Smith Center renovations postponed

After months of discussions surrounding renovations to the Smith Center, UNC fans’ dream for a new-or-improved arena have been put on hold.

“Just with the ongoing (NCAA) issues...there’s just a lot of flux right now,” said Steve Kirschner, a spokesman for the athletic department. “We just thought it best to kind of pull back and let some of those things sift and sort out before we do anything major.”

The costs associated with new NCAA regulations regarding image licensing and paying for athletes’ meals could be significant, Kirschner said.

“There’s just a number of changes that the NCAA is involved in that could have a major financial impact on college athletics going forward,” he said. “And I think schools are just being kind of prudent to, sort of, let that all sort out.”

Preliminary discussions about the renovations included adding luxury seating and upgrading the student section.

Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham said in December that students often ask for more student seating closer to the court.

“It would have been nice to have more student seating,” said sophomore Adam Patton, who feels it takes away from the atmosphere to have donors and alumni near the court instead of students.

“If you go to other schools, it’s just a bunch of students getting pumped up.”

Junior Sachin Mishra said he thought additional student seating would also benefit the players.

“These are student-athletes, and I think they would want more of their fellow students out their supporting,” he said.

Since December, UNC had begun working with 360 Architecture, whose portfolio boasts stadiums and arenas for both professional and collegiate teams around the world.

Neither Kirschner nor 360 Architecture could comment on how far into the planning stages the renovations had progressed before being put on hold. There is also no timeline for revisiting the renovations, Kirschner said. The University has to see how the NCAA decisions play out on a national level.

Kirschner said the University is still trying to determine what the best course of action is for the Smith Center — to renovate or to build anew.

“I mean I feel like the Dean Dome is fine though,” said junior Laura Gamo. “UNC should finish its current construction projects — i.e. the main quad — before it moves onto new projects.”

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