The Hawks on Thursday were awarded an NBA D-League franchise, and the club will partner with the City of College Park "as tenants in a to-be-constructed arena," according to Chris Vivlamore of the ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION. College Park, a suburb of Atlanta, will "build a 3,500-seat arena." College Park Mayor Jack Longino said that the arena will be "built as a public/private partnership." The venue will "accommodate concerts and other events," and construction is "scheduled to be finished" by the summer of '19. The Hawks will be the 23rd D-League affiliate and will begin play for the '19-20 season. They are one of eight NBA teams that "currently do not have their own development team." There are also "no formal plans to name the team." Hawks President of Basketball Operations & coach Mike Budenholzer said that the team will be "able to manage their young developing players much closer now." Hawks CEO Steve Koonin noted that the D-League facility will be "located just eight miles from Philips Arena, the second-closest distance between an NBA team and its affiliate." College Park was a location the Hawks "considered for the practice facility, which will be built in Brookhaven in partnership" with Emory Univ. (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 11/11).
BABY BULLS: In Chicago, Mike McGraw notes the expansion D-League Windy City Bulls on Friday will play their first game. WC Bulls officials are "expecting a good crowd" at Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Ill. By "focusing its marketing on a 15-20 mile radius around the Sears Centre," the team's goal is to "recreate the entertainment value of a Bulls game at the United Center while offering a shorter drive for suburban fans, along with the smaller ticket prices" (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 11/11).
