RealGM

Not two hours after being officially introduced as the Atlanta Hawks’ new controlling owner...Ressler allowed that there were three things the new owners could do about Philips Arena, which opened in 1999: Nothing, remodel or rebuild. And the first, Ressler said, “isn’t an option.”

(Ressler also described Philips as being “not in the upper quartile of arenas.”)

Which means that the new owners want a new arena, which is par for the course. (Arthur Blank wanted a new stadium from the moment he bought the Falcons, which wasn’t even 10 years after the Georgia Dome had opened.) Maybe it’ll be a redone Philips. Maybe it’ll be a rebuilt arena where Philips stands. Maybe it won’t.

He and his group “are in the first 24 hours of being owners,” so it’s not as if they’ve picked a parcel of land. But that discussion — downtown versus the suburbs — will be coming soon.

MaceCase wrote:The issue was brought up while the team was being shopped but I imagine that Ressler isn't fond of the lux boxes (AKA the big money corporate revenue boxes) are all on one side of the arena and the condition of the practice facility was brought up also. The practice facility could be moved off site like a good majority of NBA teams but I think the lux boxes are something that can't be remodeled around.

Now as par for the course, I'm waiting on the "put up public dollars for my *ahem* "our" new arena or else city XYZ will"

PockyCandy wrote:

MaceCase wrote:The issue was brought up while the team was being shopped but I imagine that Ressler isn't fond of the lux boxes (AKA the big money corporate revenue boxes) are all on one side of the arena and the condition of the practice facility was brought up also. The practice facility could be moved off site like a good majority of NBA teams but I think the lux boxes are something that can't be remodeled around.

Now as par for the course, I'm waiting on the "put up public dollars for my *ahem* "our" new arena or else city XYZ will"

I'm preparing myself for the inevitable "Hawks to Seattle" talk once this reaches the GB. Seriously, how difficult would it be to remodel the arena? I'd think that it would be a heck of a lot cheaper than building a new one.

PockyCandy wrote:

MaceCase wrote:The issue was brought up while the team was being shopped but I imagine that Ressler isn't fond of the lux boxes (AKA the big money corporate revenue boxes) are all on one side of the arena and the condition of the practice facility was brought up also. The practice facility could be moved off site like a good majority of NBA teams but I think the lux boxes are something that can't be remodeled around.

Now as par for the course, I'm waiting on the "put up public dollars for my *ahem* "our" new arena or else city XYZ will"

I'm preparing myself for the inevitable "Hawks to Seattle" talk once this reaches the GB. Seriously, how difficult would it be to remodel the arena? I'd think that it would be a heck of a lot cheaper than building a new one.

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said Thursday his administration is working on a plan with the Atlanta Hawks for a significant overhaul of Philips Arena to keep the team downtown.

The city and the NBA team are discussing plans that would involve an undetermined amount of public investment.

“We will retrofit Philips. That is the agreement. The discussion is about the number,” Reed said, referring to the total cost of a substantial Philips renovation, not just a public amount.

The renovation being discussed could total $150 million to $250 million, Reed said in a brief interview ...The Hawks have retained a firm to design the overhaul, he said.

That makeover could include undoing the “wall of suites” on one side of the arena, an element to the stadium that is not in fashion in the NBA.

Currently, the arena is undergoing a significant cosmetic upgrades to the Hawks locker room area, improvements new ownership feel are necessary to the facility.

Center Al Horford recently acknowledged that Philips Arena “wasn’t the best facility.”

“I’m very happy, very satisfied,” Horford said of the current work being done at the arena. “I think it’s great that the ownership are taking this initiative to make everything better. As players, we really appreciate it. It makes it more enjoyable to come in and work and have more resources here. From a player’s standpoint, this is what we’ve been waiting for.”