UNC Weighs Moving Iconic Basketball Arena

0:00This is Cory, keeping Durham in the know you're listening to Durham News today. University of North Carolina leaders are weighing a big change for their basketball program. They might move the Dean East Smith Center, known as the Dean Dome, from the main campus to a new spot called Carolina North, about 1.6 miles away. This arena is central to the school sports tradition. The current setup has issues like outdated facilities, few amenities, and tough traffic. A move could fix those problems and boost revenue by $20 million each year. Officials say it would improve the fan experience overall. Students walk to every home game, rain or shine, making it a key part of campus life. Rivalry matchups, like the recent one against Duke, spark huge celebrations on Franklin Street. Fans worry this tradition would fade if games shift off campus. Basketball greats voiced strong opposition. Former coach Roy Williams and star player Tyler Hansbroh argued the late Dean Smith wanted the arena to stay put.

1:02Their input highlights the pushback from alumni and program insiders. After the outcry, UNC hit Paul's on any final call. Now they are gathering more feedback from students, fans, and former players to guide the next steps. The debate boils down to balancing money gains against deep rooted history. The Daily News Now is grateful to our sponsor for today's episode. Headphones in a pillow. Once you try it, it just makes sense. S-O-L-I-S-O-L-Pillow.com.