Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal Constitution:The Hawks home opener is a virtual sell out. There are fewer than 100 resale tickets available at TicketMaster for Saturday’s game against the Pacers. In addition, the team will make Standing Room Only tickets available Wednesday. The team anticipates a sellout.
Ryan Donoho of Hawks Hoop: After Bruce Levenson announced he would be selling his stake in the Atlanta Hawks back in September, the franchise’s future has been in flux. Former Hawks legend Dominique Wilkins has interest in buying the team, as well as former NBA star Chris Webber. The mayor of Atlanta has said he would like the team to be sold by the end of the year, which means we may see a resolution to the ownership issues in the coming months. Professional sports franchises have sold for astronomical amounts recently, so many have wondered how much the Hawks would sell for. A post from MidLevelExceptional.com stated that Atlanta could be the franchise that bucks this recent spike in price, using low attendance as a reason for a lower price.
Jared Johnson of Bleacher Report: The Atlanta Hawks opted for continuity in constructing their 15-man roster for the 2014-15 season, a campaign that promises to be a good one for the team. Only three new players will suit up for Atlanta in Wednesday’s season opener against the Toronto Raptors: Adreian Payne, Kent Bazemore and Thabo Sefolosha. Payne is a rookie, and both Bazemore and Sefolosha averaged fewer than seven points per game in 2013-14.
From Hawks.com: Finally it’s here! Opening week in the NBA, which for the Atlanta Hawks means just two games (they only have three over the first 10 days of the NBA season). Nevertheless, basketball is finally back, so let’s get right to it. OPPONENTS Wednesday: Toronto Raptors Details: 7:30 p.m. (ET) | Air Canada Centre | SportSouth, No Radio The Raptors are almost a mirror image of the Hawks. Think about it: exciting, fast-developing point guard, versatile frontcourt, plays with pace, exciting to watch. Not to mention both teams’ offseasons were identical: keep the starting five and spend money adding depth where needed. Two of Toronto’s most important offseason aquisitions actually came in a trade with Atlanta. The Raptors picked up veteran wing man Lou Williams and exciting prospect Lucas Nogueira in a trade the Hawks ultimately made to free up cap room to add depth to their own bench. With both teams seemingly on the rise, this is one of the most underrated season-opening games. The Raptors won both meetings handily in Toronto last season, and it’ll no doubt be a challenge for Atlanta with one of the best fan bases in the league rocking the Air Canada Centre on opening night.
