TarHeelIllustrated - Daily Drop: Should UNC Play A Game In Carmichael Every Year?
Should UNC basketball play a game in Carmichael Arena each season? Jacob & AJ hash it out.
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Daily Drop: Should UNC Play A Game In Carmichael Every Year?
- Thread starter andrew jones
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Even without reading the article yet, my answer to this question is a definitive heck YES! And when they do put the students right on the court and let them rock the place out!
They couldn't fill a large arena. And the home court advantage that they get is exaggerated.
Bubba needs to be working on significant upgrades to the Dean Dome or building a new place. Playing one game in Carmichael is just kinda gimmicky.
Good points from both sides. I disagree about the legacy of Carmichael not being that important. AJ says "I know Jordan played there, and Worthy played there and Phil Ford played there." That's exactly why it WAS a pivotal place in UNC BB history. That was a CLASSIC era of college basketball. Having been in both places at their pinnacle... Carmichael was more electric. That could be because of my younger age at the time.
The best point to always play/stay in the DD is regarding visiting schools. They want to experience the Dean Dome. And, the DD is the UNC MBB home court.
Never underestimate the value of nostalgia.
The best point to always play/stay in the DD is regarding visiting schools. They want to experience the Dean Dome. And, the DD is the UNC MBB home court.
Never underestimate the value of nostalgia.
Seeing that Ram banner and the US Flag was a great feeling (in person or on TV).
I don't care if they play one game a year there or not, but I don't think it's going to ruin the program at all. If it becomes a tradition, then it's even more treasured, hyped, scalped and looked forward to!
I don't care if they play one game a year there or not, but I don't think it's going to ruin the program at all. If it becomes a tradition, then it's even more treasured, hyped, scalped and looked forward to!
It's important, but it didn't span such a lengthy time that it wrrants a game. Does it need to br preserved? Absolutely.
Probably not. Too much revenue lost from the fewer seats. I don't see any big advantages from it; it's not like it's some state of the art arena.
LOL, well I see why! LOL You asked in the POD CAST that was not an article 🤣, if you had moved anyone to your argument that we should NOT play any games in Carmichael. I get your point and it is well argued but I just strongly do not agree. The Dean Dome is wonderful and generates a lot more revenue for sure but there was and still is a degree of charm, a degree of passion that I do not think is replicated in the Dome.
In fact, I would take it a step further and make it a total throw back night, pipe in music from the 60s and 70s, throw back uniforms (even sneak in Sail with the Pilot). This would take some work, former players would have to agree but for those that allow, have the UNC current players for that 1 night only in what I think would be an amazing tribute, wear the jersey number and name of a former Tar Heel player! I think our current players would absolutely love it, I think the former players would love it even more, and the fans you know would never forget that night!
If the bean counters don't like it then they don't like it but if we can play small programs and give them huge paydays or we can open up small gyms for other programs we can darn sure find a way to treat the UNC fans to this one night of celebration of a major part of the legacy of UNC basketball!
Playing one game a year in that auditorium is a way to pay respects to the legacy and the memory. That's one way of preserving it. It would be one that many fans would look forward to, I assure you. It could also be promoted in such a way to help generate even more revenue.
I'm with dsouthr and strum. One thing not fully appreciated is the value of connecting a younger fan base to the incredible tradition and success of Carolina basketball. Let them feel the tradition vibe and see what a really loud and crazy atmosphere is like and how it can affect a game.
If students don't fill it up, open it up to gen. admission. I've posted here before that having seen a lot of games at the DD, I've never heard it as loud as the gen. admission crowd made it for those NIT games a few years back. Fans not only not at all concerned about making an ass of themselves, but actually intent on doing so.
If students don't fill it up, open it up to gen. admission. I've posted here before that having seen a lot of games at the DD, I've never heard it as loud as the gen. admission crowd made it for those NIT games a few years back. Fans not only not at all concerned about making an ass of themselves, but actually intent on doing so.
You can make the same argument about Woollen, but no one is talking about how much we need to play a game there.
An exhibition game could be played there. One of those "pre-season" games we play against a team like Mt Olive.
Update the Dean Dome. Put the wine and cheese Ram Boosters in Sky Boxes with all the amenities and get the students close to the court where they belong. Every game will be like the 2000 Snow Game
That's a pretty good idea.
What do you think about the men and women playing a doubleheader?
I don't think those two are even close to being the same. The talent of DES's players and ascension of Dean Smith's coaching created a legacy at Carmichael that WG never came close to being. Dean Smith became the basketball icon in Carmichael. And, his teams there were legendary.
ETA The age of television exposure came in Carmichael. If they were the same, someone WOULD be making an argument to play in WG. But, no one does.
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Also add a new center court scoreboard .. better sound system too & plus up plexi glass in center of dome to keep noise from going straight up ... good ideas that will never happen
Carolina basketball started it's rise in Wollen. I think Dean would say Carolina basketball is bigger than him.
The reason no one is making the argument is because people who lived during the history of Wollen are mostly dead. That's what's going to happen with Carmichael too. Thirty years from now Carmichael won't be as big of a deal. By then, @andrew jones's kids will be asking if we should be playing one game a year at the Dean Dome.
Oh, definitely. When everyone who experienced a game in CA is dead, then people will be wanting a token game in the DES Center.
You're becoming jaded.
All your dreams are faded...
You diss Carmichael A because you hate it.
But I love it..
Don't want to snub it..
Woolen G was right next door and not above it...
How am I becoming jaded? You guys talk about playing in Carmichael because of memories. Not any practical reason. That's the same for every generation and for pretty much every topic. Every generation has their own version of "the good old days." It will be the same for me when the conversation switches to the Dean Dome in 20 years. I was lucky enough to have that court assigned to me when I went to basketball camp. Played under those jerseys and banners for a week. The same court that players like Vince Carter played on. That makes the Dean Dome a lot more special to me than Carmichael.
I am a bit on the fence about the double header question, maybe more so than I should be. It gives me the feel of back in the day the JV team played first but everyone was there for the varsity game. I feel drawn more to the notion that the women's team should be their own draw and not need the men's teams coat tails? But I am not really opposed to it either, color me more luke warm to it but not opposed. I think a major draw for me is creating amazing excitement in the air, done in large part by getting the students together down closer to the floor, I think that simply has to be done for the Dean Dome as well, we need our 6th man back (different discussion for a different day)!
I believe the question is should we play a game in Carmichael now rather than a discussion of where we may want to play a throw back game 30yrs from now. My DeLorean is in the shop so I will not be a part of those discussions 30yrs from now but today I am alive and present and not only can but will take part in the discussion and do strongly support honoring the past.
Yes, UNC played games in Woolen as well as Carmichael before playing in the done but I would offer that the great legacy of UNC basketball was fermented right there in Carmichael, you look up in those Dean Dome rafters and you see jerseys that thrilled UNC fans that played in that storied venue, it is kind of "home" where the Dome is a bit of "the new house we built next door" and we love it but we will always love and miss being "home". 30yrs from now the Dean Dome will be considered home but today is not 30yrs from now, Carmichael is a special place and deserves to be honored.
We look up in the rafters at the Dome and we see Tar Heel legends, we raise those jerseys to honor those players that went before, that paved the way for today's version of UNC basketball, we honor the players, we should as well honor the sacred ground they played on as well.
Do a yearly team scrimmage there. Promote it to the masses. Have ACCN broadcast it. Think outside the box.
You misunderstood my comment about 30 years. See my response to @Archer2 . Bottom line is the only reason to do it is for your generation's memories. The Dean Dome will be for my generation's memories and Davis Arena will be for my child's memories.
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