UNC considers Smith Center renovations

Several major universities have made changes to their basketball arenas in recent years, and UNC could follow suit.

While talks surrounding renovations to the Dean E. Smith Center have included the addition of luxury seating, they will also include possible upgrades to the student section, said Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham.

“People have asked if we can get more students closer to the court,” Cunningham said.

While Cunningham said renovations are in the early stage of discussion, some are wary of changes to student seating.

Tyler Tew, special projects chairman for the Carolina Athletic Association, said bringing students closer to the court might sacrifice the stadium’s authenticity. It could lead to the addition of luxury suites in order to compensate for the loss of courtside alumni seats.

“Putting in luxury suites puts the upper level really far from the court,” he said. “The Dean Dome feels special because our upper level is very close to the court.”

“It’s like 21,750 people are right on top of you when you’re playing.”

Tew said if the athletic department wants to put more students closer to the court, it should find another way to appease Rams Club members.

The University of Michigan added luxury seating and lower bowl seating during renovations to its basketball stadium, the Crisler Center, throughout the last two years.

“The fan experience has greatly improved,” said Associate Athletic Director of Facilities and Operations Rob Rademacher. “It’s an amazing facility now.”

In addition, Mark Cohen, the assistant athletic director for media relations at Texas Christian University said the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum in Fort Worth will experience similar changes as renovations take place in the next year.

“We’re going to be lowering the court and the seats will be lowered,” he said. “It’ll be a more intimate atmosphere.”

But not all universities are on board with making dramatic changes to student seating.

Mike Cragg, Deputy Director of Athletics for Operations at Duke University, said the upcoming renovations to Duke’s basketball arena, Cameron Indoor Stadium, would not affect student seating or alter the game day experience.

“Cameron itself will not change,” he said.

Cragg said Duke gradually renovated aspects of the arena, which seats more than 9,000, starting in 2000. In 2009 Duke repaired the end-zone bleachers reserved for graduate students in order to maximize numbers.

Tew said he felt Duke’s arena shares the collegiate feel of the Smith Center and that Duke would work to preserve that.

“Duke would never consider altering the way Cameron is set up,” he said.

Tew said he hoped the potential Smith Center renovations would maintain the collegiate feel the stadium currently boasts, rather than setting it up like an NBA stadium.

“When you’re in the Dean Dome, you truly feel like you’re in a college stadium.”

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