After months of renovations the Atlanta Hawks are ready to play basketball at their new home, State Farm Arena.
The Hawks will take on the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night at 7:30 and fans will be treated to a plethora of new sights and amenities when they enter.
Recently Hawks CEO Steve Koonin welcomed media to an exclusive look at the arena before fans are welcomed. GM of State Farm Arena Brett Stefansson toured those in attendance to give a taste at what the new home for basketball fans in Atlanta has to offer.
Here are the FIVE best things to look out for at State Farm Arena:
Fan-friendly Concessions
Need food in your life? Same!
Take a 👀 at our new concession prices: https://t.co/HXbAmCwScY pic.twitter.com/vSl2cXZErH
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) July 26, 2018
The Hawks will follow in the footsteps of Uncle Arthur at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and offer concessions at a price that average fans can enjoy. This combined with new stations that allow for quicker checkout encourages those coming to the games to eat in stadium rather than the adjoined CNN center or other city options. All sodas are free refills at self-serve stations all around the stadium.
“The undeniable success of fan first pricing at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the incredible experience of The Masters set terrific precedents and built demand from our fans to add value menu pricing that complements the wide assortment of premium food options introduced by our Executive Chef Joe Schafer. We are thrilled to respond to our fans in this way and will continue listening to the fans to enhance their experience,” Atlanta Hawks CEO Steve Koonin said.
Killer Mike’s Swag Shop
Atlanta rapper Killer Mike took his local Edgewood Ave barbershop idea and dropped it right into State Farm Arena. The shop features four chairs that will be in-use when doors open and during all Hawks games. The view from the chair’s is unreal and quite the story to tell friends even if the price is slightly inflated.
Fancy(er) Food Options
One of the highly discussed additions to the arena is Zac Brown’s Social Club. The chandelier fitted space will serve southern-gourmet style food and drink. The club is encased with popular lyrics from the band and even has custom chairs and benches designed by Brown.
Also featured in the Arena is an Atlanta food staple, J.R. Crickets. The restaurant featured on the FX show Atlanta has a perfect spot in the upper level.
For fans with an eclectic food taste there is the Chef’s Club. This space is an all inclusive club that features a monthly chef with menu options curated by Executive Chef Joe Schafer.
Chef’s Club at State Farm Arena pic.twitter.com/viPkix5MV5
— Action Sports & News (@ActionSports411) October 23, 2018
Sweet Suites
At Philips Arena, the suites were straight up average. A wall covered one side of the arena and allowed for the different levels of boxes without any true pizzazz. Suite’s at SFA are extremely unique and offer different experiences depending on what you’re looking for.
The Veranda Suites offer a “southern charm” with open kitchen and communal spaces accented by a large ceiling fan. It’ll leave you looking for a rocking chair to relax in.
Two Loft Suite’s are outfitted with TopGolf simulators that allow you to swing a club just feet away from taking in the game.
Located in two parts of the suite levels are @Topgolf bays where fans can take swings in the simulator. Don’t worry though, it’s tucked away so no golf balls fly into the stands. pic.twitter.com/rfSi0fJOPx
— Gradick Sports (@GradickSports) October 19, 2018
Atlanta Social isn’t necessarily a suite but gives a similar feel molded after Las Vegas-style cabanas. Fans can sit in a ridiculously comfortable plush chair and take in the action in a whole new way. Chairs also feature an electric plug along with two usb-ports for charging.
Atlanta Social Club at @StateFarmArena gives fans an at-home feel with cushion chairs and outlets to charge your phone. pic.twitter.com/ZjlmcW0Tkn
— Gradick Sports (@GradickSports) October 19, 2018
Visibility
The visibility at Philips Arena outside the bowl where seats are at was previously non-existent. Also, fans only could enter the location of their seat outside Hawks Walk. Now after renovations fans can walk 360-degrees around State Farm Arena. Koonin accredited the idea to Atlanta’s BeltLine, a large loop of trails and parks that connects the city. Much like the BeltLine, SFA has active hubs that link different parts of the stadium of a diverse seating experiences.
