Fans asked not to drive through snow to NC State-UNC game. Arena open to walk-up fans
While the NC State-North Carolina basketball game will be played at the Smith Center on Wednesday night, the heavy snowfall hitting the Triangle is impacting game operations.
UNC will open the Smith Center’s doors at 5:30 p.m. with tip scheduled for 7 p.m. But school officials are asking fans not to drive to the arena while opening the venue to “anyone who can safely walk” to the game.
“We certainly want our fans here to cheer on our team — but more importantly, we want everyone to be safe,’’ UNC athletics director Bubba Cunningham said in a statement. “To those on and around campus who can join us, please walk in; we know you will provide a great atmosphere. To those who can’t make it, we know you will be supporting our team from home.”
Anyone with tickets to tonight’s 7 p.m. tipoff will have first rights to their seats.
Snow began falling across the Triangle just after noon on Wednesday. Forecasts called for a wide range of snowfall totals across the region, with a mixture of sleet and freezing rain adding to the mess.
UNC officials canceled all classes Wednesday and through noon Thursday, instructing all non-mandatory employees to not return to work and to leave campus. Some will be allowed to work remotely.
“As a rule,” a statement to the campus community said, “students, faculty and staff must use their own best judgment about whether they can travel safely to and from campus.”
Gov. Josh Stein, in a media briefing Tuesday, announced a state of emergency had been declared, saying the winter storm should affect most of North Carolina. Stein said everyone is urged to “avoid traveling unless it is necessary to travel.”
The ACC has protocols in place that determine whether the games are postponed. According to the ACC, every effort will be made to play if the teams, officials and essential game management personnel can make it to the playing facility.
Already in Chapel Hill, N.C. State’s men’s basketball team participated in a morning routine shoot-around at the Smith Center that is common for all visiting teams on the day of the game.
Both the N.C. State and UNC women’s basketball teams flew out Wednesday morning ahead of the snowfall for road games to be played Thursday night — NCSU at Georgia Tech and UNC at Syracuse.
In January, a winter storm warning was issued a few days before the Tar Heels and Pack were to play a Saturday game at Lenovo Center in Raleigh. Stein also declared a state of emergency.
The bad weather did not materialize and the game was played as scheduled, UNC winning, 63-61.
NC Reality Check is an N&O series holding those in power accountable and shining a light on public issues that affect the Triangle or North Carolina. Have a suggestion for a future story? Email realitycheck@newsobserver.com
This story was originally published February 18, 2025 at 12:48 PM.
