BOX OFFICE

Business Hours: 8:00am-5:00pm Monday-Friday.
Event Hours: Box Office window is generally open 1.5 hours prior to event.
Phone: 919-962-2296 and 800-722-4335
Location: Box Office and Will Call are located at the front of Koury Natatorium next to the Dean E. Smith Center

Tickets for all Smith Center events can be purchased by coming to the Smith Center Box Office during regular business hours or going to TarHeelBlue.com's ticket page. For Carolina Basketball games, children age 2 and under do not require a ticket but must sit on the lap of a ticket-holder.

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SMITH CENTER PROFILE

Carolina basketball plays its home games at the Smith Center, one of the most recognized athletic venues in America. The Smith Center became the home of the Tar Heels in 1986 and has since become a cherished traditional symbol of Carolina basketball.

In the fall of 2001, the UNC locker room and weight room were completely renovated. A new media center was built and the Bowles Room and Educational Foundation offices were retrofitted to include a practice gym that will allow added scheduling flexibility.

Dedicated in September 1986 as the Dean Edwards Smith Center, the 300,000-square-foot structure stands on seven and one-half acres on the University's south campus. Over 20,000 cubic yards of rock were removed to make room for the 340-foot-wide, 380-foot-long and 140-foot-high building. The first game featured No. 1 Carolina beating No. 3 Duke, 95-92, in a battle of unbeatens on Jan. 18, 1986. The first basket was scored by Carolina center Warren Martin off a pass from Kenny Smith. Since that first game, the Smith Center has been the site of many memorable moments in Tar Heel history.

In 1999, the Smith Center and Koury Natatorium served as the basketball and aquatic venues for the 1999 Special Olympics World Summer Games.

One of the most prominent features in the Smith Center is the series of banners rewarding the accomplishments of Carolina basketball, including NCAA championship banners for 1956-57, 1981-82 and 1992-93, respectively. Also hanging high above the playing floor are 38 replica jerseys honoring Carolina's greatest individual standouts. Seven of the jerseys are retired, including Jack Cobb, #10 Lennie Rosenbluth, #12 Phil Ford, #20 George Glamack, #23 Michael Jordan, #33 Antawn Jamison and #52 James Worthy.

The Smith Center's four video screens provide replays, stats and information, previews of upcoming games and highlights of past games.

In 2000-01, a special standing-room-only section reserved for students opened on the baseline closest to the Carolina bench. The Educational Foundation funded a $150,000 renovation that allowed approximately 400 students to move courtside.

As a multi-purpose facility, the Smith Center has played host to a wide range of athletic events and concerts. In 1987, U.S. Olympic Festival basketball attracted a Smith Center record crowd of 23,713 for the gold medal game. In 1988, the venue served as the site of the first and second rounds of the NCAA East Regional. In 1994, the Smith Center hosted the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, attracting a three-day total of over 60,000 fans.

Kenny Rogers staged the first concert in the arena on April 12, 1986. Other entertainers to perform here included the Grateful Dead, Bon Jovi, John Denver and Bruce Springsteen. Adjacent to the Smith Center is the Maurice J. Koury Natatorium. One of the finest and fastest swimming facilities in the country, the natatorium features an eight-lane, 50-meter pool. The Smith Center and Koury Natatorium also host such community activities as the Chapel Hill High School Commencement, American Cancer Society Swim-for-Life, the School of Social Work gala, the Chancellor's Club gala, the Kenan-Flagler Business School Dedication, University Blood Drive, University Career Fairs, December Commencement Exercises and May Commencement Exercises. Thousands of school children visit the Smith Center annually.

Koury Natatorium is also open to faculty, staff and townspeople for a designated period each weekday for a free swim program, and both facilities have been used annually for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association championships.

DIRECTIONS

FROM VIRGINIA AND POINTS NORTH
Take I-85 South to Durham, NC. Exit left at US 15-501 in Durham and follow 15-501 approximately 9 miles to Chapel Hill. Once in Chapel Hill, maintain US 15-501 Bypass (Fordham Boulevard). At around the 7th stoplight, turn right onto Manning Drive. The Smith Center is one-half mile on the left on Skipper Bowles Drive.

FROM POINTS WEST
Take I-85 North towards Durham. Exit just past Burlington onto NC 54 East (Exit #148, Chapel Hill Exit). Follow NC 54 for approximately 20 miles to Carrboro. Pass Carrboro Plaza on the right and stay on NC 54 for about 4 miles to the next stoplight, Manning Drive. Turn left on Manning Drive. The Smith Center is one-half mile on the left on Skipper Bowles Drive.

FROM POINTS EAST
Take I-40 West toward Chapel Hill. Exit at NC 54 West (Exit #273 A) and follow for approximately 4 miles. Once in Chapel Hill, continue to follow signs for NC 54 West, which means you will have to exit right under first overpass. At the top of the exit turn right at light. Follow NC 54 West/15-501South until the 2nd stoplight. Turn right onto Manning Drive. The Smith Center is one-half mile on the left on Skipper Bowles Drive.

FROM POINTS SOUTH
Take US 15-50 North toward Chapel Hill. Exit right onto US 15-501 Bypass in Chapel Hill. Turn left at first stoplight onto Manning Drive. The Smith Center is one-half mile on the left on Skipper Bowles Drive.

ACCOMODATION INFORMATION

Chapel Hill Orange County Visitors Bureau : 919-968-2060
Durham County Visitors Bureau : 919-687-0288
Research Triangle Park

PARKING
There is on-site parking available on a first-come, first-served basis in the Ramshead parking deck adjacent to Kenan Stadium with the appropriate disability permit and/or tag. Cart transportation to the Smith Center from the designated disability parking area is available before events. For safety reasons, transportation to the parking area after an event is available only after most of the arena is vacated. For more information see the Department of Public Safety web site at www.dps.unc.edu.

SEATING
Tickets for the wheelchair accessible seating platform may be purchased by calling the Smith Center Box Office at 919-962-2296. Seating platforms are located at Sections 101 and 133. One person may accompany the ticket holder in the seating area.
Prior to the event, the Box Office can arrange special seating for guests with visual and/or hearing impairments.

ACCESS
The Smith Center is equipped with four entrance ramps and two seating platforms for our guests. If elevator assistance is needed, event staff located at the Memorabilia Room are available.

USHERS
Ushers will be located at each entrance to the reserved seating area to assist all patrons with seating or any other needs. Please contact an usher if you require reseating to the disability seating area.

There are accessible water fountains located on the concourse. In addition, the ATM and concession stands are accessible to those patrons in wheelchairs and the restrooms are equipped with the appropriate facilities.

HOURS OF OPERATION

DEAN E. SMITH CENTER
Monday-Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm.* Please call the Smith Center Administrative Office at 919-962-7777 prior to your visit to make sure the building will be open.
(*the building is closed during basketball practices and when there is an event scheduled that would require the building to be closed for event preparation)
MEMORABILIA ROOM
Monday-Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm.* Please call the Smith Center Administrative Office at 919-962-7777 prior to your visit to make sure the building will be open.
(* unless there is an event scheduled that would require the room to be closed for event preparation
The Memorabilia Room is located on the second floor of the Smith Center.
Visitors are welcome to visit the Concourse Level (third floor) and the Memorabilia Room (second floor).
THE FIRST FLOOR AND PLAYING COURT ARE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC.

No weapons, alcohol, food, cans, bottles, beverages, coolers or pets of any kind are allowed in the Smith Center at any time.

PARKING