Birdhouse In Your Soul: Atlanta Mayor, Hawks Working On Plans For Arena Upgrades

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed on Thursday said that his administration "is working on a plan" with the Hawks for a "significant overhaul of Philips Arena to keep the team downtown," according to a front-page piece by Trubey & Vivlamore of the ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION. The city and the team are "discussing plans that would involve an undetermined amount of public investment." Reed said, “We will retrofit Philips. That is the agreement. The discussion is about the number." He added that the renovation "could total" $150-250M, and that the team has "retained a firm to design the overhaul." Trubey & Vivlamore note the makeover "could include undoing the 'wall of suites' on one side of the arena." It also would "involve connecting disjointed corridors for better flow of fans and opening corridors to the game action." Hawks Owner Tony Ressler "immediately upon purchasing the team" in June said that the 16-year old arena "needed to be remodeled or replaced" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 10/23).