Future of Dean Dome on pause as UNC searches for new men's basketball coach
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) -- The Dean E. Smith Center will remain on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's South Campus for now, but questions about its long-term future are far from settled. With the ouster of Hubert Davis as men's basketball coach, many Tar Heels are wondering how a new head coach might influence the direction of the iconic arena.
UNC student body president Adolfo Alvarez says pressing pause makes sense.
"It's a good decision to delay this until we have more clarity on our coach situation, because there are two really important matters for the future of what Carolina basketball represents and how people will feel about the program," Alvarez said.
The most recent proposals outlined three costly possibilities: renovating the existing arena, building a new one, or relocating it off campus entirely. Each option carries a price tag in the hundreds of millions and could result in fewer seats.
To study those possibilities, the university created two committees - but both efforts are now on hold as the coaching search takes priority.
Carolina Athletics released this statement:
"The University of North Carolina is suspending ongoing discussions about the future of the Smith Center in order to focus on identifying and selecting a new head men's basketball coach. Arena discussions will resume after the new coach has had time to acclimate to the program and focus on future needs."
Some say the next coach should have a voice in shaping what comes next.
"It's just an amazing environment," said Courtney Effinger. "Once you get a new coach, they will probably have their own ideas and visions about what it's going to look like or what the redesign would be. So it kind of makes sense that it would be on hold until they find a new coach."
