North American NBA basketball team the Atlanta Hawks has announced that its renovated Philips Arena will feature the league’s first courtside bar.
The team recently set out plans for the extensive development project, which, according to ESPN, will cost approximately $192.5m (€169.8m/£148.8m) and take around 16 months to complete.
The franchise has now confirmed that the ‘Hawks Bar’ will form part of the revamp, with the 1,500sq ft facility to be placed behind one of the baskets.
Thad Sheely, chief operating officer at the Hawks, said all 600 courtside season-ticket holders will have access to the bar, while the franchise will sell a limited amount of standing room-only tickets for each match.
However, the team will have to remove around 200 courtside seats to make way for the new facility.
“People don’t want to be confined to their seats anymore,” Sheely said. “That’s true for our high-end season-ticket holders, as well.”
Image: HAWKS
