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The Smith Center “Arena Committee” did not come up with much new.
According to a recent update on UNC’s Master Plan for facilities, “An Arena committee has been working with multiple consultants over the past six months to evaluate multiple options for the Smith Center, including renovation of the existing arena or new construction at locations on and off campus.”
Their work has involved “analysis of costs, future earnings, site conditions and stakeholder input.” That input included a survey for various alumni and season ticket holders to say what they could afford to contribute for expansion or a new building.
The internal Arena committee is made up of administrators, trustees, faculty, alumni and student representation to review renovation ideas and possible sites to construct a new Smith Center.
That committee came up with three potential locations that have all been suggested by wags on social media. They are obvious because there aren’t more feasible sites. Renovation is also on the table, along with leveling the arena and starting over, either of which would require the team to play off campus for at least three seasons, maybe more.
The “off campus” idea is best for access and egress but worst for engagement with the town and students, who have made a tradition of walking to games.
The exact next step is unknown. Maybe architectural firms contract to develop ideas, drawings and budgets for each option or to make substantial renovations to the iconic 38-year old hoops palace, where Roy Williams coached three national championship teams in his 18 seasons.
Every 10 years or so, the idea regenerates despite the hundreds of thousands (maybe millions?) of dollars spent to make the Dean Dome a great place to watch basketball once patrons are in their seats after gnarly traffic outside and a jammed concourse inside.
We’ve heard building it in the Bowles Lot adjacent to the Smith Center. That could have lower and upper concourses, private suite boxes and more room on the ground floor that only goes half around in the current arena. But unless that came with raising the old building for a high-rise deck, parking and traffic congestion would remain unsolved.
Other possible locations that you have heard about or seen on various posts are where the Friday Center now sits, Odum Village behind hospital parking decks and the land where the old Chapel Hill airport sat and the Carolina North campus was once planned. That, like the Friday Center, could have better entry and exit access and more parking, but both are “off campus” and force students to bus or drive there for games.
As for the money, we are starting at about maybe a half billion for extensive renovations and more for brand new construction compared to the $36 million price the Smith Center cost in the 1980s.
Or maybe disband the committee and table the idea for another 10 years?
Featured image via UNC/Jon Gardiner
Art Chansky is a veteran journalist who has written ten books, including best-sellers “Game Changers,” “Blue Bloods,” and “The Dean’s List.” He has contributed to WCHL for decades, having made his first appearance as a student in 1971. His “Sports Notebook” commentary airs daily on the 97.9 The Hill WCHL and his “Art’s Angle” opinion column runs weekly on Chapelboro.Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
It would be such a tragedy to reconstruct a new arena off campus. Chapel Hill needs to preserve it’s local, college town flavor. This is driven by the students. Look to Miami’s football stadium as a warning sign. If anyone revamps the Smith Center – do it right – relocate the team for 3-5 years, demolish the Smith Arena, and build a timeless, neoclassical masterpiece that reflects Chapel Hill’s vibrant, beautiful nature. Put the most driven, enthusiastic students back on top on the floor. And, for gawd’s sake, paint it Carolina blue, not navy.
Leave it like it is, just put some powder on the nose (dome).
Any solution that doesn’t favor the students is a waste of money.
Why do we have sports teams?
Can we just accept that the only solution that makes sense is the Bowles lot? Build a new arena there, call it the Willliams-Smith Center, and the team can continue in the Dean Dome until it’s complete. Don’t build something far away. Students must be allowed to walk to games as they have since the dawn of the program. Also, I really hope they don’t sacrifice too many seats for the rich man “premium” luxury boxes. I love that we have over 21,000 seats.
The campus is THE campus, and what a wonderful place for students and the community. And Chapel Hill is Chapel Hill! The students and faculty are what make the place happen. We COULD build a facility anywhere, but will it resonate with the people and make Carolina a more vibrant place? Do we change things to “cater to the cars?” Lastly, would a new facility EVER pay for itself, be convenient for the students, and can’t we use a half-a-billion dollars for OTHER things more important than a building?