UNC fans share incredible Dean Smith Center stories that prove it shouldn't be moved

With all the chatter about the future of the current Dean E. Smith Center, it's led to us all having some time to reflect on some of our favorite memories that the historic venue has provided us with.

On social media, we asked you to share your favorite stories from your experiences at the Smith Center, and you definitely didn't disappoint! We received hundreds of responses, as there were some truly amazing stories that you shared with us!

What all these tales remind us is simple: there's NO need to move the Dean E. Smith Center from its current location!

Check out some of our favorite fan submissions that we've received over the past few days. We also encourage you to head over to our social media accounts to see even more Dean Smith Center memories that Tar Heel fans have shared!

Tanya Suggs Blanton

"My daddy took me to the VERY FIRST game EVER at The Dean Dome!!! We sat right under the basket and actually made the back cover of the next game's program!!! Something I will cherish FOREVER!!!"

Jim Thurman

"My first game in the Dean Dome was against that team from Durham on my birthday, and the Heels won."

Chris Lou

"Michael Jordan kissing the top of Dean Smith's head.

Says it all about the caring and compassion that players had/have for Coach Dean Smith."

Matthew Davis

"Taking my wife for a visit. When we stepped outside, we met the man himself.

Dean Smith.

He was so funny…..I was all but 40 years old and he asked if I played for the team. I told him, “My dream was to play for you."

We got a picture with him and everything."

Trisha McCarn

"I think it was the late 80's, and after begging my parents to take me to a game, walking in and seeing all that Carolina Blue was jaw-dropping. I've been to at least one game ever since. I love it when I can bring a fan to their first Tar Heel game. Please keep the Smith Center!"

Judy Logan

"Walking out on that floor at halftime to receive a teaching award as a Ph.D student & seeing my head on the Jumbotron. It was all I could do not to get down & kiss that floor."

Chris Denning

"I was there for the first game when they beat Duke, and also the bloody Montross game against Duke."

Ben Meredith Jr.

"3 pretty major moments:

1. My earliest memory in the Dome was the first game back after Theo Pinson broke his foot, he had a breakaway dunk against FSU

2. In 2019, we played Duke, that Tre Jones BS

3. Caleb Love's best game that season against Clemson."

Sherry Ann Griffin

"I was there for an alumni game. I clapped and yelled so much that I had no voice and no feelings in my arms.The Dean Dome is a magical place. The energy and excitement are undeniable!"

Shawn C. Scott

"Going up to the stairs from the lower section to exit after the game. I watched as people passed Dean Smith without even noticing him. When I get next to him I reach out my hand to shake his and say....."Hello Coach Smith." Then people behind me now realize it's him.

Another was, while standing in the concession line. I notice Phil Ford ahead of me in line. As the line snakes around Phil is now standing to the side of me. We are face to face. I say softly, "I thought you had people to come get you concession?" He replied, "no, I like to get my own." Lady behind me says, "who is that?" I said, "you aren't serious are you?" "That's Phil Ford." Then everyone in line takes out their phones.

Robbie Farlow

"As a kid I had one dream: play basketball for UNC.

I played every other sport. But I loved basketball. It was in my blood.

And I had some skill. But I wasn’t tall. I didn’t handle the ball well. And I collapsed under pressure.

What I did have was miles and miles of heart. I played hard. I got in the scraps for loose balls or rebounds. And I often was the one who kept believing when my team lost hope.

Around eight or nine I heard about UNC basketball camp. My dad scoffed at the price. But my grandfather said he’d find a way to send me. Then he died six months later. And with his death I thought too so did my dream for UNC basketball camp.

But my mom persisted. And the next year she told my dad the only thing they were doing with their tax return was to make my grandfather’s dream for me a reality.

So they sent me to Carolina basketball camp. I stayed in a dorm, living on campus like I was on the team. Hell, I even got pizza from Julius Peppers who was handing it out to campers one night.

But the greatest thing about camp was that my section got to practice — and play — in the Smith Center.

I saw the banners every morning. Shot free throws where my heroes won games. And I took a charge from the same spot that Vince Carter jumped into the air for alley-oops.

I didn’t make my high school team that year. And my grandfather never saw me play again.

But I know he was the one who found a way for me to practice and play in the Dean Dome so that, from the afterlife, HE could watch me live out my dream."

Fred Pearlman

"Too many good ones to mention. I was at the ‘Bloody Montross game’ in 1992, comeback against FSU in 1993, huge comebacks in back to back games against wake & Duke in 1996–the wild one with UNC-Kentucky in 1991, the game against Duke in 2007 when the Duke thug crushed Hansbrough. And with ALL THAT, the loudest I can remember when I was there was a loss to Duke in 2000–when Forte hit a 3 with 4 secs left to send game to OT—the place rocked!"

Larry Skipper

"I took my Dad to his first game in Chapel Hill in 1989. He was a lifetime Tar Heel fan dating back to 1957.


We had seen the Heels play in other places, but never together in Chapel Hill and the Dean Dome.

A friend of John Swofford had some really good season tickets and I asked him for the chance to use them and he obliged.


When we arrive at the Dean Dome we walked the concourse. Dad knew all the teams from the pictures and their history. He talked about each one and each season the photo represented.


He was like a kid again.


Although we had been to games in Charlotte and Clemson, we never actually obtained very good seats. But not this time.


As we went down to the lower level I sensed that Dad was uneasy. He kept questioning me about my knowledge of where we were to sit. I just chuckled inside and lead him to our seats. We were in row nineteen!


He was wiggling like a worm in an apple. Still not believing that I knew where we were to be. But when the game started he settled down and we watch the Heels defeat a good Virginia team.


This is my favorite memory of my Dad at a Carolina game and my favorite Dean Dome moment.


I miss you Dad. You are still the best Tar Heel fan ever. Go Heels!"