Atlanta Dream to Host WNBA Finals at State Farm Arena Following Scheduling Conflict

The Atlanta Dream will play their first WNBA Finals games in over a decade at State Farm Arena, ensuring a larger venue for their matchup against the Golden State Valkyries. The decision was finalized after initial concerns about scheduling conflicts that could have placed the games at Gateway Center Arena, which only accommodates 3,500 fans for basketball.

The league announced on Tuesday that Games 3 and 4 will be held at State Farm Arena. Game 3 is now scheduled for Wednesday, October 21, at 8 p.m. ET, while Game 4 will take place on Saturday, October 24, at 1 p.m. ET, moving from its original start time of 3:30 p.m. ET. Both games will be broadcast on CNBC and USA Network, with streaming available on Peacock.

To facilitate the Dream’s use of State Farm Arena, the Atlanta Hawks opted to push their regular-season opener to later that evening, now scheduled for an 8:30 p.m. ET start against the Houston Rockets. This adjustment reflects the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders to ensure the Dream can capitalize on the first Finals opportunity since 2013.

The situation raised questions about the WNBA’s planning for its key events, as the Dream almost faced the prospect of playing in a much smaller venue. Before this Finals appearance, the Dream had hosted games at State Farm Arena sporadically since 2021, with plans to make it their permanent home starting next season.

The large capacity of State Farm Arena, which holds over 17,000 fans, is crucial for maximizing attendance and revenue opportunities during the Finals. The Dream has averaged nearly 9,700 fans in their playoff games at this venue, highlighting the franchise’s growing popularity. Hosting the finals at the smaller Gateway Center would have resulted in significant lost revenue and missed opportunities to engage more fans.

The Dream advanced to the Finals after sweeping the Washington Mystics and the defending champion New York Liberty in the playoffs. With star players like Angel Reese, Rhyne Howard, and Allisha Gray, the team hopes to leverage this moment to foster greater interest in women's basketball.

While Atlanta now enjoys a more favorable venue, the situation underscores the complexities teams face when sharing arenas with other professional sports franchises. The Dream aim to make the most of this rare opportunity for their franchise and fans alike.