Renovations not reason for Hawks’ season-opening road trip
The Hawks did not request from the NBA that they start the season on the road with major renovations to Philips Arena well underway, according to a person familiar with the situation.
The league announced the schedule for the 2017-18 season Monday. The Hawks open with a lengthy five-game road stretch that will take them to Dallas, Charlotte, New York, Miami and Chicago. The nine-day trip from Oct. 18-26 will cover 5,059 miles.
The Hawks’ home opener will come Oct. 27 against the Nuggets.
Hawks officials are pleased with the current progress of the renovations to the arena, the second largest project in league history, behind only those recently done at Madison Square Garden. Expectations are that the first phase of renovations will be completed in time for the NBA season.
It was just announced that the Eagles will play a concert at the arena Oct. 20, after the start of the season and before the scheduled home opener.
The first phase of Philips Arena renovations began in June following the NBA season. The $192.5 million remaking of the 18-year-old arena will be spread over two offseasons and include new amenities and features, connected concourses and the removal of the wall of suites on one side of the building.
About the Author
Chris Vivlamore is the sports editor at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He has served as reporter and editor at the AJC since 2003.
