North Carolina is going forward with long-discussed plans to develop an off-campus expansion for academic, research, residential and mixed-use retail projects. It鈥檚 too soon to say whether that will also include a new arena for the university鈥檚 tradition-rich men鈥檚 basketball program.
Chancellor Lee Roberts discussed during Wednesday morning’s meeting of UNC鈥檚 Board of Trustees. The focus is a roughly 230-acre footprint about 2 miles north of campus in Chapel Hill.
Roberts pointed to needs for expansion amid increasing demand for STEM (science, technology, engineering or mathematics) degrees and affordable housing options as well as by the early 2030s. Roberts has previously stated a target of over the next decade.
鈥淐arolina North represents both an opportunity and, I would argue, an obligation,鈥� Roberts said in an interview with The Associated Press. 鈥淢ost universities would give anything to have that kind of developable land this close to campus and with so much infrastructure ready in place. … We just feel really fortunate that we have this opportunity. But shame on us if we don鈥檛 use it to serve the people of the state.鈥�
A trustee committee approved $8 million for advance planning work on Carolina North on Wednesday. The school plans to break ground in 2027 at the site of the former Horace Williams Airport, coming nearly two decades after the 2008 financial crisis derailed previous Carolina North development plans.
This time, though, it comes amid a separate multiyear discussion , which marked 40 years this week as home to the Tar Heels men鈥檚 basketball program at the southern end of campus. The school has been reviewing options from renovating the building named for late Hall of Fame coach Dean Smith to building an arena with state-of-the-art amenities, possibly off-campus.
That latter option has proven divisive, with and recording video messages backing renovation efforts at the Smith Center.
In his video, Williams recalled his time as an assistant to Smith and his mentor wanting the basketball arena to remain on campus.
鈥淭hat was his wish, there鈥檚 no question,鈥� Williams said, adding later: 鈥淎nd I hope that鈥檚 where we stay forever.鈥�
The topic remained in full view of Wednesday night’s game between the 22nd-ranked Tar Heels and Notre Dame, with numerous students courtside holding up an advertisement in The Daily Tar Heel student newspaper backing the renovation idea 鈥� complete with a photo of Williams and Smith standing at midcourt.
“This is where I went to school, this is where I played. But it’s much more than just basketball for me,鈥� UNC coach Hubert Davis, a former player under Smith, said after the game.
鈥淭he Smith Center is home for all the relationships and the conversations that I’ve had here. Every time that I come into work, I can remember every conversation, interaction, that I had with Coach Smith, Coach (Bill) Guthridge, Coach Williams, with all my roommates, my teammates, my friends.
“Chapel Hill is where I fell in love with my wife, where we got married, where I became a Christian. And the Smith Center is basically home plate for that.鈥�
Roberts told the AP that 鈥渢here鈥檚 no perfect option鈥� for the arena question.
鈥淲e think Carolina North could be a good option,鈥� Roberts said. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 not an option is the status quo. So we鈥檙e going to have to invest significant capital in the basketball arena no matter what.鈥�
As an example, Roberts said a 鈥淏and-Aid approach鈥� to Smith Center renovations would include $80 million to $100 million to replace the roof, improve restrooms and concessions areas, and ensure compliance with the . And that comes at a time with athletic departments facing pressure to generate money .
Roberts said UNC will soon announce advisory groups seeking feedback on the arena question, noting: 鈥淥bviously a tremendous amount of passion around Carolina Basketball. That鈥檚 a good thing.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to talk to as many people as we can, get as much input as we can, and make the best decision we possibly can for the future of Carolina Basketball,鈥� he said. “But we鈥檙e going to build up Carolina North regardless.鈥�
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