Black on Orange at Thompson-Boling

Photo by Amy Smotherman Burgess // Buy this photo

Black chairs are in place as Thompson-Boling Arena undergoes a $20 million renovation project that is to be completed before the basketball season opens.

Photo by Amy Smotherman Burgess // Buy this photo

Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton, left, talks at a press conference Thursday during a tour of Thompson-Boling Arena.

One by one, new black seats are filling into the new-look Thompson-Boling Arena.

But fear not, traditionalist Tennessee Vols fans; athletics director Mike Hamilton has ensured the renovated basketball arena still will have a distinctively Big Orange flavor about it despite the change in seat colors.

“You can see we’re painting all railings and ducts orange,’’ Hamilton said, standing in the center of the arena and pointing up toward a new black-tiled ceiling, “and then these stairwells will all be orange, and the elephant doors will be orange, as well as all entrance points.

“The floor-level walls will all be orange, too.’’

The court remains the same, meaning orange-and-white checkerboard baselines, and the various banners hung from the ceiling will be orange.

“Phase I of the project is running on time, so we’re about halfway through with it,’’ Hamilton said. “It will be complete by Oct. 12.’’

Blaine Construction is handling the $20 million renovation, which began in March, while Johnson & Galyon is working on the addition of the $16 million Pratt Pavilion practice facility.

Pratt Pavilion features two full-size gymnasiums, one each for the men’s and women’s programs, as well as space for sports medicine, strength training, film study and recruiting.

“I look out my window, and all I see is commitments at Tennessee,’’ UT men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl said. “I love that the first phase is all about the fans. Every fan will get a new seat and a scoreboard that will be off the charts.’’

John Currie, UT’s senior associate athletics director, agrees.

“The scoreboard will blow people away,’’ Currie said. “Just think what the JumboTron added to Neyland Stadium.’’

Hamilton said the new scoreboard, produced by Daktronics of South Dakota, comes in at a price of $3 million. It measures 32 feet by 30 feet.

“You’ll be able to see the sweat on your brow (on the replay screen),’’ Hamilton said. “There will be a speaker cluster over it, and an LED ring around the top.’’

And, according to Pearl, replays of some pretty good basketball.

“Timing is everything, and there couldn’t be a better time on the men’s side to make this commitment,’’ said Pearl, whose team is projected to win the SEC. “I’m sure Pat (Summitt, UT women’s coach) will take full advantage of it as well.’’

Currie pointed out that the community also benefits.

“Charlotte (N.C.) spent $250 to $300 million of public finances to replace an arena built in the same year as this one (1987),’’ Currie said. “We’ve spent $20 million of privately generated dollars to essentially have a brand-new building that will serve the university, the community and the region.

“It will provide a huge regional economic impact without using public funds.’’

UT is one of fewer than 10 intercollegiate programs in the country that receives no funds from state subsidies or taxes.

If there’s a downside for fans, it’s that Tennessee basketball figures to become a tougher ticket.

Capacity will fall from 24,535 to somewhere between 21,000 and 22,000 because of the addition of luxury boxes.

The Vols drew more than 21,000 fans to four games last season, and they play host to defending Big Ten champ Ohio State, as well as conference rivals Florida, Kentucky, Arkansas and Georgia next season.

UT basketball will generate more money with the skyboxes, as 32 of them have sold out; 20 at a cost of $50,000 apiece, another 12 were $35,000 each. There’s already a waiting list should one open up.

“You know, they used to make fun of our building, and say it was too big,’’ Pearl said. “It was a reason kids were told they shouldn’t play here and coaches were told they couldn’t be successful here. Now, it’s a huge advantage for our student-athletes.’’