The Bill Belichick era begins Monday night in Chapel Hill.
Kickoff between North Carolina and TCU is set for 8 p.m. Monday at Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill. The game airs on ESPN.
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“We’ve had a long preseason and it’s time to focus on the game that’s upcoming,” Belichick said on Aug. 27. “[I’m] looking forward to the preparations on that.”
Monday night’s primetime game marks Belichick’s collegiate coaching debut. The 73-year-old won six Super Bowls as head coach of the New England Patriots in the NFL.
“We’ve had some high-energy, highly anticipated games before, but I don’t remember anything like this,” said UNC Senior Associate Athletic Director Rick Steinbacher.
It’s been quite the offseason.
UNC hired Belichick in December 2024 on a five-year, $50 million contract after unceremoniously firing Mack Brown. The first three years of Belichick’s contract are guaranteed.
Belichick can terminate his deal with UNC on June 1, 2025, if he pays the university a buyout of $1 million. It would cost Belichick $10 million if he left UNC before June 1, 2025.
Belichick and his 24-year-old girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, made headlines after April’s “CBS News Sunday” morning interview. During the interview, Hudson interrupted a question about how the couple met.
Plus, there is a crew filming footage for the Hulu documentary series on UNC football set to air this fall.
“It’s Bill Belichick,” Steinbacher said. “[There is] so much excitement [and] so much enthusiasm.
“There's just so much hope and optimism about this new era under coach Belichick, and to be able to have his first game at Carolina in Keenan on a Monday night, which we've never done before, I can't remember anything quite like this.”
North Carolina has 70 new players on this year’s team. It includes starting quarterback Gio Lopez, who transferred to UNC from South Alabama.
Here’s a look at the gameday festivities in advance of the game:
Chapel Thrill Game Day
North Carolina is launching a new series of game-day events to complement fans' excitement for a new era of UNC football, calling it Chapel Thrill Game Day.
Steinbacher mentioned UNC Deputy Athletics Director and Chief Revenue Officer Rick Barakat for helping launch the new game-day experience. UNC hired Barakat in March.
“Rick Barakat, who joined our team a couple of months ago, just came up with an awesome vision of, ‘Hey, let's take what makes us unique,’” Steinbacher said. “Polk Place, the Bell Tower, the amphitheater out in front of the football center.
“We don't have huge surface parking lots, but we do have beautiful grassy areas. Let's do something bigger and better.”
Here is the schedule for Monday:
- 4 p.m.: Modelo Kick Off Club, Coca-Cola Fan Zone and tailgating open: The Modelo Kickoff Club will double in size and move to a premium position in front of the stage within Polk Place. The Kickoff Club remains the perfect spot for fans to grab a drink before the game. Entry is free, and alcohol will be available for purchase. The Coca-Cola Fan Zone is located in the pit and is a place for fans to grab giveaways and enjoy fun activities for all ages. The area will feature kids' activities, golf simulators, bounce houses, sponsor activations, autograph sessions with UNC athletes, a large LED screen and more.
- 5:20 p.m.: The Old Well Walk begins: About two and a half hours before kickoff, the team will walk from the Old Well through Polk Place and around the Bell Tower to Kenan Memorial Stadium, allowing fans enjoying Chapel Thrill Game Day to cheer players on as they prepare for the game.
- 5:45 p.m.: Chase Rice Chapel Thrill Concert Series presented by the Rams Club
- 6:30 p.m.: Kenan Stadium gates open
- 7 p.m.: Marching Tar Heels perform at the Wilson Library
- 7:30 p.m.: Last call for Coca-Cola Fan Zone and Chapel Thrill
- 8 p.m.: Kickoff
“Having Chase Rice kick it off, I love Chase,” Steinbacher said. “He was a player here when I worked in football. [I] know him well [and am] super proud of him. So [I’m] really thankful that he was willing to kick it off for us.”
Rice played from 2005-2008 as a linebacker at UNC.
Steinbacher said country music star Eric Church will attend Monday’s game. Church is not expected to perform, Steinbacher said.
UNC Deputy Athletics Director and Chief Revenue Officer Rick Barakat spoke Monday with WRAL Sports investigative reporter Brian Murphy about the “Chapel Thrill” pregame tailgating experience.
“It’s been an army working on this thing,” Barakat said. “It’s certainly been a full-campus effort.”
“We’re trying to take advantage of what we started over the last couple of years down at the Bell Tower,” Barakat said. “Amplify that. Take it up to another level. Give the fans and enhance the experience that really represents the big commitment that UNC has made to coach Belichick and UNC football.
“So, we want to have one of the best game-day atmospheres in the ACC, and that starts today.”
On Monday, Barakat declined to name the other music artists set to perform before UNC football games this fall. He said the university plans to announce the lineup in the next week.
Several other celebrities are expected on Monday in Chapel Hill, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel. It includes Michael Jordan, Mia Hamm, Lawrence Taylor, Julius Peppers and Blake Snell.
UNC fan Brad Kraut was excited for Monday’s game and discussed the team’s preparation of the season.
“They’re getting up. Getting out of bed. Push-ups, jumping jacks, running in place. Going straight to that weight room. Pumping iron. Going on the field. Hitting those sprints. Hitting the pads. Boom!” Kraut said. “Yeah, I think these guys are ready.”
How to get TCU @ UNC tickets
UNC has sold out each home football game for Belichick’s first season.
In July, UNC said it was the earliest that all tickets for the season had been sold out.
As of Monday, fans could still get individual tickets for less than $100 on SeatGeak, StubHub and Ticketmaster before taxes and fees. However, prices have fluctuated.
“Season tickets are sold out,” Steinbacher said. “Tickets are sold out. Every single premium area is going to be slammed.
“If all that translates to this new stuff in Chapel Thrill, we're gonna have an awesome crowd.”
Going to the UNC game? Here are a few things to know
UNC has transitioned to digital tickets for all athletic events.
Also, transactions at Kenan Memorial Stadium are cashless.
Parking for UNC-TCU in Chapel Hill
Public parking availability and pricing are for standard-sized vehicles. Only one vehicle is allowed per space, according to UNC’s website.
Taxi services, including Uber and Lyft, may drop and pick up passengers along the South Columbia Street bus lane between Manning Drive and South Road.
On its website, UNC lists the Branson Street Parking Lot, the Cardinal parking Lot, Hibbard Drive Parking Lot, ITS Franklin North Parking, Jackson Parking Deck, Manning Parking Lot, South Chiller Parking Lot and the Spangler Complex Parking Lot.
Public parking payment is by debit/credit card (VISA, Mastercard, Discover), Apple Pay or Google Pay.
Pre-paid public parking was available for purchase online in advance of the game. Fans with pre-paid parking are asked to display their phone or have a printed permit.
Pre-paid parking for the remaining UNC home games will go on sale on the following dates:
- Richmond: Sept. 3
- Clemson: Sept. 19
- Virginia: Oct. 10
- Stanford: Oct. 24
- Duke: Nov. 7
UNC’s clear bag policy
Carolina Athletics encourages fans to leave all bags at home, but the following items will be allowed into Kenan Stadium:
• Any clear plastic or vinyl bag no larger than 12 inches x 6 inches x 12 inches, including gallon freezer bags.
• Small clutch purses no larger than 4.5 inches x 6.5 inches.
• Necessary medical items following inspection at entry gates.
• Up to two unopened 20-ounce or smaller bottles of water per person and empty drink containers that can be filled up at drinking fountains.
Seat cushions are not allowed to be longer than 16 inches wide.
Click or tap here to read UNC's clear bag policy.