Kristian Ferrell
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. It is the home of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team. The Dean Dome has a capacity of 21,444 seats and has helped the Tar Heels remain in the top five in national attendance all but one season since it opened in 1986. The stadium was built to replace the Carmichael Auditorium, which could only hold about 10,000 people.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Dean E. Smith Center (Dean Dome) |
| Location | 300 Skipper Bowles Dr., Chapel Hill, North Carolina |
| Year Opened | 1986 |
| Capacity | 21,444 seats |
| Court | Maplewood, 7 inches thick |
| Donors | 2,362 |
| Donations | $1 to $1 million |
| Total Donations | Over $33 million |
| Purpose | Basketball, concerts, commencement activities, and other special events |
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What You'll Learn
The Dean E. Smith Center has 21,444 seats
The Dean E. Smith Center, also known as the Dean Dome, is a multi-purpose arena in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. It is the home of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team. The Dean E. Smith Center has 21,444 seats.
The Dean E. Smith Center was completed on January 18, 1986, and is located on 7.5 acres of the University's south campus. It took 43 months to build, and builders extracted more than 20,000 cubic yards of rock and redistributed 150,000 cubic feet of soil to clear and shape the land. The arena is 300,000 square feet and has three levels. The farthest seat from the court is 675 feet away.
The Dean E. Smith Center is named after Dean Smith, an important coach in the history of collegiate basketball. The University began to inquire about building a standalone arena for the men's basketball team in the mid-1970s, and fundraising for the project began in 1980. The fundraising campaign included meetings with alumni and donors around the state, and donors' names are listed on a plaque near the venue's north entrance. The total amount donated was over $33 million.
The Dean E. Smith Center has helped the Tar Heels remain in the top five in national attendance all but one season since it opened. In addition to basketball, the venue has hosted concerts, graduations, other sporting events, and a speech by Barack Obama during his presidential campaign.
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The stadium is named after renowned coach Dean Smith
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. It is primarily the home of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) Tar Heels men's basketball team.
The Dean Smith Center was completed on January 18, 1986, and is an icon of the university's national championship men's basketball team. The stadium has 21,444 seats and is 300,000 square feet, standing on seven and a half acres of the University's south campus. The stadium is named after renowned coach Dean Smith, who spent 36 years transforming UNC basketball into a national powerhouse. Smith was appointed as Tar Heel's basketball coach in 1961 and is considered one of the greatest coaches of all time. He led his teams to win 879 games and two NCAA national championships before retiring in 1997.
The fundraising efforts for the stadium began in 1980 with a goal of raising at least $30 million. The campaign received contributions from almost 2,400 individuals, totalling over $33 million. The stadium is named after Coach Smith due to his significant impact on the UNC basketball program and the respect he garnered within the community. Despite his initial reluctance to have the stadium named after him, the university recognised the value of honouring Smith's legacy.
The Dean Smith Center has not only enhanced the traditions of the school but also increased the capacity of the sports program. It has hosted several concerts, graduations, sporting events, and even a speech by Barack Obama during his presidential campaign. The stadium has become an integral part of UNC's reputation for premier sports and athletics, serving the financial and cultural needs of the university.
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It was completed in 1986
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. It is primarily the home of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team. The Dean Dome was completed on January 18, 1986, at 300 Skipper Bowles Dr. Chapel Hill, and has been an icon of the university's national championship men's basketball team.
The idea for the Dean Dome was conceived in the mid-1970s, when the university began to consider building a standalone arena for the men's basketball team. In July 1973, Chancellor Taylor appointed a special committee to study the need for athletic facilities on the Chapel Hill campus over the next decade. The committee found that an on-campus location was vital to providing easy access for the student body. The university initially began fundraising for the project in June 1980, with a goal of raising at least $30 million. The fundraising efforts were anchored by Future ACC Commissioner John Swofford, Hargrove "Skipper" Bowles, and executive Rams Club director Ernie Williamson.
The original target completion date for the building was December 1984, but this was pushed back to March 1985 and then again until the 1985 season opener against UCLA. Despite these delays, the Dean Dome was finally completed in early 1986, becoming the first privately funded on-campus venue for basketball.
The Dean Dome features 21,444 seats and has a total area of 300,000 square feet, spread across seven and a half acres of the University's south campus. The arena is 380 feet long, 340 feet wide, and 140 feet high, with three levels. The farthest view from seat to court is 675 feet. The court itself is made of maplewood and is seven inches thick. The Dean Dome has helped the Tar Heels remain in the top five in national attendance all but one season since it opened.
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It is also used for concerts and graduations
The Dean E. Smith Center, also known as the Smith Center or the Dean Dome, is a multi-purpose arena in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, that serves as the home of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team. The 21,444-seat stadium has been used for several concerts and graduations in addition to basketball games.
The Smith Center hosted many concerts between its opening and 1995, featuring artists such as Pink Floyd, Garth Brooks, Bon Jovi, Guns N' Roses, R.E.M., Bruce Springsteen, and Grateful Dead. After 1995, the number of concerts dwindled, and the last concert was in 2008 when Boyz II Men performed. The Smith Center has also been used for commencements and various local high schools' graduations.
The Smith Center was completed on January 18, 1986, and is located on 7.5 acres of the University's south campus. The arena is 300,000 square feet and has three levels, with the farthest view from seat to court being 675 feet. The court is made of maplewood and is seven inches thick. The venue's 68 rows feed into a 1,200-foot-long concourse that features several concession stands and vendors.
The stadium is named after Dean E. Smith, an important coach in the history of collegiate basketball at UNC. The decision to build a new, larger stadium was made to enhance the traditions of the school and the capacity of the sports program. The university began investigating the possibility of building a standalone arena for the men's basketball team in the mid-1970s, but the project was delayed due to an ongoing university-wide fundraising campaign.
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The Dean Dome replaced the 10,000-seat Carmichael Auditorium
The Dean E. Smith Student Activities Center, commonly referred to as the Dean Smith Center, Smith Center, or the Dean Dome, is a multi-purpose arena in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. It is the home of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team and has been since 1986.
The Dean Dome was completed on January 18, 1986, at 300 Skipper Bowles Dr. Chapel Hill. The 21,444-seat stadium has three levels and is 380 feet long, 340 feet wide, and 140 feet high. The farthest view from seat to court is 675 feet. The Dean Dome has been used for basketball games, concerts, graduations, and other special events.
The construction of the Dean Dome was not without controversy. While the University stood to make much higher revenues with a stadium of over 20,000 seats, the new stadium would change the tranquil landscape of Chapel Hill and upset long-standing residents of the city.
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Frequently asked questions
The Dean E. Smith Center, commonly known as the Dean Dome, has 21,444 seats.
The Dean Dome was completed on January 18, 1986, and is an icon of the university's national championship men's basketball team. Its predecessor, the Carmichael Auditorium, had 10,000 seats and hosted both the men's and women's teams.
The Dean Dome is 300,000 square feet and is spread across 7.5 acres of land.
The Dean Dome also hosts concerts, commencement activities, and other special events.
The stadium is named after Dean E. Smith, an important coach in the history of collegiate basketball at UNC.
