WRAL Sports Fan

WRALSportsFan

Tar Heels Kick Off New Season, Seating In Exhibition Matchup

Nov 1, 2006

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — North Carolina basketball fans are ready to put 10,000 new seats to good use, as the Tar Heels take the court for their first exhibition game of the season Wednesday night.

From fan Taquan Douglas' perspective, the game against St. Augustine's Falcons is the start of a strong season for the Heels.

"This year, I don't think it matters who they play," he said. "They're going to beat them."

The Morganton resident parked himself in front of the Dean Dome at 11 a.m. Wednesday for a good seat. But what he reclines on Wednesday night may be even better than expected.

Since September, workers have been replacing the old seats with new chairs, leaving some Dumpster-diving students with priceless souvenirs.

All of the new seats are a different shade of blue from the older ones. The view is still the same, but with all the seats a new color of Carolina Blue, the Dome might be just a bit softer now.

UNC officials said that 80 percent of the new seats have been installed. They'll all be in by the regular season home opener against Gardner-Webb on Nov. 19.

Wednesday's tip-off is scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Officials said seats were still available late Wednesday afternoon.

• Reporter: Julia Lewis
• Photographer: Don Ingle
• Web Editor: Dana Franks