Friday’s Hawks playoff game against the Bulls is close to selling out, and officials are urging fans to get to Philips Arena early because of increased security measures.
More than 18,000 tickets have been sold for 7 p.m.'s Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, Hawks spokesman Arthur Triche said. Those coming to the game should expect to have their bags searched and to be wanded by portable metal detectors, he said.
The increased security was a directive from the NBA. It was instituted after the national terror alert level went up due to concerns about a retaliatory strike after the death of Osama bin Laden.
“It’s not from any threat that came to the league or to the teams,” Triche said.
A spokesman for the NBA declined to comment about the security directive.
The new procedures started for Monday's Game 1 in Chicago, but Friday’s game is the first time the Hawks are back in Atlanta since it was in place.
“We’re asking everybody to be patient and not to get upset with the procedures,” Triche said. “We’re asking everybody to come as early as they possibly can to avoid a jam at the doors.”
Philips Arena will open 90 minutes before the 7 p.m. tipoff.
Tickets are still available for Friday’s game as well as Sunday’s, which starts at 8 p.m. Triche said he expects both games to sell out.
It’s unclear at this point whether standing-room-only tickets will be sold, he said.
The Hawks and Bulls are 1-1 going into Game 3.
The Hawks have offered a promotion to Braves season ticket holders – which includes no ticketing fees or delivery charges. The Hawks have agreed to promote the Braves’ Civil Rights Game Week series in return, a Braves spokeswoman said.
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