Tar Heels Basketball

Home to the national powerhouse in men's college basketball - the Tar Heels. The arena is named for basketball legend and former head coach Dean Smith but is lovingly referred to by students and residents of Chapel Hill simply as "the Dean Dome". The arena is open to the public and a must for any sports-lover. With over 100 years of basketball in Chapel Hill, six national championship banners proudly hang from the rafters, along with endless NCAA honors and retired jerseys - the stadium boasts an impressive collection, including that of Michael Jordan, a sports legend.

Address: Dean Smith Center
Getting there: on the south end of UNC Chapel Hill's campus, off Manning Drive
Website: goheels.com (opens in a new tab)

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Listing from Wikivoyage: Chapel Hill, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Updated 28 Sept 2026. Something wrong? Tell us.

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See
Carolina Basketball Museum
Located next to the Dean Dome, this museum chronicles the history of Tar Heel basketball. Be sure to check out Michael Jordan's letter to archrival Coach K, which informed the Duke basketball coach that young Jordan would be taking his talents to rival institution UNC Chapel Hill.
Tue-Fri 10AM-4PM, Sat 9AM-1PMFree
Do
Tar Heels Baseball
Though not as popular as the local basketball and football teams, the UNC baseball program is one of the most renowned in college baseball, graduating many players into the major leagues. Their stadium is a little gem of a ballpark, with red brick and green steel architecture.
Tickets $5-10, depending on game
Do
Tar Heels Football
Tucked away amongst the pine trees near the bell tower is the home of UNC's football team, which commands an intensely loyal following locally. Each home game is a big event in town.
Tickets $35-60, depending on game; UNC students free
See
NC Botanical Garden
A set of lovely display gardens, with a great native plant collection arranged to illustrate the distinct plant habitats of North Carolina, including carnivorous plants and lovely flowers and butterflies. Also has nature trails nearby.
Tue-Sat 9AM-5PM, Sun 1-5PMFree