Art Chansky’s Sports Notebook is presented by The Casual Pint. YOUR place for delicious pub food paired with local beer. Choose among 35 rotating taps and 200+ beers in the cooler.
Tar Heel basketball alumni are mad about the Dean Dome disappearing.
Lee Roberts, the second Dukie to become chancellor at UNC (after Paul Hardin) is no match for a battalion of former Tar Heels who don’t want their forever hoops home to be replaced.
Ever since Roberts did a soft roll-out of his idea for a new arena, the legendary Basketball Family has united in loud objection to the prospect of a multi-use development at the old Chapel Hill North off-campus site.
Raymond Felton, point guard on Roy Williams’ first national championship team in 2005, joined Justin Jackson on Theo Pinson’s popular podcast (both were stars on Ol’ Roy’s third NCAA titlists in 2017) in totaling trashing the idea.
“You are taking away our tradition,” Felton said of Roberts. “You better freaking start caring. Taking away our tradition of the Dean Dome? There’s certain things you don’t touch.
“Redo the locker room, do some stuff? Cool. But building another arena in Chapel Hill is insane.”
Pinson, whose personality lit up the place, said, “It’s the Smith Center, Roy Williams Court. There’s so many things that have happened there that need to continue to happen.”
Jackson, ACC Player of the Year as a senior, added, “You ask any North Carolina player, there’s not going to be a single one that says, ‘Yes, I want a new arena. Guys who have played at the Dean Dome. Their answer is going to be the exact same answer because of what the Dean Dome means.”
Hubert Davis, who developed into an All-ACC star and record holder for shooting the 3-pointer there, pauses when asked about a new home. Then he talks about how much he enjoys going to work at the Dean Smith Center, practicing and coaching games there. He can’t go against his boss like those veterans, but his feelings are undeniable.
Roberts isn’t saying for sure what they will do, and the reaction of former players will certainly be considered. He talks of a business and residential community surrounding a 16,000-seat arena, bringing more revenue into the university and the town. By now, he knows it is a hot-button issue.
Smith wanted a bigger venue so more people could see the Tar Heels play in person. But the supply and demand has changed dramatically, with rising ticket prices, 9 o’clock starts and large HD TVs the norm in most homes. There could be renovations made that would lower the capacity and add suites, but the single, crowded concourse and limited storage space in the half-around lower level could not be improved without some serious construction.
Smith won his first NCAA title with the 1982 team that played in the old Carmichael Auditorium and his second in 1993 eight years after moving into the dome.
And that is where most of the Tar Heels want to stay or UNC risks losing their support. So it may be back to the drawing board.
chapelboroaudio.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/2025/February/27/Art%27s%20Notebook%20022725%20-%20FINAL.mp3
Featured image via UNC-Chapel Hill/Jon Gardiner
Art Chansky is a veteran journalist who has written ten books, including best-sellers “Game Changers,” “Blue Bloods,” and “The Dean’s List.” He has contributed to WCHL for decades, having made his first appearance as a student in 1971. His “Sports Notebook” commentary airs daily on the 97.9 The Hill WCHL and his “Art’s Angle” opinion column runs weekly on Chapelboro.Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
Chansky’s Notebook: ‘No Way!’ Chapelboro.com.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Chansky’s Notebook: ‘No Way!’ )
Also on site :