View source for Carmichael Arena

{{Short description|Arena at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name        = Carmichael Arena
| fullname            = William Donald Carmichael, Jr. Arena
| nickname            = ''Blue Heaven''
| image               = Carmichael Auditorium.jpg
| caption             = Interior in 2006, before renovation
| image_map           = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=250|zoom=15|type=point}}
| location            = 310 South Rd<br />[[Chapel Hill, North Carolina]] 27599, United States
| coordinates         = {{coord|35|54.57155|N|79|2.72447|W|display=inline,title}}
| broke_ground        = May 1964
| built               = 
| opened              = December 4, 1965
| renovated           = 1998, 2008–2009
| expanded            = 1976
| closed              = 
| demolished          = 
| owner               = [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]]
| operator            = University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| surface             = 
| construction_cost   = $1.725 million (original construction)<br/>$36.4 million (2008-09 renovation)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fpcfeed.facilities.unc.edu/CIProjectDetails.aspx?ProjectID=281 |title=UNC Facilities Planning & Construction |website=fpcfeed.facilities.unc.edu |access-date=13 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120726224530/http://fpcfeed.facilities.unc.edu/CIProjectDetails.aspx?ProjectID=281 |archive-date=26 July 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| architect           = Corley Redfoot Architects (2008-09 renovation)
| structural engineer = LHC Structural Engineers (2008-09 renovation)
| services engineer   =
| general_contractor  =
| project_manager     =
| main_contractors    = 
| former_names        = Carmichael Auditorium (1965–2010)
| tenants             = [[North Carolina Tar Heels]] ([[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]])<br />[[North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball|Men's basketball]] (1965–1986)<br />[[North Carolina Tar Heels women's basketball|Women's basketball]] (1975–present)<br />[[North Carolina Tar Heels women's gymnastics|Women's gymnastics]] (1982–present)<br />[[North Carolina Tar Heels wrestling|Wrestling]] (1965–present)
| seating_capacity    = 6,822
| dimensions          =
}}

'''William Donald Carmichael Jr. Arena'''  (formerly known as '''Carmichael Auditorium''' and commonly known as '''Blue Heaven''') is a multi-purpose [[arena]] on the campus of the [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]] in [[Chapel Hill, North Carolina]], United States. It is home to four [[North Carolina Tar Heels|Tar Heels]] athletic teams: [[North Carolina Tar Heels women's basketball|women's basketball]], volleyball, [[North Carolina Tar Heels women's gymnastics|women's gymnastics]], and [[North Carolina Tar Heels wrestling|wrestling]]. It is named for William Donald Carmichael Jr., a popular former school vice-president and brother of [[All-America]] basketball player [[Cartwright Carmichael]].

Although there had been concerns as early as the late 1940s that the [[North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball|men's basketball team]]'s needed a new home to replace 6,000-seat [[Woollen Gymnasium]], the need for a larger arena had become acute by the 1960s with the team's growing popularity. The Tar Heels were forced to move home games to [[Bojangles' Coliseum|Charlotte]] or [[Greensboro Coliseum Complex|Greensboro]], which were more than double Woollen's size.

However, the state was unwilling to fund a completely new arena. As a result, '''Carmichael Auditorium''' was built as an annex to Woollen; it shares the older facility's eastern wall. It originally seated just over 8,800 people, but was expanded to 10,000 seats in 1976.<ref name="Carmichael Facts">{{cite news| title = House That $ Built|author=Thomas Rogers| newspaper = The New York Times {{subscription required}} | page =10| date = January 5, 1986|id={{ProQuest|424475058}}}}</ref>

Carmichael was known as one of the loudest arenas in the country while the Tar Heel men played there, largely because of a low roof and a student section that ringed the court.<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4YhGeDCjS7wC&q=carmichael+auditorium+unc+loud |title = University of North Carolina Basketball|isbn = 9780738541501|last1 = Powell|first1 = Adam|year = 2005}}</ref> In part due to this formidable home court advantage, the men had a record of 169–20 (.894) in just over 20 seasons there. [[Dean Smith]] was the Tar Heels' coach for their entire tenure in Carmichael. The Tar Heels won their second NCAA title in 1981–82, while playing at the arena.

In their last game at Carmichael, the [[1985–86 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team|1985-86 Tar Heels]] men's team beat the [[1985–86 NC State Wolfpack men's basketball team|North Carolina State Wolfpack]] 90–79 on January 4, 1986. The team moved to the [[Dean Smith Center]] two weeks later. After a remodeling project completed in 2009, capacity is 8,010.

A new floor was installed in 1998, after a roof fire that occurred in February during renovations.  The arena was completely remodeled beginning in spring 2008, and the women's team joined the men in the Dean Smith Center until completion in December 2009. The facility was officially renamed Carmichael Arena during the women's team's matchup against rival [[Duke Blue Devils|Duke]] on February 28, 2010.

==Background and construction==

By 1948, there began to be sentiments that Woollen was too small.<ref name="DTH 48 Small">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49621845/the-daily-tar-heel/|work=The Daily Tar Heel|page=3|date=July 16, 1948|title=Possible Intersectional Doubleheaders|author=Dick Jenrette|access-date=October 18, 2019|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> In 1958, after the university began to reduce the number of true home games, the student newspaper ''The Daily Tar Heel'' showed dissatisfaction with that decision and felt a new gym with a larger capacity would be needed to keep drawing strong competition.<ref name="DTH Antiqua 1958">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49605962/the-daily-tar-heel/|work=The Daily Tar Heel|page=6|date=December 12, 1958|title=Antiquated Woollen Gym Seating Problem|author=Dick Barley|access-date=October 18, 2019|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> The article cited how  Coach [[Adolph Rupp]] and the [[1958–59 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team|Kentucky Wildcats]] played at [[1958–59 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team|Duke]] in front of a less than capacity crowd and would not return because they made little money off the visit.<ref name="DTH Antiqua 1958"/> In July 1962, there was a request to the North Carolina state legislature by the Consolidated University to receive funds to build an addition to Woollen Gym rather than a new $6 million coliseum as some had proposed.<ref name="DTH CA 1962">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49605777/the-daily-tar-heel/|work=The Daily Tar Heel|page=8|date=September 18, 1962|title=—Consolidated U. Asks 37 Million—|access-date=October 18, 2019|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref>

{{Quote box |quoted=true |bgcolor=#FFFFF0 |salign=center
|width=20%
|align=left
|quote=It was an incredible home-court advantage. Today, in the newer arenas, it takes two or three minutes to walk from the court to the locker room. From our locker room, we opened a door that was six and a half feet high, everybody ducked to get out, and after five or six steps you were on the court. We’d sit in the locker room and we could hear the crowd outside. To come rushing into that setting with people right on top of you sent chills up and down your spine.
|source=North Carolina Forward and Center Mitch Kupchak (1972–76){{sfn|Lucas|2010|p=170}}
}}
As the Tar Heels increased in popularity, the university chose to have home games at off–campus venues as Woollen's seating was so limited,{{sfn|Quincy|1962|p=55}} choosing to play in [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]] or [[Greensboro, North Carolina|Greensboro]] instead.{{sfn|Lucas|2010|p=167}} By playing at these locations, the school would turn more profit than normal home games at Woollen since student tickets were limited for these games and the venue was larger, allowing more tickets to be sold to the masses.{{sfn|Lucas|2010|p=167}} In the team's final season at Woollen, the Tar Heels only played seven true home games.{{sfn|Quincy|1962|p=55}} Due the various factors including [[Woollen Gymnasium]]'s capacity, basketball practices being interrupted by intramural sports, and limited office space, the University of North Carolina administration sought plans to build a new facility.{{sfn|Lucas|2010|pp=168-9}} The venue was to be named for William Donald Carmichael Jr. a former school vice president and former varsity basketball player from 1917 to 1920, as well as brother of [[Cartwright Carmichael]].{{sfn|Lucas|2010|p=169}}{{sfn|Kirschner|2022|p=174}} The Woollen's seating capacity the number of home games the school could host to around seven games a season, it was hoped that the opening of Carmichael Auditorium would allow for ten home games a season.{{sfn|Quincy|1965|p=55}} The new Auditorium's facilities would contain offices for all athletic departments, except for football which would be housed in the then Kenan Fieldhouse, in the east endzone of [[Kenan Memorial Stadium]].{{sfn|Quincy|1964|p=6}} A trophy hall will be located in the entrance hallway and housed the trophies of all the athletic programs.{{sfn|Quincy|1964|p=6}}

Construction began in May 1964 for the new annexed Auditorium.<ref name="DTH CA Pipe">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49605655/the-daily-tar-heel/|work=The Daily Tar Heel|page=15|date=September 16, 1965|title=New Auditorium Will Put Sports Under The Big Top|author=Dale White|access-date=October 18, 2019|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> On August 16, 1965, a water main that was connected improperly broke and flooded the auditorium with eight inches of water, which delayed the construction until a new floor could be placed.<ref name="DTH CA Pipe"/><ref name="DTH CarmRv">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-tar-heel/49553512/|work=The Daily Tar Heel|page=4|date=December 5, 1965|title='Gym-Dandy' Carmichael|author=Dennis Sanders|access-date=October 18, 2023|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> The burst was estimated to cost around $14,000 extra to repair.<ref name="DTH CarmRv"/> It was hoped that the larger capacity (then estimated to be 10,000) in the auditorium would allow the university to turn a profit on home games for basketball.<ref name="DTH CA Pipe"/> With the 10,000 projected seats, it would have been the sixth largest "building of its type" in North Carolina.<ref name="DTH CA Pipe"/> Two-thirds of the seats will be arm-chairs, while the remainder were bleachers that can be retracted with hydraulics.<ref name="DTH CA Pipe"/> At the time, the basketball program only made money from road trips.<ref name="DTH CA Pipe"/> By September 1965, it was estimated the total cost of the facility was $1.725 million, with the opening of the new facility university accountant Vernan Crook hoped to turn a profit of $1,000 to $2,000 per home game.<ref name="DTH CA Pipe"/> The structural steel utilized for the project cost $502,000.<ref name="DTH CarmRv"/>

A lighter blue was used for some of the overhead beams in order to provide good background for the colorful clothes people wear to games.<ref name="DTH CarmRv"/> It was reported the dark blue used "expresses the structure."<ref name="DTH CarmRv"/> There was a 24 foot by 40 foot hydraulic stage that was added to meet the requirement of an "auditorium" by the state legislature.<ref name="DTH CarmRv"/> In total when completed Carmichael contained 65,112 square feet of space.<ref name="DTH CarmRv"/> The bleacher seats were placed along the eastern wall that was shared with Woollen and were foldable in order to allow for the stage to rise.<ref name="DTH CarmRv"/> The seats in the venue were wood and plastic with a metal frame.<ref name="DTH CarmRv"/><ref name="DTH 76exp2">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-tar-heel/133778631/|work=The Daily Tar Heel|page=9|date=September 1, 1976|title=New seats boon or bust for Carmichael?|author=Skip Foreman|access-date=October 18, 2023|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> The venue featured four [[bathroom]]s and four [[concession stand]]s.<ref name="DTH CarmRv"/> In addition, there were sixteen offices located within the building.<ref name="DTH CarmRv"/> The backboards utilized were made of Herculite glass and weighed approximately 250 pounds.<ref name="DTH CarmRv"/>

Athletic Director C.P. Erickson stated that the new building would not be large enough to fit the growing student body and that the school would need to start planning on how to expand the venue further to accommodate the growth.<ref name="DTH CA Pipe"/> At that time, the [[air conditioning]] ducts had been installed but the school lacked the funds for installing the cooling equipment.<ref name="DTH CA Pipe"/> The Auditorium was first opened on October 12, 1965, when it hosted University Day to commemorate the 170th anniversary of the university's founding.<ref name="CHW Open">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-chapel-hill-news/142288014/|work=The Chapel Hill Weekly|author=David Witherspoon|page=1|date=October 13, 1965|title=Sharp Exhorts UNC To Meet Challenge of Changing World|access-date=March 6, 2024|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref name="GDN opening">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record/142287962/|work=Greensboro Daily News|page=B4|date=October 13, 1965|title=Tar Heel Sports|author=Gene Warren|access-date=March 6, 2024|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> In front of a crowd of around 4,000, [[List of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill leaders|Chancellor]] [[Paul F. Sharp]] spoke regarding the school's current climate.<ref name="DTH Open">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-tar-heel/142287928/|work=The Daily Tar Heel|page=1|date=October 13, 1965|title=In The New Auditorium|access-date=March 6, 2024|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> On Saturday November 6, following the [[1965 North Carolina Tar Heels football team|North Carolina]]–[[1965 Clemson Tigers football team|Clemson]] football game in [[Kenan Memorial Stadium]], Carmichael hosted its first basketball game where the men's freshman basketball tea squared off against the [[1965–66 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team|varsity team]].<ref name="TDS CFvsV">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-durham-sun/142882875/|author=Elton Casey|work=The Durham Sun|page=2D|date=November 3, 1965|title=Casey At The Bat|access-date=March 6, 2024|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> The game had free admission and started at approximately 4PM local time.<ref name="TDS CFvsV"/><ref name="TDH FvsV">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-tar-heel/142882815/|work=The Daily Tar Heel|page=4|author=Bill Rollins|date=November 6, 1965|title=Tar Heel Cagers Meet Tall Frosh|access-date=March 6, 2024|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> In an upset, the freshman team led by [[Rusty Clark]] and [[Bill Bunting]] won 78–74.<ref name="TDH FvsVRem">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-tar-heel/142882855/|work=The Daily Tar Heel|page=4|date=November 10, 1965|title=Sports Notes|access-date=March 6, 2024|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref name="TCHN FvsV">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-chapel-hill-news/142882760/|work=The Chapel Hill News|page=2|date=November 14, 1965|title=Basketball In Comfort|author=Bill Prouty|access-date=March 6, 2024|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> A rematch was held on the following Wednesday.<ref name="TDH FvsVRem"/> [[Nancy Wilson (jazz singer)|Nancy Wilson]] performed the first concert in Carmichael later that evening at 8PM local time, tickets were $1 for students and $1.50 for general admission.<ref name="DTH NW1">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-tar-heel/142881579/|work=The Daily Tar Heel|page=3|date=November 4, 1965|title=GM Presents Nancy Wilson|access-date=March 6, 2024|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref name="TCW NW">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-chapel-hill-news/142882158/|work=The Chapel Hill News|page=2|date=November 3, 1965|title=Singer Nancy Wilson Here This Saturday|access-date=March 6, 2024|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> Construction was finished in time for the start of the [[1965–66 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team|1965–66 season]], where they defeated the [[1965–66 William & Mary Indians men's basketball team|William & Mary Indians]] 82–68 in front of a crowd of roughly 7,000.<ref name="DTH W&M2">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-chapel-hill-news/133810004/|work=The Chapel Hill Weekly|page=4|date=December 5, 1965|title=Lewis Hits 34 as Tar Heels Rip Indians|access-date=October 18, 2023|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref name="DTH CA 1st Game">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49680113/the-daily-tar-heel/|work=The Daily Tar Heel|page=1|date=December 5, 1965|title=Bob Lewis, Larry Miller Loose Fateful Lightning For Win Over Injuns, 82–68|author=Gene Rector|access-date=October 18, 2019|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> However, the seats were not fully installed yet, which led to a maximum capacity of 7,000 with the goal to completely installed by December 11.<ref name="DTH notdone">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-tar-heel/49679527/|work=The Daily Tar Heel|page=1|date=December 4, 1965|title=More Seats Than Ever|access-date=October 18, 2023|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref name="DTH notdone2">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-chapel-hill-news/133810623/|work=The Chapel Hill Weekly|page=30|date=December 1, 1965|title=UNC Faces Tough Tigers, Tribe|access-date=October 18, 2023|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref>

[[File:Carmichael Auditorium 1968.jpg|thumb|left|Carmichael Auditorium, circa 1968]]

==History==

In a column over the increasing ticket issue, ''The Daily Tar Heel'' in January 1976 wrote that the capacity was truly 8,170 despite being reported as 8,800 and that demand was typically double capacity at least since its opening.<ref name="DTH 76exp"/><ref name="DTH tixissue">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-tar-heel/133778730/|work=The Daily Tar Heel|page=4|date=January 29, 1976|title=Ticket dilemma: 'Care to sit this one out?'|author=Kevin Barris|access-date=October 18, 2023|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> In the [[1975–76 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team|1975–76 season]] the auditorium contained 6,617 permanent seats at the time, 3,200 to students (1,503 bleacher seats and 1,697 permanent seats), 2,350 went to the [[Rams Club]] (where one must've donated $500 in 1975 to get the opportunity to purchase tickets), 2,150 tickets to faculty and staff, and 500 were reserved for press, player's families, Dean Smith's office workers, or given out as complimentary by the athletic department.<ref name="DTH tixissue"/> Priority system was developed prior to the 1975–76 season because there were over 9,000 faculty and staff members and it ranked the following criteria in descending order: years of ticket purchase, length of employment at North Carolina, and rank.<ref name="DTH tixissue"/> Ultimately it was believed no matter the way the lottery was done, the only solution to the ticket problem would be a larger facility.<ref name="DTH tixissue2">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-tar-heel/133778753/|work=The Daily Tar Heel|page=5|date=January 29, 1976|title=Tickets|author=Kevin Barris|access-date=October 18, 2023|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref>

Before the [[1972–73 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team|1972–73 season]], students gathered at eight distribution centers within Carmichael to receive tickets.<ref name="DTH tixissue"/> It was reported that students had been injured during these massive gatherings for ticket distribution.<ref name="DTH tixissue"/> Starting with the 1972–73 season, a first-come first serve method, or "perseverance method" as it was called, was utilized. This led to the formation of long queues in front of Carmichael the night before distribution before being let in to wait in the seats at Carmichael.<ref name="DTH tixissue"/><ref name="DTH TixDistr"/><ref name="DTH tixissue3">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-tar-heel/133778538/|work=The Daily Tar Heel|page=1|date=February 3, 1977|title=Basketball tickets: center court or in rafters|author=Nancy Hartis|access-date=October 18, 2023|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> Starting with the [[1975–76 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team|1975–76 season]], the school decided it would randomly distribute the tickets to the first 3,200 that arrived in order to reduce the chaos by those arriving early to get a better seat.<ref name="DTH tixissue"/> This new system was felt to be improved compared to the first-come, first-served method, but some students still preferred the previous way.<ref name="DTH tixissue3"/>

Following a recommendation from Coach Smith, plans were approved in late March or early April 1976 to increase capacity in Carmichael by 900 seats through the removal of 6,617 permanent seats with aluminum back supported bleachers.<ref name="DTH 76exp">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-tar-heel/133778694/|work=The Daily Tar Heel|page=1|date=April 12, 1976|title=New Carmichael seating raises capacity by 900|author=Jim Thomas|access-date=October 18, 2023|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref name="DTH 76exp3">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-tar-heel/133778776/|work=The Daily Tar Heel|page=20|date=July 15, 1976|title=Carmichael renovation will add 900 seats|access-date=October 18, 2023|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref name="DTH 76exp2"/> It was estimated the change from seat to bleacher would give a two-inch reduction per seat leading to roughly 2 more people per row.<ref name="DTH 76exp"/> Students were to receive 450 of the new seats.<ref name="DTH 76exp3"/><ref name="DTH TixDistr">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-tar-heel/133778809/|work=The Daily Tar Heel|page=7|date=October 27, 1976|title=B-ball ticket distribution|access-date=October 18, 2023|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> Carmichael at the time sat 8,200.<ref name="DTH 76exp"/><ref name="DTH 76exp3"/> The renovation costed approximately $62,000 and was paid for with the athletic budget.<ref name="DTH 76exp"/><ref name="DTH 76exp3"/> South Carolina Seating Company won the bid for the job.<ref name="DTH 76exp"/> When asked about enlarging Carmichael itself, Coach Smith stated that "We have been exploring that for a long time but we don't know structurally if that can be done or to what extent. It's still in the thought stage."<ref name="DTH 76exp"/><ref name="DTH 76exp3"/> Following the renovation's completion, the former seats were sold to fans.<ref name="DTH 76exp3"/> There was some concern that expanding the venue in this manner would impact recruiting, to which Smith dismissed.<ref name="DTH 76exp"/><ref name="DTH 76exp2"/><ref name="DTH 76exp3"/> He added "... two years from now no one will remember what type of seats we had."<ref name="DTH 76exp"/>

Issues with limited seating capacity forced the university to consider a new facility starting in the 1970s.{{sfn|Lucas|2010|p=171}} The school had started scheduling some home games in Greensboro and Charlotte as they had prior to Carmichael's opening when the team was still in Woollen.<ref name="DTH 76exp2"/> However, at the time a large fundraising effort for the school was ongoing and efforts would be started following its conclusion in 1979.{{sfn|Lucas|2010|p=171}}

==Atmosphere==
{{Quote box |quoted=true |bgcolor=#FFFFF0 |salign=center
|width=20%
|align=right
|quote=There were times at Carmichael when the crowd was so loud that a referee would call a foul or a violation and nobody would stop playing. The ref would have to almost tackle the guy with the ball because it was so loud. It was nutty in there, and it was hot.
|source=North Carolina Forward and Center Tommy LaGarde (1973–77){{sfn|Lucas|2010|p=170}}
}}
The venue was known for its loud atmosphere and temperature, so much that [[Maryland Terrapins men's basketball|Maryland Terrapins]] coach [[Lefty Driesell]] and [[Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball|Virginia Cavaliers]] coach [[Terry Holland]] accused Dean Smith of tampering with the thermostat.{{sfn|Lucas|2010|pp=170-1}} Smith would often keep Carmichael warm during practice to simulate the stuffy game conditions.{{sfn|Lucas|2010|p=171}} Long time assistant coach and future head coach Roy Williams once said "I guarantee you that for $1,000, Coach Smith couldn’t have found the thermostat or the light switch in Carmichael Auditorium."{{sfn|Lucas|2010|p=171}}

===Home-court advantage===
Carolina played their final home game at Carmichael on January 4, 1986, against [[1985–86 NC State Wolfpack men's basketball team|NC State Wolfpack]] and won 90–79.{{sfn|Kirschner|2022|p=174}}<ref name="Carmichael Final">{{cite news| title = College Basketball Roundup Tar Heels Say Goodby With a 90-79 Win| newspaper = Los Angeles Times {{subscription required}} | page =C2| date = January 5, 1986| id = {{ProQuest|292258170}} }}</ref> Since the team's departure for the Smith Center, the men's basketball has returned to Carmichael on two occasions in [[2009–10 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team|2010]] and [[2019–20 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team|2019]], where they played [[2009–10 William & Mary Tribe men's basketball team|William & Mary]] as a part of the [[2010 National Invitation Tournament|National Invitation Tournament]] and won 82–70 and later against [[2019–20 Wofford Terriers men's basketball team|Wofford]], losing 68–64. In total, Carolina played 191 games in Carmichael and finished with a record of 170–21 (.890).{{sfn|Kirschner|2022|p=174}} As of the conclusion of the [[2021–22 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team|2021–22 season]], Carmichael has the best home winning percentage of the five home venues for the Tar Heels.{{sfn|Kirschner|2022|p=174}} The Tar Heels went undefeated at Carmichael Auditorium in six of their twenty-one seasons at the facility: [[1968–69 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team|1969–69]] (9–0), [[1970–71 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team|1970–71]] (9–0), [[1971–72 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team|1971–72]] (9–0), [[1978–79 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team|1978–79]] (9–0), [[1983–84 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team|1983–84]] (9–0), and [[1977–78 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team|1977–78]] (10–0).{{sfn|Kirschner|2022|p=174}} The most losses in a single season while playing in Carmichael came in the [[1972–73 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team|1972–73 campaign]] when the Tar Heels lost three games.{{sfn|Kirschner|2022|pp=284–8}} The Tar Heels showed success in the [[Atlantic Coast Conference]], winning the [[List of Atlantic Coast Conference men's basketball regular season champions|ACC regular season title]] in 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, and 1985, while winning the [[ACC men's basketball tournament|post–season conference tournament]] in 1967, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981, and 1982.{{sfn|Lucas|2010|p=235–6}}

==Other uses==

Carmichael hosted many concerts and public speakers over its early years, but those numbers declined into the mid-1970s.<ref name="DTH SSQuote">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-tar-heel/133779122/|work=The Daily Tar Heel|page=7|date=September 1, 1976|title=In con- cert- cert- cert- cert|author=Pete Mitchell|access-date=October 18, 2019|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref><ref name="DTH SSQuote2">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-tar-heel/133782727/|work=The Daily Tar Heel|page=5|date=March 4, 1976|author=George Basco|title=Henry and the Carolina concert drought|access-date=October 18, 2019|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> Since its opening, the acoustics had been criticized in Carmichael, while the noise reverberating off the steel beams lining the "dome-like ceiling" was a benefit during home basketball games, it had been negatively received by musicians and concert go-ers.<ref name="DTH SSQuote"/> While performing, [[Stephen Stills]] commented on the acoustics in Carmichael stating: "It sounds like the inside of a goddamn toilet bowl in [Carmichael]."{{refn|name=SSQuote|group=N|Stephen Stills performed at Carmichael Auditorium on . In March 1976, ''The Daily Tar Heel'' quoted him saying: "This place sounds like a goddamn toilet bowl."<ref name="DTH SSQuote2"/> Then later in September 1976, ''The Daily Tar Heel'' quoted Stills as: "It sounds like the inside of a toilet bowl in here."<ref name="DTH SSQuote"/>}} Concerts also had declined because the Carolina Union could not afford the asking price of the desired acts in combination with the fact musicians started to gravitate towards scheduling larger regional venues in order to increase revenue like the [[Greensboro Coliseum Complex|Greensboro Coliseum]].<ref name="DTH SSQuote"/><ref name="DTH SSQuote2"/> In response to these developments, the school began scheduling smaller acts at [[UNC Memorial Hall|Memorial Hall]] which sat around 1,600 in 1976.<ref name="DTH SSQuote2"/> Then Carolina Union Director Howard Henry commented that when Carmichael was being built ceiling acoustic panels were declined to be included in construction and if added in 1976 would cost approximately $100,000.<ref name="DTH SSQuote2"/> Some of the notable performers in Carmichael include: [[Louis Armstrong]] (1965),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-tar-heel/133989055/|work=The Daily Tar Heel|page=3|date=November 23, 1965|title=Louis Armstrong Remains King of Trumpeteers|access-date=October 18, 2023|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> [[The Supremes]] (in 1965),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-tar-heel/18996694/|work=The Daily Tar Heel|page=1|date=November 23, 1965|title=Three Detroit Girls Make Good|author=Sandy Treadwell|access-date=October 18, 2023|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> [[Jethro Tull (band)|Jethro Tull]] (in 1971),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-tar-heel-jethro-tull-chapel-hi/59056631/|work=The Daily Tar Heel|page=3|date=October 26, 1971|title=Tull, ballet tickets on sale at Union|author=Kathy Koch|access-date=October 18, 2023|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> [[Black Sabbath]] (in 1971),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-tar-heel-photo-of-geezer-butle/12612815/|work=The Daily Tar Heel|page=1|date=March 3, 1971|title=No Title|access-date=October 18, 2023|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> [[Fleetwood Mac]] (in 1975),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-tar-heel/133989608/|work=The Daily Tar Heel|page=4|date=November 20, 1975|title=Fleetwood Mac best in years|author=George Basco|access-date=October 18, 2023|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> [[Talking Heads]] (in 1983),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-tar-heel/133989869/|work=The Daily Tar Heel|page=4|date=October 17, 1983|title=Talking Heads made people think as they moved their feet|author= J. Bonasia|access-date=October 18, 2023|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] (in 1983),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-tar-heel/3385497/|work=The Daily Tar Heel|page=4|date=February 17, 1983|title=Concert features daring eroticism|author=Linda Robertson|access-date=October 18, 2023|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> [[Neil Young]] (in 1983),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-tar-heel/133990374/|work=The Daily Tar Heel|page=4|date=February 10, 1983|title=Neil Young performance combination of many styles|author=D.F. Wilson|access-date=October 18, 2023|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> [[The Clash]] (in 1984),<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-tar-heel/133989967/|work=The Daily Tar Heel|page=1|date=April 9, 1984|title=The 'new' Clash goes back to the basics|author=J. Bonasia|access-date=October 18, 2023|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref> [[Alanis Morissette]] (in 1999), [[J. Cole]] (in 2012), and [[2 Chainz]] (in 2017). Comedian [[Eddie Murphy]] performed in front of an audience of around 8,000 in 1985.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-tar-heel/133990133/|work=The Daily Tar Heel|page=4|date=March 29, 1985|title=Murphy's comedy seemed to 'beat it' as night progressed|author=Alexandra Mann|access-date=October 18, 2023|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}} {{Open access}}</ref>

in 1987, Carmichael hosted the [[U.S. Olympic Festival]] volleyball competition.<ref name="GH CA">{{cite news |title=Carmichael Arena|url=https://goheels.com/news/2012/11/9/205731428.aspx|newspaper=GoHeels.com|location=Raleigh|date=May 26, 2020|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231024152432/https://goheels.com/news/2012/11/9/205731428.aspx|archive-date=October 24, 2023}}</ref> Carolina union concert program.<ref name="GH CA"/> In 2001, the Matjam collegiate wrestling championships for the ACC, [[Coastal Athletic Association|Colonial]], and [[Southern Conference|Southern]] conferences.<ref name="GH CA"/> Carmichael has hosted several rounds of the women's basketball and women's volleyball NCAA Tournaments.<ref name="GH CA"/> The facility is also use for state championships for several sports including volleyball, basketball, and wrestling, along with various camps.<ref name="GH CA"/>

The arena hosted a speech by President Barack Obama on April 24, 2012.

==See also==
* [[List of NCAA Division I basketball arenas]]

==References==

===Footnotes===
{{Reflist|group=N}}

===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin}}
*{{cite book | last = Chansky | first = Art | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oMSkCgAAQBAJ|title = 100 Things North Carolina Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die | publisher = Triumph Books | location = Chicago, Illinois | year = 2015 | isbn = 9781600789847 }}
*{{cite book |url=https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sidearm.nextgen.sites/unc.sidearmsports.com/documents/2023/1/6/22-23_Record_Book.pdf |title=Carolina Basketball 2022-23 Facts & Records Book |year=2022 |editor-last=Kirschner|editor-first=Steve|publisher= UNC Athletic Communications Office|location=Chapel Hill, North Carolina|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230520231506/https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sidearm.nextgen.sites/unc.sidearmsports.com/documents/2023/1/6/22-23_Record_Book.pdf|archive-date=May 20, 2023|url-status=live }}
*{{cite book | last = Lucas | first = Adam | title = Carolina Basketball: A Century of Excellence | publisher = University of North Carolina Press | location = Chapel Hill, North Carolina | year = 2010 | isbn = 9780807834107|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rK6ylz8eMCMC }}
*{{cite book|year=1962 |editor-last=Quincy|editor-first=Bob|url=https://archive.org/details/uncbasketballblu19621963 |access-date=June 17, 2014|title=University of North Carolina 1962-63 Basketball Blue Book}}
*{{cite book|year=1964 |editor-last=Quincy|editor-first=Bob|url=https://archive.org/details/uncbasketballblu19641965/page/n1 |access-date=June 17, 2014|title=University of North Carolina 1964-65 Basketball Blue Book}}
*{{cite book|year=1965 |editor-last=Quincy|editor-first=Bob|url=https://archive.org/details/uncbasketballblu19651966/page/4 |access-date=June 17, 2014|title=University of North Carolina 1965-66 Basketball Blue Book}}
*{{cite book|year=1966 |editor-last=Quincy|editor-first=Bob|url=https://archive.org/details/uncbasketballblu19661967/page/42 |access-date=June 17, 2014|title=University of North Carolina 1966-67 Basketball Blue Book}}
{{Refend}}

{{North Carolina Tar Heels women's basketball navbox}}
{{North Carolina Tar Heels basketball arenas}}
{{University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill}}
{{Atlantic Coast Conference basketball venue navbox}}
{{ACC Volleyball Arenas}}
{{North Carolina NCAA Division I college basketball venue navbox}}
{{North Carolina NCAA Division I women's college volleyball venues navbox}}

[[Category:College gymnastics venues in the United States]]
[[Category:College wrestling venues in the United States]]
[[Category:College volleyball venues in the United States]]
[[Category:North Carolina Tar Heels basketball venues]]
[[Category:Basketball venues in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1965]]
[[Category:1965 establishments in North Carolina]]