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The WNBA’s hopes of moving Finals games in Atlanta to State Farm Arena will have to remain just a Dream.
Hopes of moving Game 3, Game 4 and Game 6 of the WNBA Finals to the larger venue when the Atlanta Dream host the Golden State Valkyries were dashed after conflicts with a concert and a pair of Hawks regular-season games made it impossible, according to multiple reports.
The games will be played at the Dream’s regular home of Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia, which has a capacity of just 3,500 for basketball. USA Today reported that the Dream have looked into other venue options in the Atlanta area but have had no luck securing a bigger arena to host the Finals.
State Farm Arena, which has a capacity of more than 17,000, hosted six regular-season games for the Atlanta WNBA franchise this season, along with three postseason contests.
Sombr is scheduled to play State Farm Arena on Oct. 22, the day Game 3 is slated to take place. The Hawks host the Rockets on Oct. 24 — when Game 4 is to be played — and the Cavaliers on Oct. 29, when a Game 6 would be played if needed.
The reports about not being able to host finals games at State Farm Arena come days after the Dream announced that they would be playing all home games at the venue in 2027.
“This is an exciting next chapter for the Atlanta Dream, and a direct reflection of the exciting style of play that is Dream basketball, the passion of our fans and the incredible growth of this franchise,” Morgan Shaw Parker, president and COO of the Dream, said when the announcement was made last week.
“Our players and our fans have transformed Gateway Center Arena into the most exciting experience in the WNBA. State Farm Arena gives us the opportunity to welcome thousands of additional fans while creating an even bigger stage for women’s basketball in Atlanta. We look forward to bringing the energy, traditions and spirit of Gateway with us to the heart of our city.”
While there is excitement for the move for next season, there is likely going to be some disappointment that accommodations weren’t able to be made to play the Finals at the venue.