Seats in Philips Arena have been "removed, suites demolished, walls knocked down, concourses and seating sections reconfigured," and not one piece of "untouched space" exists in the venue, according to Tim Tucker of the ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION. It is "almost hard to believe an NBA game was played there less than two months ago -- and will be again in about 4½ months." The arena has been "closed since April 22 for the last and largest phase" of its $192.5M makeover. The official reopening date "won’t be known" until the NBA announces its '18-19 schedule in August. However, Hawks COO Thad Sheely said that contractors are "due to turn the building back over to the Hawks organization Oct. 15." Sheely said that the "only part of the project completed at this point is the Courtside Club, the new premium space that opened last year." Otherwise, every area is a "work in progress." Some 12,500 seats have been "removed and recycled." Only the "relatively small number of seats that were new last season remain in place, hidden for now under protective coverings." The Hawks "plan to have all of the arena open" for the '18-19 season "except for one premium area called the Legends Club, which will debut a year later" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 6/8).
