How far would you travel to see the Tar Heels play?

GLENDALE, AZ - MARCH 30: The North Carolina Tar Heels team bus pulls up to the stadium for practice and media availability ahead of the NCAA Photos via Getty Images Men's Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium on March 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) | NCAA Photos via Getty Images

In a little over three months, the UNC football team will kick off their season against TCU. While the game will be a rematch of last year’s season opener against the Horned Frogs, the venue will be unique. The teams will square off in Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland on August 29th (also worth noting if you missed the announcement: the UNC women’s soccer team will also play a game in Dublin on August 28th). It will be the Heels (and TCU’s) first time competing internationally in football.

UNC has a huge following, so I have no doubt that light blue will be well represented in the stands when the game kicks off. Still, it’s roughly 3,600 miles and five time zones between Chapel Hill and Dublin. You’d have to be a pretty dedicated (and well heeled) Heels fan to make the trek to Ireland, especially considering Carolina is a decent sized underdog. Still, if I had the means and time, it’d be an experience I’d love to take in.

This got me thinking about the distances I’ve traveled to see the Heels play. I currently live seven-ish hours from Chapel Hill, so seeing the Heels compete almost always involves some amount of travel. Usually, it’s a three-hour trip to Louisville or Atlanta to catch an ACC matchup, although occasionally I’ll make the 500+ mile drive to catch a home game in the Smith Center. I’ve been as far south as New Orleans and as far west as Honolulu to catch the basketball team (and have a great vacation, of course).