Heel Tough Blog: Tar Heels Set to Honor 100th Anniversary of Kenan Stadium

Nicholas Faulkner- Getty Images

2026 is a special season for Tar Heel football as it is the 100th anniversary of their home stadium. On Wednesday evening, the Tar Heels announced how they will be honoring that this season in a variety of different ways.

A logo for the 100th anniversary was debuted earlier today and, according to a release from the program, will be available on merchandise and other commemorative items. This is a really nice touch from the program and will certainly be something that Tar Heel fans can be excited about when they head to the stadium or Franklin Street.

When it comes to the changes in-stadium, the majority of them are going to enhance what you see on gameday from your seat. The two videoboards on the East and West end of the stadium are going to be upgraded and will be larger than the previous ones, measuring in at 31.5 feet high and 106.5 feet wide. The stadium will also now feature nine LED ribbon boards that will provide fans with more statistics and “other gameday content”. The sound system, which has had its issues over the years, will also be replaced with brand new, state-of-the-art equipment for this season.

Another in-stadium change will be something that most fans won’t get to experience on gameday. According to the release from the program, the press box in Kenan Stadium is currently undergoing a “comprehensive renovation”. Included in the renovation will be new flooring and furnishing and will also include an upgraded dining experience for media and guests. The walls will be covered in historical moments in Tar Heel football history as part of what looks to be an effort to pay homage to the program’s past.

Another way that the team will be paying homage to past Tar Heels is with the way they will honor former players. Home games will not only honor former players, but will include them in the Old Well Walk and have them out on the field as honorary captains before kickoff. The program is also planning to feature its five retired and other honored jerseys around the stadium.

The biggest news of the day, though, came in the form of confirmation that the team will be wearing a uniform this season that will honor the 1980 team, the last to win an ACC Championship. The program did not, however, announce which game they will be wearing the uniform combination.

The program also used this release to announce that the Chapel Hill Concert Series will be returning this year in front of the Wilson Library approximately two hours before each home game. The artist for this season will be announced sometime in the near future according to the program.