Chapel Thrill Game Day expands football pregame fun

Aerial view of the Bell Tower in front of Kenan Stadium during a Carolina football game. — Tar Heel fans will have plenty of entertainment options around Kenan Stadium before football games this fall. (Carolina Athletics)

Another new thrill is coming to Carolina football game day.

Building on the excitement of hiring eight-time Super Bowl champion coach Bill Belichick, adding a talented, new roster and selling out tickets at a record pace, Carolina will host the all new Chapel Thrill Game Day experience before the Tar Heels’ six home games this fall.

The event will expand last year’s pre-kickoff footprint of opportunities for fans of all ages to enjoy and will include the debut of the Chapel Thrill Concert Series, brought to you by The Rams Club. National recording artists will take the stage in front of Wilson Library and perform a free pregame concert beginning about two hours before each kickoff. Chase Rice, country music star and Tar Heel football alum, will headline the inaugural concert ahead of the TCU game on Monday, Sept. 1. The full schedule of performers will be announced soon.

In addition, the Old Well Walk will return for the 8 p.m. season-opener against TCU. Approximately two and a half hours before kickoff, the team will walk from the Old Well through Polk Place and around the Bell Tower to the stadium, allowing fans enjoying Chapel Thrill Game Day to cheer it on as it prepares for the game.

“With the landmark hiring of Bill Belichick and the excitement surrounding Carolina football at an all-time high, we want to provide an exceptional pre-game experience that will help create lasting memories for our fans inside and outside of Kenan Stadium,” said Carolina deputy athletics director/chief revenue officer Rick Barakat. “Whether you want to enjoy a concert, tailgate with friends, grab a beverage and bite to eat or play games with your kids, Chapel Thrill Game Day will deliver an electric environment that brings Tar Heel fans together.”

Bill Belichick holds up his father's U.N.C. sweatshirt during a press conference with Chancellor Lee H. Roberts and Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham.

Carolina has sold out all tickets for the Tar Heels’ first season under head coach and eight-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick. (Jon Gardiner/UNC-Chapel Hill)

In addition to the new concert series, The Modelo Kickoff Club will double in size and move to a premium position in front of the stage within Polk Place. The Kickoff Club remains the perfect spot for fans to grab a drink before the game. Entry is free, and alcohol will be available for purchase. Food trucks will also be available in and around Polk Place along with large LED screens, plus a new and dedicated student tailgate area allowing all of campus to join the pre-game fun.

Carolina will work with its tailgate activation partner REVELxp to execute Chapel Thrill Game Day and will provide turnkey tailgating on all four quads at the Bell Tower, the Kenan Amphitheater and Dorrance Field. Fans may upgrade their game day with hassle-free, full-service tailgates at some of the most scenic locations on campus by contacting REVELxp at 919-869-5486 or unc@revelxp.com. More information is available on the REVELxp website.

Carolina Alumni will also continue to host the pregame tradition of climbing 128 steps from the ground floor to the fourth floor of the iconic Bell Tower before home football games.

Meanwhile, the Coca-Cola Fan Zone, located in The Pit, will remain a great place for fans to grab giveaways and enjoy fun activities for all ages. The area will feature kids’ activities, golf simulators, bounce houses, sponsor activations, autograph sessions with Carolina athletes, a large LED screen and more.

Pre-game areas will open four hours before kickoff with the following timeline