The NBA team Atlanta Hawks may be moving to a new basketball arena! The team is reportedly considering to relocate to a new location which includes the Atlanta Civic Center or upgrade their current home court.
Mayor Kasim Reed announced the team's plans to move home courts on Thursday, July 23, reported BizJournal. The Atlanta Hawks reportedly are considering three options which includes the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center or renovating the 16-year old Philips Arena. The team's officials did not disclose the details of the third location.
The BizJournal report also mentioned the city officials' efforts to sell the Philips Arena for more than a year now. City offficials are reportedly hoping to transform and revitalize the under-utilized 20-acre civic center. Last month, a Houston-based real estate investment trust and a group led by TV host Steve Harvey reportedly became the finalists to buy and redevelop the arena.
The news came after the Hawks' new owner, billionaire Tony Ressler, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Philips Arena would need to be remodeled or replaced, states the Sacramento Bee. Mayor Reed also told reporters on Thursday how he met with the team's new owners and relayed he would consider supporting reasonable deals or plans to rehabilitate the arena. "What I'm willing to do is come to the table with a plan that makes sense and is fair to the people of Atlanta. I'm not closed to participating in a reasonable plan to make sure that the Hawks remain in the city and that's what I expressed in our meeting," Reed said.
In the Sacramento Bee article, Steve Koonin, CEO of the Hawks, reportedly did not comment on the planned locations. Although the Hawks' executive revealed that the team "has looked at many sites in and around Atlanta and is working with the mayor on finding the right solution for the team in the city."
