Five Reasons the NBA Should Want the Atlanta Hawks Picking First
4. The Hawks are a First Class Organization
The Team is Under Terrific Management
The Atlanta Hawks organization changed for the better on June 25, 2015. That was the day that Tony Ressler and his group of investors finalized a deal to purchase the Atlanta Hawks. To take a look at the NBA.com story by Jessica Taylor click here. Unlike the previous owners the Atlanta Spirit Group LLC, Tony Ressler gave the city of Atlanta a face of ownership for the Hawks. He hired CEO Steve Koonin to take the franchise to the next level from a marketing perspective. He also hired General Manager Travis Schlenk from the current most winning organization in the NBA, the Golden State Warriors, to run the basketball side of the Atlanta Hawks. Ressler gave Schlenk the authority to rebuild the Atlanta Hawks squad, resulting in the additions of John Collins and Trae Young. Now the team has one of the most exciting young cores in all of basketball.
The Atlanta Hawks have Top Notch Facilities
The Atlanta Hawks unveiled their new training and practice facilities in November of 2017, announcing the opening of the new Emory Sports Medicine Complex. The state of the art facility is a collaboration of the Atlanta Hawks training and practice facilities, along with Emory Healthcare’s Sports Medicine program and research division for Sports Science. The center contains some of the most innovative and advanced technology in Sports Science, Sports Medicine and Sports Rehabilitation. The modern facility has motion capture capabilities and advanced athletic testing, as well as the Atlanta Hawks practice courts. For more information on the facility, check out this article by Phil W. Hudson of the Atlanta Business Chronicle.
State Farm Arena
The Atlanta Hawks unveiled the newly renovated State Farm Arena in time for the 2018-19 NBA Season. The massive renovation project was funded by the city of Atlanta and the Atlanta Hawks. The venture came with a price tag of just under 200 million dollars. The result is a beautiful, modern NBA facility. The area features a huge scoreboard, free wi-fi, Top Golf suites, the Killer Mike Swag Shop barbershop and a host of other amenities. It is unlike any arena in basketball. Paul Newberry wrote about the arena transportation in this NBA.com article.
The Atlanta Hawks Do Great Community Work
The Atlanta Hawks do so many works in the local community, that there are too many to name them all in this section. One of the most recognizable things the Atlanta Hawks have done is built basketball courts around the metro Atlanta area, in order for children and adults alike to enjoy playing the game of basketball. The Hawks sponsor free eye exams for children, as well as hold basketball camps and clinics. They feed the hungry during the holidays and throughout the year. The Atlanta Hawks recently gave prom attire to local high school students and are also involved with various charities and community projects, via their Building Bridges Through Basketball program. For more information on the Atlanta Hawks community outreach programs, visit the Hawks website on NBA.com.
The Atlanta Hawks are one of the most innovative, cutting-edge franchises in professional sports. The team’s marketing and social media is second to none. The team has redesigned their uniforms including undergoing a color change. The Hawks added volt green to the color scheme to appeal more to modern style. They often feature unique throwback uniforms and change the 3D arena court to match. When given the national stage, the Atlanta Hawks will represent the NBA well and do the city of Atlanta proud. This is something the NBA should certainly welcome.