Upgrades Will Enhance Carmichael Experience

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Fans will experience an enhanced and exciting game day atmosphere when they cheer on the Tar Heels at Carmichael Arena during the coming school year. The historic building is undergoing significant lighting upgrades and the installation of new LED video boards that will significantly brighten women's basketball, volleyball, gymnastics and wrestling events. The work will be completed by fall of 2023.

"We want to make our game day experience as energetic, memorable and as fun as it can be for our student-athletes, coaches and community, and these upgrades are a huge step forward," said Carolina Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham. "Our staff is already planning creative ways to use the new lighting systems and video displays, and as we will continue to evaluate the in-game experience at Carmichael Arena to draw new visitors and keep our fans coming back.''

Additional construction adjacent to Carmichael will create a full-court practice facility in Woollen Gym. That facility will provide dedicated space for the women's basketball team, relieving traffic in Carmichael and allowing for enhanced training opportunities. It includes a state-of-the-art video system as well as storage and equipment areas and is expected to be complete by the end of the academic year.

When the Tar Heel women's basketball, volleyball, wrestling and gymnastics programs compete at Carmichael, they will do so under a four-sided, center-hung LED video board that more than doubles the display area of the previous scoreboard, providing brighter resolution and customized display formats.

A new 40-foot-long LED scorer's table will add additional space to amplify statistics and other messaging. Additionally, the LED display on the west side of the arena has been upgraded, allowing for increased visibility for scoreboards and information.

All LED displays will be powered by Ross Video Xpression Tessera graphics engines – the same system used in Sofi Stadium in Los Angeles and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
With enhanced lighting capacity, Carmichael will be awash in Carolina blue during introductions, timeouts and postgame. The new system will also allow for programmed light movement and instant on/off capability.

While providing an improved viewing experience, the new LED systems will also decrease energy consumption and make Carmichael more energy efficient. The University's climate-related goals include constant improvements to reach carbon neutrality by 2040. The Champion Sustainability Fund, run by Sustainable Carolina and established by a gift from HanesBrands, invested in the Carmichael project.

"We are so pleased to partner with UNC Athletics to both transform the experience in this iconic venue and to significantly advance the university's sustainability goals," said Mike Piehler, UNC's Chief Sustainability Officer. "Carolina has a long history of commitment to sustainability and this project is a great example of collaboration to reduce costs, increase performance and improve sustainability."

Work on the lighting project is complete. The new Carmichael scoreboard is scheduled to be fully installed in August. The venue accommodates up to 6,319 fans, providing an outstanding viewing environment in the heart of the UNC campus.

University of North Carolina Athletics

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