The Dean E. Smith Student Activities Center (commonly known as the Dean Smith Center, Smith Center, or the Dean Dome) is a multi-purpose arena in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, used primarily as the home for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Tar Heels men's basketball team. The university began to inquire about building a standalone arena for the men's basketball team beginning in the mid-1970s, but due to an ongoing university wide investigation, the fundraiser halted until its conclusion. In June 1980, the fundraising began with a goal of at least $30 million and a target completion date for the building of December 1984. It was initially planned to be called the Student Activities Center; however, after its announcement it began to be referred to as The Dean Dome and it was speculated it would be named for then coach Dean Smith. The fundraising concluded in August 1984 with over $33 million raised, but construction would not be finished until 1986. The day before the opening game on January 18, 1986, against the Duke Blue Devils, the building was officially announced to be named the Dean E. Smith Student Activities Center, while a formal dedication happened later in September. In 2018, the hardwood floor of the Smith Center was named for then coach Roy Williams.
Land was cleared in a wooded ravine on the southern part of campus and necessitated of rock to be dynamited out. The building is , built on and contains three levels. There are two levels for seating, an upper and lower level, from which the furthest viewing distance is . The Dean Dome has been renovated several times since its opening which has included the likes of new video boards, video ribbon along the upper level edge, seats, lighting, and sound. In addition, the locker rooms and office space have all been upgraded. Throughout the years the capacity has been adjusted through the removal of box seating for traditional seating and the addition of a standing student section behind one of the goals. The future of the arena is questioned due to a variety of issues stemming from a narrow concourse, limited storage, and a desire to have premium seating to earn more revenue. The issue is further complicated by the fact the Smith Center was privately funded and the seats paid for by the initial donors carry two full generations, which limits any possible renovation, but could be circumvented by building a new arena.
Through the 2025–26 season, the Tar Heels have played 41 seasons in the Dean Smith Center and have earned over 500 victories and under 100 losses. Despite their home success, the crowd has often been criticized for being dull and un–involved, which has been credited to the seating arrangement created by the above–mentioned donors which has limited the ability of the students to use the lower level and create noise. In addition to basketball, the venue has been used to host several concerts, graduations, sporting events, and a speech by Barack Obama when campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Background and history
thumb|The inside of the Dean E. Smith Student Activities Center pictured during Summer 2006.|alt=The inside of an arena.
After the Tar Heels won the national championship in 1957, there were thoughts of building a big venue for the Tar Heels to play basketball in. However, when the state refused to fund a completely new arena, Carmichael Auditorium was built as an annex to Woollen Gymnasium and the Tar Heels began to play there in 1965-66 season.
During the mid-1970s, the university began to investigate building a self-standing arena. However, the university was in the middle of a fundraising campaign called the Carolina Challenge and Chancellor Ferebee Taylor and the board of trustees did not want a campaign to build a venue to compete with the school campaign. When the Carolina Challenge ended in 1979, work on the new arena began again when a 25-member committee was created to head the project. The building was designed to be used for the men's basketball team, graduations, concerts, and exhibits.
Smith stated publicly "We all know that we can use that money better to help the University," and $32 million. Donations again increased significantly in 1984 when exact seating was being determined.
Harrell stated that any donations over $5,000 secured the life-long right to purchase seats at the venue, while a gift over $10,000 would grant tickets for two generations. $33.8 million, $34 million, $34.8 million, $35 million, The hardwood floor of the Dean Smith Center was named for head coach Roy Williams on August 24, 2018, thus becoming the Roy Williams Court. Williams on the honor stated "It's very hard to believe; it's just so flattering," and wanted to thank his former and current players "because they made the plays." Advertising was first allowed starting in later 2005 when the university reached an eight deal with Wachovia Bank. The signage would be placed with the large video boards in arena's corners, along with other sports venues that the campus had. Athletic director Bubba Cunningham commented that the four separate video boards were chosen rather than a central, hanging video board, in part, because it would ruin the "open feel" as well as obscure the view of the rafter's banners that display retired and honored jerseys, national championships, and other accomplishments.
The initial capacity for the Dean Smith Center was 21,444, which made it the third largest on-campus arena for the 1985-86 college basketball season.
Future
The arena was considered state-of-the-art in 1986; however, despite frequent renovations and updates, there are many issues with the building regarding its large number of seats, limited storage due to the lack of rock dynamited out in the west end, and its narrow concourse. In November 2015, Cunningham told the media that the school had been looking at renovating the Smith Center to add premium level seating and reducing the overall capacity by potentially 4,000 seats or building a replacement structure. This project would also be privately financed through donations and athletic department revenue, but not with state taxes. If the school were to renovate the Smith Center, it would continue the lifetime season ticket obligations for patrons or the second generation of the patrons that donated to the Smith Center's initial funding. A potential replacement arena would have to be built on a new site and would require a lot more money; however, it would allow for luxury seating to increase revenue and would eliminate the lifetime seating rights. Should those holding the lifetime season tickets wish to keep their rights, they would then be required to make a significant donation, rather than a minimal donation as they do currently to maintain the tickets. A new arena would greatly increase revenue through yearly seat licensing, and therefore help all athletic programs through the increase in revenue that would then increase the total athletic budget.
The 250-acre Carolina North campus approved in 2009 was being considered in 2024 as a possible site for a replacement arena. In 2025, the planned arena was expected to have 16,000 seats and one plan called for a 25,000-seat UNC Colosseum for cricket. If the university chose renovation of the existing Dean Dome, the roof alone would cost an estimated $80 to $100 million.
Basketball atmosphere
The crowd energy in the Smith Center has been criticized periodically since its opening. Early criticisms noted that Carmichael Auditorium was cozier and louder, and subsequent criticism focused on older fans dominating the lower level as well as inconsistent fan energy despite frequent large crowds and top-level college games.
As early as 1987, a writer for The Daily Tar Heel stated the Smith Center and the university's on-campus football stadium, Kenan Memorial Stadium "usually [resembled] tombs more than athletic arenas." A year later, another Daily Tar Heel writer attended a high school basketball game in the Smith Center and noted that with only 80% of the lower level filled, the fans in attendance made more noise than the Carolina fans made in their home game against NC State that season. Following a victory by Florida State, Seminole Sam Cassell was quoted as calling the fans in attendance "like a cheese and wine crowd." Years following the game, Cassell elaborated on his comments stating that the older alumni–who primarily sat close to the court–weren't loud and stated that the students then sitting in the upper levels were making noise, but their effect was limited as they were higher up. Since Cassell made the comments, the words have commonly been incorrectly remembered and people tend to refer to the Smith Center crowd as a "wine and cheese" crowd. After the Tar Heels defeated then top-ranked Ohio State in 2006, Buckeyes coach Thad Matta stated, "I think I've never been in a building that was as loud as that building was at times." However, the crowd still is known to be quiet and following a road loss to the Indiana Hoosiers in 2016, then coach Williams stated "Gosh. I'd like to play in front of a crowd like that in the Smith Center every night other than the frickin' Duke game."
thumb|right|The Smith Center shown on February 15, 2014, when the [[2013–14 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team|Tar Heels hosted the Pittsburgh Panthers in the Smith Center's first "Stripe Out". The Tar Heels won the game 75–71.|alt=A stadium filled with people.]]
Home–court advantage
The Dean Dome has become known for the home–court advantage the Tar Heels possess. Through the 2021–22 season's completion, Carolina teams had played 37 seasons in the arena. Across those seasons, the Tar Heels have played 534 games where they amassed 451 wins against 83 losses, for a win percentage of 84.5%. In five of the 33 seasons, the team has gone undefeated in all contests at the Smith Center, while the team has only lost more than three games in a single season at the Smith Center six times. North Carolina's only season with a losing record at home in the Smith Center was 2001–02 when the Tar Heels went 6–9.
Other uses
The first concert to be hosted in the Smith Center was Kenny Rogers on April 12, 1986. Performance Magazine named the Dean E. Smith Center as the "Venue-of-the-year" in 1987. In addition, Pollstar Readers named it the "Best New Major Concert Venue." The Smith Center hosted many concerts between its opening and 1995, hosting the likes of Pink Floyd, Garth Brooks, Bon Jovi, Guns N' Roses, INXS, R.E.M., Bruce Springsteen, Grateful Dead, Rush, and more. On April 28, 2008, senator and Democratic presidential candidate hopeful Barack Obama held a rally in the arena before the North Carolina primary on May 6. Obama spoke in front of 18,000 wearing a Carolina blue tie while encouraging those to vote early and addressed topics like affordable college and the war in Darfur.
See also
- List of NCAA Division I basketball arenas
- List of indoor arenas by capacity