Carolina adds alcohol sales to Smith Center and Carmichael Arena

COMMUNITY NEWS

CHAPEL HILL—On April 1, 2005, former UNC-Chapel Hill Head Basketball Coach Dean Smith issued a formal statement supporting an end to beer ads on college sports broadcasts. Ironically, 19 years later, the sports arena bearing his name will not only promote beer and wine sales but sell them during the games this month.

Sales at the Smith Center began on Monday, Nov. 4, at the Men’s Basketball season opener against Elon. Sales at the Carmichael Arena will start later in November.

UNC-Chapel Hill Assistant Athletic Director states, “Safety, training, and a positive game-day atmosphere are being emphasized as operational details are finalized. Beer and wine will be offered at 20 locations at the Smith Center and up to six locations at Carmichael, depending on the event. Like sales at outdoor venues, which began in 2019, student sections will be closely monitored and, per state law, up to two alcoholic beverages may be served per customer per transaction.”

Beer and wine sales will begin when doors open and stop when approximately three-quarters of the event is finished. At men’s basketball games, for example, sales will stop with 10 minutes left in the game and at women’s basketball games, sales will end at the beginning of the fourth quarter.

“Many of our fans have asked for us to expand alcohol sales to our indoor events, and after five years, we think the time is right,’’ said Carolina Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham. “Not only is it consistent with many other events around the country, including NCAA championships and ACC tournaments, but it also adds a key financial stream as we prepare for revenue-sharing with student-athletes.”

Dean Smith (who was very concerned about the amount of alcohol consumption among college students and who had staunch objections to beer advertising at games) never addressed the actual sales, since it was not an option in 2005. He wrote, “…Presenting beer as acceptable and different from other kinds of alcohol is not true and dangerous.”

More information will be available soon on GoHeels.com and on the GoHeels app.

Michelle Cassell is a seasoned reporter who has covered everything from crime to hurricanes and local politics to human interest over the course of 35 years. As managing editor, she hopes to encourage writers of a wide range of backgrounds and interests in TLR’s coverage of Southern Orange County news.
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