Sports
Arena clashes push Atlanta Dream to consider alternate Finals sites
The Atlanta Dream have not settled on a home venue for their first WNBA Finals appearance since 2013. Concert and Hawks games at State Farm Arena conflict with the scheduled dates for Atlanta’s home games.
The Atlanta Dream are still working to secure a home court for their WNBA Finals series against the Golden State Valkyries, with scheduling conflicts at State Farm Arena potentially sending the team to a smaller venue.
Golden State hosts the first two games of the best-of-seven series, which begins Saturday in San Francisco. Atlanta is scheduled to host Games 3 and 4, and Game 6 if necessary, but State Farm Arena has other events booked on those dates.
A Sombr concert is scheduled at the arena for Oct. 22, the date of Game 3. Game 4 conflicts with the Atlanta Hawks’ home opener against the Houston Rockets, while a potential Game 6 would overlap with a Hawks game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Dream have also considered other metro Atlanta venues, including Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia Tech’s McCamish Pavilion, Gas South Arena in Duluth and Georgia State’s Convocation Center. Gateway Center Arena, where the Dream generally play, holds about 3,500 fans; State Farm Arena can accommodate roughly 17,000.
The team has expressed a preference for a larger venue to meet demand and give more fans a chance to attend. State Farm Arena hosted three Dream playoff games and six regular-season games this year. Moving a Finals game would require coordination among the Dream, the WNBA, the Valkyries and broadcast partners.
Atlanta is reaching the championship round for the first time since 2013. Its run includes a 101-98 overtime win over the New York Liberty in the semifinals.