Univ. of North Carolina AD Bubba Cunningham is "interested in renovations that would modernize the Smith Center and provide more 'revenue drivers,'" according to Andrew Carter of the Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER. The UNC men’s basketball team is in its 28th season "playing at the Smith Center." Improvements have been made "over the years -- a video ribbon board debuted this season, and in recent years the sound and lighting systems were replaced -- but the basic interior of the building has largely remained unchanged." Cunningham said that he is "interested in adding luxury suites to the Smith Center, which was built before such amenities became commonplace in indoor sports arenas." Cunningham said, “We have suites and club seats in football (at Kenan Stadium) that work. But we have an iconic structure here. You have to be very careful on how you do that. I think we want to make sure that the fans get the experience they expect when they come to a premier place.” Cunningham said that there "have been 'no serious discussions' about when the renovations might begin or what they might include." He added that those discussions "would begin after the basketball season ends" (NEWSOBSERVER.com, 2/24).
