Five things we learned in Atlanta sports business this week:
1. The Hawks and the city announced an agreement on key terms for a $192.5 million renovation of Philips Arena. The city would provide $142.5 million in taxpayer funds and the Hawks organization would contribute $50 million. The deal would keep the Hawks in downtown Atlanta through 2046. The Hawks plan to begin renovations next summer and complete them by the start of the 2018-19 season. Say goodbye to the stack of suites on one side of the seating bowl. Click here for more.
2. As work continues on the roof of Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the lead structural engineer for the new Falcons stadium expressed confidence in the one-of-a-kind design. Said Erleen Hatfield, a partner in the New York office of BuroHappold Engineering: "I'm very confident everything will be fine and work as intended when they push the button." That would be the button to open and close the retractable roof. Click here for more.
3. Atlanta's season-opening Chick-fil-A Kickoff game, usually a matchup of SEC vs. ACC teams, expanded its geographic reach by landing a Pac-12 team to play in the event for the first time. The Washington Huskies will travel across the country to face Auburn in Mercedes-Benz Stadium at the start of the 2018 season, marking the first time a Pac-12 team has played in the annual event, which began in 2008. Click here for more.
4. The Braves began selling partial-season tickets for next year's move to SunTrust Park. Twenty-seven game packages — one-third of the home schedule — went on sale, whereas only full season tickets had been available previously. Click here for more.
5. The Braves and Dickey Broadcasting announced a 10-year extension of their radio rights deal. The extension will keep Braves radio broadcasts on Atlanta flagship stations 680-AM and 93.7-FM through 2026. Dickey Broadcasting will relocate its studios and offices to a loft-style building under construction in The Battery Atlanta, the mixed-use development adjacent to SunTrust Park. Click here for more.
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