The Future of the Dean Dome: Tradition, Stewardship and Carolina Basketball's Next Chapter

Armstrong Williams
Wed, 04 Mar 2026 12:31:34 -0800
Opinion

The debate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill over whether to renovate or relocate off campus the Dean E. Smith Student Activities Center has become far more than a facilities discussion. It has ignited petitions, drawn tens of thousands of signatures, and stirred deep emotion among alumni, students, players and fans.

For many, this is not about concrete and steel. It is about identity.

Carolina basketball is not a side enterprise; it is foundational to the university's national reputation. The program that elevated stars like Michael Jordan and was shaped by the leadership of coaches Dean Smith and Roy Williams helped place UNC on the global stage. Its championship banners rival those of the University of California, Los Angeles, long considered the gold standard of collegiate basketball dominance. The visibility, prestige and cultural impact of Carolina basketball cannot be overstated.
Updated: Wed Mar 04, 2026

The debate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill over whether to renovate or relocate off campus the Dean E. Smith Student Activities Center has become far more than a facilities discussion. It has ignited petitions, drawn tens of thousands of signatures, and stirred deep emotion among alumni, students, players and fans.

For many, this is not about concrete and steel. It is about identity.

Carolina basketball is not a side enterprise; it is foundational to the university's national reputation. The program that elevated stars like Michael Jordan and was shaped by the leadership of coaches Dean Smith and Roy Williams helped place UNC on the global stage. Its championship banners rival those of the University of California, Los Angeles, long considered the gold standard of collegiate basketball dominance. The visibility, prestige and cultural impact of Carolina basketball cannot be overstated.

Some critics argue that reducing seating from roughly 21,000 to closer to 16,000 feels like diminishing the very engine that built the brand. UNC consistently ranks among the national leaders in basketball attendance, averaging more than 20,000 fans per game. To shrink capacity, they argue, sends the wrong message for a program whose fan base spans generations. Why reduce seating, they ask? Who gets left out?

For a passionate minority, the emotional intensity has even reached symbolic comparisons to moments in the university's civil rights history, recalling when Charlie Scott, the first African American scholarship athlete at UNC, faced discrimination in Chapel Hill. While the contexts are vastly different, the analogy reflects how deeply some feel that altering the Dean Dome represents more than a construction decision. To them, it feels like denying access to tradition itself.

Yet beneath the symbolism lies a harder economic truth: Modern college athletics has become a sophisticated business ecosystem driven by television contracts, donor suites, NIL collectives and recruiting infrastructure.

UNC competes at the highest tier alongside programs such as Kansas, Duke, Kentucky and Indiana. In this environment, facilities are strategic assets. Premium seating generates donor leverage. Upgraded concourses enhance the fan experience. Modern locker rooms and training facilities influence recruiting decisions. Broadcast presentation matters in the era of national branding.

At its core, this debate comes down to money and long-term vision.

Opponents question whether a public university should prioritize arena projects while students face rising tuition and faculty advocate for greater academic investment. They worry that athletics continues to overshadow academics. Those concerns deserve serious engagement.

Supporters counter that elite basketball programs fuel the broader university ecosystem. Successful seasons drive applications, alumni engagement, merchandise sales and fundraising across departments. Athletic visibility enhances institutional prestige in ways few other university programs can.

The central question then becomes: Build new, or renovate wisely?

The Smith Center's structural framework remains strong, and its size and history are assets few programs can replicate. Yet some believe that relocation, rather than renovation, may ultimately offer the clearer long-term solution. A new arena could be designed from the ground up to meet modern expectations for technology, premium seating, fan experience and revenue generation while positioning Carolina basketball for the next generation of college athletics.

Reducing seating capacity, whether through renovation or relocation, may not necessarily be about exclusion but instead about financial optimization. Luxury boxes and premium hospitality areas often generate significantly more revenue per seat than traditional upper-deck seating. In today's economics, some believe that 16,000 strategically monetized seats could outperform 21,000 less profitable ones.

But perception matters. Carolina basketball has always been about accessibility: students, families and lifelong fans filling a vast sea of Carolina blue. Any future plan must protect that spirit. If the student section shrinks, or ticket prices limit access for long-time supporters, the backlash will only intensify.

Politics inevitably shapes the conversation. State funding, board oversight, donor influence, and name, image and likeness structures intersect with any major capital decision. In an era of heightened scrutiny toward higher education spending, arena projects can quickly become symbolic battlegrounds over priorities.

Yet refusing to adapt carries risks as well. College basketball's competitive landscape is accelerating. Facilities influence recruiting. Presentation affects brand perception. Standing still can mean falling behind.

Ultimately, this debate is not simply between tradition and progress. It is about stewardship.

Carolina basketball helped place UNC on the global map. Its banners, alumni, former players and international reputation are inseparable from the university's identity. Any decision regarding the future of the Smith Center must honor that legacy.

Whether through thoughtful relocation or a carefully executed modernization, the path forward must be transparent, financially responsible and protective of access for students and fans. It must strengthen, not dilute, the culture that made Carolina basketball iconic.

Handled wisely, this moment can preserve the soul of Carolina basketball while positioning it for the future. Mishandled, it risks deepening division.

The challenge is balance: honoring what built the brand while ensuring that Carolina basketball remains not just historic but competitive.