Dean Smith Center

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Updated On :02 Mar, 2021

Full Name
Dean Smith Center

Capacity
21,750

Location
United States of America

Surface Type
Hardwood

The Dean Smith Center, a multi-purpose arena, situated in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The full name of the arena is Dean E. Smith Student Activities Center, usually referred as the Dean Dome. The groundbreaking ceremony of the stadium was held on 17th April 1982. The chief architecture firm involved in the designing the stadium was Corley Redfoot Architects, Inc. An estimated amount of $33.8 million was spent on the construction of this stadium and the arena finally opened its door for spectators on 18th January 1986. The Dean Smith Center has been the home for Tar Heels men's basketball team of the University of North Carolina (who owns and operated the Center) at Chapel Hill since 1986. The arena underwent significant renovations in the years 1992 and 2000. The Dean Smith Center was the temporary home of the "University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill" team Tar Heels women's basketball team when the Carmichael Auditorium was being renovated.

Trivia

The arena has been named in honour of coach of the North Carolina men's basketball team, Dean Smith who coached the team from 1961 to 1997.

Significance

The first game at the arena was a match between Tar Heels and Duke Blue Devils, held on 18th January 1986. Tar Heels beat the Blue Devils by 95-92.
The stadium hosted a match between a team of the University of Maryland and the Tar Heels, on 20th February 1986. The Tar Heels lost, making it the first defeat of the team at the Dean Dome.
The stadium played host to the memorable match between Tar Heels and Duke Blue Devils which was held here on 6th March 2005. It saw the Tar Heels crush Duke Blue Devils, 75-73.
The Dean Smith Center hosted the match between Tar Heels and the renowned Ohio State Buckeyes men’s basketball team in 2006, where the Tar Heels dominated the match.
The then presidential candidate Barack Obama held a rally in the arena on 28th April 2008.