T he athletic department’s decision to postpone its renovations of the Smith Center should be welcomed.
The department is putting plans to renovate the Smith Center or build an entirely new arena on hold while it evaluates the uncertain economic landscape that all schools now face, said Steve Kirschner, a spokesman for the athletic department. Kirschner cited legislative and legal issues as major roadblocks to the renovations.
In December, the department discussed plans to add luxury suites to the Smith Center. The suites would cater to Rams Club members.
In the future, any renovations made to the Smith Center should focus on putting more students closer to the court. This would not sacrifice the stadium’s authenticity, as the Carolina Athletic Association has disingenuously posited in the past.
When Carmichael Arena was renovated in 2010, the athletic department footed the bill by raising the athletic student fee to help pay for construction.
If student fees are being used to pay for renovations, the renovations should cater to students’ needs. Given the Smith Center’s size, students seem to be poorly represented in the crowd.
While the athletic department is taking a break from discussing plans for renovations, it should consider economical ways it can get more students in the stands for basketball games.
For example, if the department decides to move forward with its plans to construct luxury suites, they could designate the other section of seating behind the away team’s basketball goal as student seating.
