Golden State Valkyries owner Joe Lacob played an integral role in ensuring the WNBA and NBA could figure out a way to ensure the Atlanta Dream host Finals games in State Farm Arena.
The Dream were slated to host Games 3 and 4 of the 2026 WNBA Finals in the 3,500-seater Gateway Centre Arena, their regular home arena but with an attendance capacity that just is not tenable for the WNBA Finals.
With scheduling conflicts making a move to State Farm Arena complicated, the WNBA coordinated with the Hawks and the NBA to figure out an arrangement to ensure SFA hosted the Finals. However, the role of the opposing team owner, Joe Lacob, has gone understated.
Joe Lacob put pressure on WNBA and NBA to make sure Dream Finals games are moved
Valkyries and the NBA’s Golden State Warriors owner Lacob spoke to the Associated Press about the Dream’s games being successfully moved to a bigger arena, revealing that he played a role in that decision as well.
“I put quite a bit of pressure on the commissioner of the NBA & the WNBA. I felt, look, it’s not really about us – it’s about the league. The look would not be too good to have Ballhalla and 18,000 fans here and 3,500 over there.”
The Valkyries will host their games in the Chase Centre, the same arena as the NBA’s Warriors. Due to a concert on Game 3 and a Hawks game on Game 4, the State Farm Arena couldn’t do the same for the Dream.
But with the WNBA moving Game 3 to the day before (October 21) the scheduled concert and moving Game 4 to 1:00 p.m. on October 24 has ensured the Dream can host their games in style.
Game 6 (if required) is still scheduled to be held at the Gateway Centre Arena, but with that potentially being a series-clinching game, it is unlikely that the WNBA can’t figure out a similar solution in time for that.
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