CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WNCN) – In the world of college sports, the University of North Carolina typically finds itself on the top of many lists, but not this one.
UNC-Chapel Hill ranked as the worst tailgating destination in the Atlantic Coast Conference, as well as the fourth worst in the entire country, according to a recent study.
The tech company Smart Start conducted a new study that analyzed cities nationwide to determine the best and worst tailgating spots, assessing factors such as fan energy, cost, weather and game-day experience.
Chapel Hill isn’t the only place in the Triangle that’s considered to have “lackluster tailgate opportunities,” with Durham and Raleigh, the respective homes of the Duke Blue Devils and North Carolina State Wolfpack, landing at seventh worst and tenth worst on the national rankings.
The University of Louisville topped the list of ACC programs.
However, the ACC placed lowest among the Power Four conferences, the findings show.
To determine which cities were best for tailgating, researchers said they calculated the number of NFL and college teams in each city before gathering data on each one’s average ticket price, average parking pass price, their 2024 records, stadium capacity and the number of weekend home games each program hosted in the 2025 season.
For each city, organizers behind the study said they also collected the average high temperature, low temperature and days with rain from September through December. Researchers also compiled information on the number of drinking establishments in the city, along with the average food and beverage prices for relevant tailgating items.