Dean E. Smith Center is an arena in Chapel Hill, in North Carolina's Triangle, home of UNC men's and women's basketball. Next on our calendar: UNC men's basketball vs NC State, January 5. Box office, parking, bag and accessibility details below were read from the venue’s own site on October 27, 2026.
- TypeArena21,750 seats
- Upcoming4live from our calendar
- WhereChapel HillOrange County, Triangle
- TicketsBox officeofficial seller below
Not confirmed: Our automated reader received only page titles from this school athletics site, so these facts come from search excerpts of the school's official pages, not a full read of each page. Check the official site before you go.
Coming Up at Dean E. Smith Center
| Event | When | Where | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| UNC men's basketball vs NC State | Tue, Jan 5 (Tue 9:00 PM, TV ESPN2) | Chapel Hill · Triangle | See event page |
| UNC men's basketball vs Virginia | Sat, Jan 16 (Sat 2:15 PM) | Chapel Hill · Triangle | See event page |
| UNC men's basketball vs Louisville | Sat, Feb 6 (Sat 2:15 PM) | Chapel Hill · Triangle | See event page |
| Duke at UNC men's basketball | Tue, Mar 2 (Tue 9:00 PM) | Chapel Hill · Triangle | See event page |
From our checked events calendar, matched by venue name and town; times and tickets are on each organizer’s page.
Also see Triangle events.
About Dean E. Smith Center
UNC's basketball arena in Chapel Hill, home of Tar Heel men's and women's basketball.
Home of: UNC men's and women's basketball
Capacity, as the venue states it: 21,750 (older goheels page: the 21,750-seat Dean E. Smith Center)
Tickets and Box Office
- Official tickets: goheels.com/tickets (UNC Athletics ticket office)
- Box office: UNC ticket office, 450 Skipper Bowles Drive (Ernie Williamson Athletic Center), Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; tickets@unc.edu
- Phone: 919-962-2296 (UNC Athletics ticket office)
Parking
Public lots about $10; prepaid $12.20 option at Cardinal Deck. Bell Tower Deck after 5 p.m. $1 Mon-Thu, free Fri-Sun (2022 page). Tar Heel Express park-and-ride lots have no parking fee. Accessible parking was Rams Head Deck off Ridge Road ($10, 2019-20) and Williamson Lot off Skipper Bowles Drive for the Feb 2026 GameDay event.
Bag Policy
Clear bag policy for all Smith Center events. One clear bag up to 12 x 12 x 20 in (or a one-gallon freezer bag) plus a small clutch up to 4.5 x 6.5 in. Weapons detection required for entry (2026 notice).
Accessibility
Accessible seats on the concourse level for guests with accessibility needs plus companions; buy at goheels.com/tickets (Single Games, Accessible Seating), by phone 919-962-2296, or adatickets@unc.edu. Gate supervisor can relocate guests on game day; wheelchair help at Gate B. Accessible restrooms and concessions on the concourse.
Directions and Contact
- Address: 300 Skipper Bowles Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
- Map point: 35.89948,-79.04386, from OpenStreetMap (approximate: looked up by venue name). Directions in Google Maps
- Official site: goheels.com/facilities/smith-center/136
Near Dean E. Smith Center
- 1Kenan Memorial StadiumStadiumunder 1 mi
- 2Cameron Indoor StadiumArenaabout 9 mi
- 3Lower Haw River State Natural AreaState Natural Areaabout 11 mi
- 4Jordan Lake State Recreation AreaState Recreation Areaabout 11 mi
- 5Occoneechee Mountain State Natural AreaState Natural Areaabout 12 mi
- 6Museum of Life and ScienceMuseumsabout 12 mi
Straight-line distances between map points, not driving miles. Dots sit in their true compass direction; distance is stretched near the middle so close neighbors stay readable.
Going to a game? Read how to see the UNC Tar Heels here: home dates, tickets and what we could confirm about parking, bags and gates.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find out what is on at Dean E. Smith Center?
The Upcoming list on this page shows dates from our checked North Carolina events calendar that name this venue; it updates daily. The venue’s own site (goheels.com) lists every show.
Where do I park for Dean E. Smith Center?
Public lots about $10; prepaid $12.20 option at Cardinal Deck. Bell Tower Deck after 5 p.m. $1 Mon-Thu, free Fri-Sun (2022 page). Tar Heel Express park-and-ride lots have no parking fee. Accessible parking was Rams Head Deck off Ridge Road ($10, 2019-20) and Williamson Lot off Skipper Bowles Drive for the Feb 2026 GameDay event.
What bags can I bring into Dean E. Smith Center?
Clear bag policy for all Smith Center events. One clear bag up to 12 x 12 x 20 in (or a one-gallon freezer bag) plus a small clutch up to 4.5 x 6.5 in. Weapons detection required for entry (2026 notice).
What We Could Not Verify
- Street address conflicts on goheels pages (300 vs 200 Skipper Bowles Drive); 300 used
- Capacity figure comes from an older goheels page; current figure not read
- Parking rates are from different seasons (2019 to 2026); confirm per event
- Event times and ticket prices are set per show; confirm on the official ticket page.
Sources
- Dean E. Smith Center: official site (read 2026-10-27)
- Dean E. Smith Center: box office (read 2026-10-27)
- Dean E. Smith Center: parking (read 2026-10-27)
- OpenStreetMap (map point)
Last checked October 27, 2026 by the It’s North Carolina editor. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
Cite this page: It's North Carolina, “Dean E. Smith Center”, itsnorthcarolina.com/venues/dean-e-smith-center/ (updated ). By the It's North Carolina editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.