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UNC Basketball Legends Furious Over Dean Dome Reports

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated Feb 25, 2025 11:45 AM ET

Former North Carolina basketball players earned the school not to replace the Dean E. Smith Center.

Earlier this month, Inside Carolina's Greg Barnes reported that UNC officials are "leaning toward" building a new off-campus arena. UNC chancellor Lee Roberts told the Triangle Business Journal that the Carolina North location would be "a significant improvement" because it's more walkable and surrounded by dining and entertainment establishments.

Tar Heels legends are nevertheless opposed to tearing down an illustrious venue with a rich history. Raymond Felton, Theo Pinson, and Justin Jackson discussed the reports on the To The Baha podcast.

"You're taking away our f*****g tradition of the Dean Dome? There's certain things you don't touch," Felton said. "If you want to go in there and redo the locker room and do some stuff, cool. But building another arena for Chapel Hill is insane."

Pinson concurred that the Smith Center is sacred ground that can't be destroyed.

"It's the Smith Center, Roy Williams Court. You don't touch that," Pinson said. "There's so many things that have happened in that arena that need to continue to happen."

Jackson couldn't imagine anyone who's ever played at the Dean Dome supporting an end to the iconic arena.

"You ask any North Carolina player that's ever played, there's not going to be a single person that says, 'Yes, I want a new arena,'" Jackson claimed. "Guys that have played in the ACC or played and have played at the Dean Dome, their answer is going to be the same exact answer because of what the Dean Dome means, what Roy Williams Court means."

Opened in 1986, the Dean Smith Center has housed one of the nation's most decorated men's basketball programs. The Tar Heels have since won four national championships.

The proposed Carolina North venue may be better for businesses, but UNC students would have a harder time commuting to an arena located 2.7 miles off campus. Last Wednesday, they packed the arena for a game against NC State when snow limited admission to those who could walk to the stadium.

"One of the many reasons why I love the Smith Center [is] because the students can get here," head coach Hubert Davis said after the game, via The Daily Tar Heel. "They can just come down the hill and come to the game and support their fellow classmates."

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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