The construction of a new basketball arena to replace the Smith Center would be foolish and wasteful of two of the University’s most valuable resources — money and tradition.
The current and potential problems, ranging from complaints about student seating to the age of the building, could easily be fixed by a much more cost-effective renovation.
The presence of lifetime seats does indeed pose a hindrance to a vast improvement in student seating. However, this is no reason to replace one of the most iconic buildings on the University’s campus. The introduction of lower-level student seating and fatheads has proven that improvement is possible within the confines of the Smith Center.
One of the determining factors in the construction of a new arena is an analysis of the University’s debt capacity. In times of budget cuts and tuition increases, the addition of a large amount of debt to the University’s plate should be as desired as a victory for Duke University.
A renovation would put much less of a financial strain on the University.
Furthermore, the renovation would most likely see the induction of premium seating, including luxury boxes and other ammenities similar to Kenan Stadium’s Blue Zone. This premium seating would actually help generate revenue and potentially ease any budget concerns.
The creation of a new arena would bid farewell to all the tradition of the Smith Center. It is impossible to create a building that has seen the likes of Dean Smith, Vince Carter and Tyler Hansborough.
The Smith Center and its memories should remain with UNC for years to come.
See the opposing viewpoint, written by Dylan Cunningham, here: http://bit.ly/1foyzI0
