Atlanta Dream Move WNBA Finals Home Games to State Farm Arena

State Farm Arena Host Decision Shifts Atlanta Dream Finals Venue

The Atlanta Dream are shifting their WNBA Finals home games away from their regular venue because their arena seats just 3,500 fans, the smallest capacity in the league. While the team played eight regular-season games and three playoff games at State Farm Arena this year, the article reported.

Arena Conflicts Force Dream to Find New Venue

Gateway Center Arena at College Park has hosted the Dream since the 2021 season, marking their final year at the venue. Reaching the WNBA Finals forced the organization to address the severe seating bottleneck as fan excitement surged. Initially, Games 3 and 4 were locked into Thursday, October 22, and Saturday, October 24. State Farm Arena already had a Sombr concert and the Atlanta Hawks regular-season home opener booked for those exact dates, creating a major roadblock for the basketball club.

Owners Pressure League to Change Game Locations

Golden State Valkyries owner Joe Lacob pushed league leadership for a venue change. “I put quite a bit of pressure on the commissioner of the NBA and WNBA,” Lacob stated via The Associated Press. “I felt, look, it’s not really about us; it’s about the league. The look would not be good to have Ballhalla and 18,000 fans here and 3,500 here.” Atlanta Hawks CEO Steve Koonin also detailed the local push to clear the calendar, noting that Hawks owner Tony Ressler wanted to make the arena swap happen for basketball in the city. “The ownership of the Atlanta Hawks, Tony Ressler, wanted us to do everything in our power to make it happen because it’s great for basketball in Atlanta. It’s great for the Dream. It’s great for State Farm Arena,” Koonin told ESPN.

Final Schedule Adjustments for the WNBA Finals

Logistical adjustments resolved the deadlock. Game 3 moved forward to Wednesday, October 21. Game 4 stays on Saturday, October 24, with the Hawks shifting their tip-off later while the Dream play an earlier afternoon game. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert praised the cooperation between the teams, arenas, and broadcasters. “We are grateful for the efforts made by numerous stakeholders, including the Dream, the Valkyries, the Hawks, State Farm Arena, and NBC Sports and USA Sports,” Engelbert stated. Atlanta Dream majority owner Larry Gottesdiener added that the venue shift provides the atmosphere the players deserve. State Farm Arena will serve as the home court for all 25 of the Dream’s regular-season games in 2027.