No more Dean Dome? UNC studying on- and off-campus sites for new basketball arena

The University of North Carolina's men's basketball team has called the Dean E. Smith Center home for nearly 40 years. How much longer is anybody's guess.

The university is weighing whether to build a new stadium, perhaps at an off-campus location, for its men's and women's basketball programs.

The school plans to spend $150,000 on a consultant to study university-owned sites for a potential new arena, which would house "all needs of the men's and women's basketball programs," including a competition court, practice gyms, team locker rooms, offices, meeting spaces and lounges.

"It is anticipated that between three and five different sites will be studied, and that these sites will comprise locations both on and off the main university campus property, though all within Chapel Hill," according to a university project brief.

UNC requested bids from consulting firms in February and expected to have a firm in place by this month.

The men's basketball team has played its games at the 21,750-seat Dean E. Smith Center since it opened in 1986. The $34-million arena, built with donations from more than 2,300 donors, has undergone renovations throughout the years.

The women's basketball team plays at Carmichael Arena, which also is home to the school's volleyball, gymnastics and wrestling programs. The men's team used to play in the gym, which now has a capacity of 6,822.

Both facilities are on campus and easy to get to for students. There is significant parking available near the Smith Center or "the Dean Dome," as it is known by UNC fans. Renovating the Smith Center is also under consideration.

"In order to continue our championship success, we are investigating and analyzing multiple options for the arena — including renovating the Smith Center, keeping the building as-is, and building new," UNC's athletics department said in a statement to WRAL.

"Our goal is to create the best experience possible for Tar Heel student-athletes and fans while potentially generating more revenue for the department and enhancing the university community," the department said. "Carolina is an innovative place that thrives on excellence both in the classroom and on the court; to continue that standard of excellence, we must examine all options."

In a potential new facility, the school "seeks to create a dynamic environment that supports the planned academic uses, and where appropriate, additional mixed-use development that provides university and community benefit along with additional revenue opportunity," the project brief says.

UNC wants the consultant to provide site studies, site plan and massing study, a parking, traffic and transportation study, a market study and a feasibility analysis, including cost and revenue implications for each site.

Students who spoke with WRAL on Tuesday said they hope the men's basketball team remains at an on-campus venue.

"I really like that the Dean Dome is on campus," said Dylan Slowik, a first-year student. "I think it makes it easier for students to get there and cheer on the team."

Said UNC first-year student David Hix: "I love the Dean Dome. That's kind of sad to think that games might not be played there anymore. I'd probably rather see them renovate it just because the Dean Dome is kind of a special place."

College and professional teams have sought to reduce capacity at venues in recent years, but to increase premium seating options and update other fan amenities. Facilities have been a key recruiting tool in college athletics, though their importance in the name, image and likeness era is now a matter of some debate.

Raleigh's PNC Arena, which is home to NC State's men's basketball team and the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes, is set for a $300-million renovation beginning in the summer of 2025. The renovation is being funded with revenue from a tax on hotel stays and prepared food and beverage collected by Wake County and Raleigh. PNC Arena opened in 1999.

In 2024, Baylor, which won the national title in 2021, opened a new 7,000-seat basketball arena that cost $213 million and took 20 months to build.

The University of Washington is breaking ground on a $60 million practice facility for its basketball programs.

WRAL's Sarah Krueger contributed reporting from Chapel Hill.