse played within its walls. Y.M.C.A. instructor Charles H. McCormick offered basket ball classes to local youths in 1892. Teams played 9 to a side and the games usually lasted for two 20-minutes halves. The game of basketball had already moved elsewhere in Syracuse before the building burned down on February 27, 1955, when it mainly was used as an opera house and contained several businesses and a few restaurants. Currently, I-690 runs right over where the building once stood.

 

 

The State Armory building located on West Jefferson St still stands today. It's building housed a court and enough room for a standing crowd of 3000+ spectators. The court often was referred to as "the prairie" due to it's size. Many of Syracuse's professional teams practiced and played at the drillshed. Today, the building houses the Museum of Science & Technology (MOST).

 

 

The State Fair Coliseum building was used for a couple of years after the Armory became unavailable as a ball court. Baskets on each end of the court were suspended on wires by the rafters and ceilings. The home fans would often shake he wires when the opposing team would shoot. The Syracuse Nationals used this building during the 1947-49 seasons while playing in the National Basketball League.

 

The Syracuse War Memorial building is still in use today for sporting and concert events. The Syracuse Nationals used the court here from 1949 until they moved to Philadelphia in 1963.