Philips Arena closed after last night's Pink concert to undergo the second phase of its renovation process, and Hawks CEO Steve Koonin said fans' jaws are "going to drop" next season when they "see the amount of video and the quality of video that will be in the arena," according to Randy Southerland of the ATLANTA BUSINESS CHRONICLE. When the $193M transformation is complete, which is scheduled for mid-October, it will both "look and feel like a new building and offer sports and concert fans a new entertainment experience." Koonin said, "Every aisle, every square inch will be different from roof line to base line. It will not look, feel or resemble anything anybody has seen in the past." The major demolition of the interior was "completed last summer." Southerland noted the newly refurbished arena will "offer a variety of venues for those who favor a more social approach to sports." The Hawks Bar is "right behind the basket and offers patrons a clear view of the action." One big design change is the "introduction of 360-degree connected concourses at all levels following removal of the six-level wall of suites that was a popular trend" when Philips Arena opened in '99. Development of the nearby Gulch neighborhood is also "likely to help create a more vibrant downtown." Officials are "looking for a vibrant mixed-use development similar" to L.A. Live. Koonin said of a revamped downtown, "That's one of the most important things that can happen to our city over the next generation" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 4/20).
