Even with ‘GameDay’ visits to Triangle routine, Smith Center was festive

CHAPEL HILL — GameDay coming to the Triangle for a Carolina-Duke battle is as predictable as sky-high ticket prices for the greatest rivalry in sports. Aside from when ESPN didn’t go to campuses during the pandemic, it has taken the show to Chapel Hill and Durham for every matchup since 2011. Even though it’s become routine, fans filled most of 12 lower-level sections in the Smith Center on Saturday morning for the latest visit, with many there an hour before the show began.