Hawks fans: You ready for a [revamped] arena?

Post #1 » by **Jamaaliver** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 7:52 pm

From AJC:

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.

HERE

Ummm...wow.

Thoughts?

DirtybirdGA · Post #2 » by **DirtybirdGA** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 8:14 pm

Gotta join the bandwagon in the city, I suppose.

Post #3 » by **ATL Boy** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 8:15 pm

Another new arena? I wonder how the taxpayers will feel about that.

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PandaKidd · Post #4 » by **PandaKidd** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 8:17 pm

I supported the move for the Braves (NOT THE WAY they did it, but moving to Cobb made complete business sense) , I thought the Dome sucked personally. and a lot of that was complete mismanagement wit hdowntown. I think the new stadium for the Falcons is needed and they better stick to their promises of pumping money into the area.

I am 100% against the Hawks moving to the suburbs. They belong downtown. Philips is a great venue, I love its proximity to COP and Falcons stadium, Castlberry hill, the ferris wheel, etc. It gives you something to do downtown. Great for concerts and such.

Moving it out of the city is a terrible idea and I hope they dont do it.

PandaKidd · Post #5 » by **PandaKidd** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 8:18 pm

UIve been to a TON of basketball Arenas, and I cant say that Philips isnt a great venue. it absolutely is. Not a bad seat in the house really, the things they did this year were excellent in regards to fan interaction and entertainment.

Post #6 » by **Jamaaliver** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 8:30 pm

Too soon. I'm only in my mid-30s and I've already seen every ATL team get new stadiums...Falcons and Bravos TWICE!!!

Anyone else miss Atlanta Spirit? (joking!!)

Skyhawk1 · Post #7 » by **Skyhawk1** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 8:36 pm

I live in Cobb county and am already paying for the Braves new stadium. The Hawks like any other sports franchise are owned and operated as a business, privately owned. I take my hat off to cities like Seattle who refused to insert taxpayer money into privately owned business such the Sonics at the time. If you look at it now, the NBA misses the Seattle market way more than Seattle misses the NBA. I am 100% against any government help to any private business at any time and under any circumstances, hear me GM?

Post #8 » by **dms269** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 8:41 pm

I live in Gwinnett and have only been to one Hawks game...for my bachelor party last season.

I don't think Gwinnett could take them with cool ray and the arena.

Post #9 » by **Jamaaliver** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 8:52 pm

I'm thinking it's GOTTA be the remodel option.

The amount of inconvenience of three new sports arenas being built at once (or consecutively) in the city...

I don't think Philips is even paid off yet.

Capitalism...really stinks sometimes. (The greed part. Not the innovation part.)

MaceCase · Post #10 » by **MaceCase** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 8:58 pm

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"

PandaKidd · Post #11 » by **PandaKidd** » Thu Jun 25, 2015 11:32 pm

Mace is right, number one complaint I here from some of my corp buddies is the luxury boxes are in terrible locations.

Has to be remodel though

New_Hawks_Era · Post #12 » by **New_Hawks_Era** » Fri Jun 26, 2015 1:51 pm

Remodel

Post #13 » by **Goudelock** » Tue Jun 30, 2015 2:54 am

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.

roadofalex · Post #14 » by **roadofalex** » Wed Jul 1, 2015 5:05 pm

Remodel! I'm glad the Braves are moving, but I love Philips!

New_Hawks_Era · Post #15 » by **New_Hawks_Era** » Wed Jul 1, 2015 9:10 pm

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.

People are still saying that? :eek1:

New_Hawks_Era · Post #16 » by **New_Hawks_Era** » Wed Jul 1, 2015 9:14 pm

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.

People are still saying that? :eek1:

MaceCase · Post #17 » by **MaceCase** » Thu Jul 2, 2015 5:40 am

I'm no engineer so I can't speak to how hard or easy or even if it's possible to deconstruct all of those lux boxes on one side, move them to other parts of the arena, and replace the space they departed with seats and multiple access points to said seats.

On the surface it would seem like a daunting enough task that could require gutting most of the arena:

What the price and time table looks like on that as compared to building a new arena really will determine if it's worthwhile in the least. I know Madison Square Garden just underwent a billion dollar renovation that took 3 years and the only difference I've noticed is they cleared out the rats, widened the concourse and put bridges over the court.

reazun · Post #18 » by **reazun** » Thu Jul 2, 2015 5:37 pm

Phillips is really nice imo. I think its much nicer than the united center

Post #19 » by **Jamaaliver** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 3:07 pm

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.

Here

Post #20 » by **Jamaaliver** » Thu Oct 22, 2015 3:10 pm

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.”

Seems like the most reasonable compromise.