UNC Basketball: Dean Dome opens on this date in 1986 Posted Jan 18, 2017 Can you believe that the Dean E. Smith Center officially opened its doors on this date 31 years ago? Yep, the Dean Dome hosted its first UNC basketball game on Jan. 18 1986 and it was a good one. The No. 1 ranked Tar Heels hosted their rivals down the road as the No. 3 Duke Blue Devils helped usher in a stadium that has seen some historic moments. (Keeping It Heel)