Breaking News: UNC Tar Heels Unveil Ambitious Plan to Expand and Redesign Dean E. Smith Center for the Next Generation
Chapel Hill, NC — In a landmark move that signals a bold new era for collegiate athletics, the University of North Carolina unveiled an unprecedented multi-year plan on Tuesday to expand and completely redesign the iconic Dean E. Smith Center. With enhancements aimed at transforming the storied arena into one of the most advanced facilities in college basketball, UNC officials, alumni, and student-athletes gathered on campus to reveal a project they described as vital to the future of Tar Heel excellence.
The proposal, valued at an estimated $750 million, outlines sweeping changes across infrastructure, technology, fan engagement, and player development. The university confirmed that the renovated venue will increase seating capacity from 21,750 to nearly 28,000, making it the second-largest college basketball arena in the country upon completion. Construction is expected to begin following the 2025–26 season, with a target reopening date in late 2028.
UNC Chancellor Lee H. Roberts, speaking at the press conference, emphasized the significance of the redesign. “The Smith Center has served as the heart of Tar Heel basketball for nearly 40 years. But to lead the future, we must invest in the future. This transformation honors our legacy while redefining what’s possible for student-athletes, fans, and our entire Carolina family.”
The redesign includes a dramatic exterior overhaul, featuring a glass-dominated structure that will showcase a 360-degree ring of programmable LED displays. Inside, the arena will adopt a modern open-bowl layout to replace much of the existing upper deck, creating improved sightlines and enhanced acoustics—an intentional effort to amplify crowd noise and cultivate one of the nation’s most electrifying home-court atmospheres.
Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham revealed that the expansion goes far beyond aesthetics. The redesigned Smith Center will include a state-of-the-art player performance complex equipped with advanced sports science labs, hydrotherapy and rehabilitation suites, bigger locker rooms, and a dedicated mental health and wellness center for student-athletes. Additionally, UNC plans to integrate AI-driven analytics technology throughout the facility to monitor biomechanics, performance trends, and injury prevention.
For fans, the game-day experience is getting a dramatic upgrade. Plans call for immersive augmented-reality features available through mobile devices, in-seat ordering, premium hospitality tiers, expanded concourses, and dedicated space for Carolina’s student section behind both baskets. Blue Zone Entertainment Districts will be introduced inside the stadium, offering interactive basketball exhibits, NIL merchandise hubs, and live social media studios where fans can be featured during broadcasts.
Perhaps most ambitious is the sustainability initiative woven into the redesign. The project targets LEED Platinum certification with rooftop solar arrays, rainwater recycling systems, and 90% reduction in single-use plastics on game nights.
The announcement was met with overwhelming excitement from current and former players. UNC legend and former national champion Tyler Hansbrough, in attendance for the reveal, called it “a game-changer for the future of Tar Heel basketball and the future of student-athletes everywhere.”
As construction approaches, the message from the university is clear: Carolina basketball is not just honoring its past—it is building a bold, unstoppable future.