By Brian Murphy, WRAL

The Dean E. Smith Center, home of North Carolina’s storied men’s basketball program since 1986, is showing its age.

“It’s a building that has a lot of repair needs,” UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts told WRAL during an exclusive interview this week ahead of his formal installation as chancellor. “The roof leaks. Everyone knows about the problems with the bathrooms and the concourses. Parking and the access leaves something to be desired.”

But what to do next is an issue that has been bandied about for nearly a decade in Chapel Hill. And the university still has no clear path forward. A working group recently put forth six options, everything from repairing the Smith Center to building a new venue off-campus. Another group is conducting more in-depth analysis and is expected to report back soon.

“We need to figure out whether we renovate the existing Smith Center or do we build something new and, if so, where?” Roberts said.

UNC head coach Hubert Davis, who played for coach Dean Smith from 1988 to 1992 and reveres his former coach, didn’t answer a question about what should happen next.

“I will say this: I love everyday walking into this building and it says the Dean Smith Center,” Davis said. “I love that. That’s all I’ll say.”

The Smith Center holds nearly 22,000, but lacks the many of the modern amenities of newer facilities, including luxury boxes and club seating. It was paid for by donors, who received ticket rights for their money.

A new arena would likely have fewer seats – the working group suggested a 16,000-seat venue – but generate more revenue through higher-end seating. An off-campus venue would likely be surrounded by revenue-generating development, the same type of multi-use projects that are in vogue around the nation.

The Tar Heels have always played home games on-campus, playing at Carmichael Auditorium from 1965 to 1986 and before that at Woollen Gym.

“I want to make sure that we’re serving the interests of not just today’s students and fans but of the students and fans 40, 50 years from now,” Roberts said. “When you’re making this kind of investment, you have to be thinking long-term.”

As chancellor, Roberts has been charged with growing the university’s enrollment base. He said any growth would have to be incremental as the campus’ infrastructure is already stretched.

But, Roberts said, the university does own about 800 acres at what it is calling Carolina North near the old Horace Williams Airport property, providing it opportunities for growth. One of the proposed sites from the working group for an off-campus arena was at Carolina North.

“We have the land to do what we want to do and need to do,” Roberts said.

Source: wralsportsfan.com