Due to a snow storm that hit the Chapel Hill area, the Dean Smith Center wasn't full to capacity as the original ticket sales indicated.
In fact, most of the upper bowl was empty.
With the bad weather in the area, the decision was made to allow fans who were within walking distance to attend the game for free. Fans trudged their way through the snow and ice to come out and support the UNC basketball program as they crushed in-state foe NC State.
This very rare "Snow Game" was one that had a different feel to it. With all the recent talk about a potential new basketball arena, one that would be built at an off-campus site, this game gave us all the information we need to know about the idea:
Don't do it.
For starters, if this game was to be played at this potential off-campus location, there would be no way for fans to make last minute plans to safely arrive there. With the current setup, students are within walking distance of the Dean Smith Center, a huge advantage in situations such as this one.
Speaking of the students: Wednesday night was also another needed reminder that the University of North Carolina needs to find a way to get the students closer to the action.
Just go back and listen to what the players had to say about the difference in the energy that was present for their win over the Wolfpack:
Let's not limit it to the players: the coaches felt it as well.
"I felt it. And the players after the game (said they) felt it as well. The energy in the Smith Center was a huge determining factor of our energy out there on the floor. I can't thank the fans enough, in this weather, to be able to have 14-, almost 15,000 fans come in the middle of a snow storm to be able to support this team, students came to be able to support their fellow classmates. ... It reminded me, I think it was 2014 when we played a makeup game against Duke, and the crowd had the energy level. And so when I walked out, I felt it and felt it throughout the game. Just much thanks for everybody.
I just felt like the energy, it was just loud from the start, and I felt it, the players felt it, and it really did make a difference for them, and they showed it." - Hubert Davis
Thanks to all the @UNC_Basketball students and fans who were able to make it out tonight! The atmosphere and energy was awesome!
— Brad Frederick (@BFrederickUNC) February 20, 2025
Yes, we all know about the fans who are often referred to as the "wine and cheese" group. However, it's way overdue for the university to figure out a way to bring more of a home court advantage like we saw on Wednesday night.
You saw first-hand the type of energy the students brought for this game. Imagine what energy they could bring for a bigger game (such as when Duke rolls into town).
While the idea of an off-campus arena is good in terms of revenue, it's essentially wrong in every other aspect. Whether its finding a location on campus or refurbishing the current Dean E. Smith Center, it would be very wise to keep the home of the UNC basketball program actually on campus. In turn, the university should do everything in its power to make home basketball games more accessible to the die-hard fans like the ones who battled through the snowy conditions to support their Tar Heels on Wednesday night.
This "Snow Game" was needed. It serves as a friendly reminder that the idea of moving off-campus is a bad one, and also shows that energy from the crowd plays a HUGE difference in games.
Let's face it: the energy for most games isn't at the level as it should be. It's time to change that.