UNC's Dean E. Smith Center: The Builder's Orginal Intent- A Modern Day House of the Gods?

The Dean Dome was originally constructed to thwart the increasing demand for tickets to predominantly men’s basketball games. Prior to the completion of the Dean Dome, the Tar Heels played in Carmichael Gym, which because of its capacity of only 10,000, did not satisfy both the student body and alumni that wanted to attend games. The official name of Dean E. Smith Student Activities Center is derived from the famous basketball coach Dean Smith, who coached the team from 1961 to 1997.

Carmichael Gym, the venue used before Dean Dome

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Weight Room in Dean Dome
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Overtime, as the demand for larger facilities for other events also increased, the Dean Dome has truly lived up to its billing as a multi-purpose facility. Over the years, it has hosted several concerts and other entertainment events such as an Olympic qualifier in 1987, due to its large seating capacity. It was the largest venue on the East Coast until the completion of the Charlotte Coliseum in 1988.

The Dean Dome is one of the most recognized aspects of UNC’s campus because of the history encompassing the success of the men’s basketball team. However, the Dean Dome is much more than just the basketball court and surrounding seats. Included in the facility are the often overlooked locker rooms, weight rooms and other aspects of life that are essential to preparing the team for its games.

Lounge
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Also included is a lounge and adjacent practice court where the team can gather to work on plays and strategy for the upcoming game, making a one stop shop for the basketball players to practice for, recover from and play in their epic games.

Practice Court
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The Dean Dome can vary in meaning depending on the person; naturally depending on one’s relationship with the structure. The basketball players spend a good portion of their school year in and around the Dean Dome, giving it a more homey feeling. Commencements for many of the graduate schools are conducted here, giving even the non-basketball fan a sense of completion and sentimental value. Some critics dislike the Dean Dome and point to the various renovations as a waste of money because it is not an academic building.

Globalization is showcased at the Dean Dome for every game. Teams, and their corresponding fan bases come from all over the country to play, or witness their favorite teams play in one of college basketball’s most sacred spaces. Members of the hallowed Tar Heel nation flock from all corners of the state and the country come to the largest arena in college basketball to view their favorite team in action. Furthermore, the Tar Heels are world renowned.

UNC Men's Basketball Jerseys, including Michael Jordan's #23
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The Dean Dome is a sacred place for fanatic basketball fans who consider it the place where their gods are showcasing their mythological powers on the court. It is also a sacred place for many people as it serves as a home for one of the nation’s most storied NCAA Men’s Basketball programs featuring the greats such as Michael Jordan, Sam Perkins and many more. Countless great games have been played there and people associate these great games with the greatness of the dome itself. There is nothing quite like the intensity and passion that can be seen in a Duke Carolina game played there.

UNC vs. Duke
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The original idea of the builders at Corley Redfoot Zack, Inc. was to increase the seating capacity and improve upon the previous venue called Carmichael Arena. It serves the commercial interests of the university as more seats allows for more revenue to be generated from the increased attendances and merchandizing sales.

The Dean Dome’s function has not changed since it was originally built, but extra seating was added to accommodate the needs of the fans. Not only serving as a legendary site for basketball games, it also provides a location for high school graduation events as well as university ceremonies and concerts.

The Dean Dome bears signs of globalization-related activities by attracting fans with all sorts of different cultural and international backgrounds. Although basketball was invented in America it has a world wide appeal. Basketball in general has introduced new social means of interaction in countries that the sport had previously not influenced. Sports are coming less and less American and more global and this is due in part to monumental creations such as the Dean Dome in Chapel Hill.