A Dean Dome History

     The Dean E. Smith Center opened January 18, 1986 at 300 Skipper Bowles Dr., Chapel Hill, NC 27599. Corley Redfoot Zac was the architect whom also had a hand in building several other UNC buildings on campus. The “Dean Dome,” as most now call it, as it was named after the renowned Coach Dean Smith, was built to allow more fans to attend Tar Heel basketball games. The 21-year-old, 10,000-seat Carmichael Auditorium, was simply too small to host the growing fan numbers. The Dean Dome now hosts the NCAA UNC Men’s Basketball Team. Some would say its prominent architecture symbolizes what a truly great school UNC-Chapel Hill is to the nation.

President Obama accepts personalized UNC Basketball Jersey

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The Dean Edwards Smith Center, or the “Dean Dome” which houses the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s men’s and women’s basketball teams, is located on the southernmost edge of the university’s campus. The Dean Dome is used primarily for housing up to 23,000 people, holding the largest capacity out of all the ACC division facilities. However, the Dean Dome’s space and premier location, as it is located on a college campus, has also been used for a large range of entertainers such as Kenny Rogers in 1986, the Grateful Dead, Bon Jovi, John Denver, Bruce Springsteen, Guns N’ Roses, and Elton John. The Dean Dome as well as its neighbor, the Maurice J. Koury Natatorium, served as the basketball and aquatic venues for 1999 Special Olympic World Summer Games.

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Even more, various community activities are held in this facility; some of these community events include commencement ceremonies, blood drives, and career fairs. Such events can be easily supported by the Dean Dome as it is accessible to large groups of people. It is also ideal because it is located within the Research Triangle Park, which is the large research and commuter area of the “Triangle” of North Carolina which includes Raleigh, the state capital, Durham, and Chapel Hill. However, as the Dean Dome is primarily targeted for college students and the school’s alumni, it is an icon of the university’s national championships men’s basketball teams.

Men's Basketball NCAA National Champions 2009

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The Dean Dome is erected on the southern campus of UNC-Chapel Hill. The erection of such a large building on the more southern part of campus is for ease of access. Not located around the academic buildings, thousands of people can easily visit the UNC campus without facing traffic constraints. Specific directions to the Dean Dome from various locations can be found on the North Carolina Official Athletic Site with written directions and map illustrations.  Parking is located in the Ram’s Head parking deck in close proximity to the facility. Due to the limited amount of space, shuttle services are also provided in which shuttle buses transport people from specific locations off campus to the Dean Dome.  Disability parking is also available in the Bowles Lot adjacent to the building; there are a limited number of spots.  Additionally, the Dean Dome is accessible to all people as it is equipped with handicap seating by way of multiple ramps and seating platforms. There are also accessible water fountain, ATMs, and restroom facilities.

Source: http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/facilities/unc-smith-center.html