Every spring, students at Duke University brave the cold, winter weather for a chance to attend the UNC vs. Duke men’s basketball game at Cameron Indoor Stadium,  or as they call it, “K-Ville.” Students stay in tents outside their home stadium beginning in January through the end of February. 

This tenting season was particularly demanding due to the extreme winter weather that hit North Carolina throughout January. This brought several snowfalls and below-freezing temperatures, requiring a deep level of commitment from students.

“I think it’s the kind of thing where people complain—they’re like, ‘Oh my God, I have to go do this’—but they actually secretly enjoy it,” said Scarlett Francini, a third-year student at Duke. “It forces you to be a superfan.”

Meghna Koya, a third-year student in Francini’s tent, described tenting as an inconvenience to her daily routine, but she does it because she sees it as a rite of passage for Duke students. 

“Personally, this semester is kind of busy, so I feel like it’s kind of annoying to deal with, and it kind of feels weird at times,” she said. “But I do feel like it’s a pretty unique part of Duke, where, even as much as I complain about it, I guess I am happy that it exists and it’s not some sort of random process I don’t have control over.”

While student attitudes may differ, tenting has become a cultural expectation for many Duke students. It’s a way to both demonstrate school spirit and secure a seat at one of college basketball’s longest running rivalries.

The Tradition

The Blue Devils’ and Tar Heels’ rivalry dominates local sports culture, particularly during the men’s basketball season. The teams first met this season on Feb. 7 at the Dean E. Smith Center. The Tar Heels took their first lead with only 0.4 seconds on the clock and secured the win.

On March 7 the Blue Devils will have a second chance to beat their rivals at Cameron Indoor Stadium — their home stadium.

Unlike the Smith Center, which seats more than 21,000 fans, Cameron Indoor Stadium holds about 9,000. With roughly 6,500 undergraduate students and more than 10,000 graduate and professional students, demand for student tickets far exceeds supply. Because of this, around 40 years ago, Duke students began tenting outside their stadium the night before the UNC home game in hopes of getting in. 

This small act of commitment led to a university-sanctioned tenting process outside Cameron Indoor Stadium that begins weeks before tipoff.

Three Phases of Tenting

The tenting process consists of three phases: black, blue and white. 

Black tents participate in the full 6 week tenting process. During the day, two people must be present in the tent at any given time; at night, 10 are required. Blue tents are less strict — they participate for four and a half weeks, and are required to have one person present during the day and six at night. White tents participate for two weeks, requiring one person in the tent during the day and two at night.  

Throughout the process, students earn points that determine their position in line. Tents compete in name, decor, and body paint competitions, as well as a talent show. Students can also earn points by attending other Duke athletic events, including women’s basketball and volleyball games.

To support students’ well-being and enjoyment of the tenting process, the university also schedules random “grace” periods, allowing students an hour away from their tenting shifts. Tenting is also paused during severe weather conditions, such as snow or thunderstorms. Lastly, following the away game in Chapel Hill, students were given a wellness week away from their tenting responsibilities. 

For UNC students, who enter a lottery system and wait in a line on gameday, Duke’s tenting tradition may seem unfathomable. But for many Duke students, the commitment is a part of the appeal.

Edited by Jessica Johnson