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2017 Could be a Banner Year for NBA Arena Renovations

Phillips Arena renovation rendering

In the new year, there will be plenty of NBA arena developments to watch. While the Detroit Pistons are moving forward with plans to move to Little Caesars Arena this fall, the Milwaukee Bucks should continue to see steady progress on the construction of their new arena, which will open for the 2018-19 NBA season.

New arenas will attract plenty of attention over the coming year, but arena renovations are another trend that could emerge as a major storyline in 2017. With last year marking turning points for several proposals, this year could lead to some big steps in the planning and execution of major arena overhauls.

In November, the Atlanta Hawks and the City of Atlanta announced plans to renovate Phillips Arena . As detailed at the time, the plans call for about $192.5 million worth of work to begin after the 2016-17 NBA season. The project will unfold in two phases, with the renovation completed in time for the 2018-19 campaign.

The Utah Jazz spent a good portion of 2016 laying the ground work for renovations to Vivint Smart Home Arena, which are expected to be place for the 2017-18 season. As announced in September, the renovations will cost about $125 million and include overhauls to areas such as the seating, club level, and main entrance.

In a renovation that is carrying over from 2016, the Target Center will continue to receive significant upgrades. While the arena underwent renovations before the Minnesota Timberwolves‘ current season, the next round of changes are expected to complete the project. During this phase, the Target Center is slated to be shut down as a new main entrance lobby is added, while areas such as the locker rooms, concourses, and other amenities are improved.

Quicken Loans Arena could also be undergoing some major changes, as the Cleveland Cavaliers released plans in December for a private/public partnership on an arena renovation. More information about the initiative should surface during the new year, but current plans call for the overhaul to focus on improving the concourses and gathering spaces. In perhaps the most striking change, the arena’s footprint would widen along Huron Avenue as a new glass exterior is added.

These plans represent some of the most notable upgrades that could either take place or make significant strides toward completion in the new year. While these projects will be previewed more thoroughly on our pages at some point, their developments will be something to follow as 2017 progresses.

This article originally appeared in the weekly Arena Digest newsletter. Are you a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the free weekly newsletter.

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