The Atlanta Dream might end up hosting their WNBA Finals home games in front of around 3,500 fans during Games 3, 4, and 6. And it is not a matter of fan interest; the demand is clearly there. The problem is that right now, they do not have a larger venue available that can accommodate anything beyond that capacity.
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According to WNBA reporter Meghan Hall, as things currently stand, the Atlanta Dream will have to play their WNBA Finals home games at their current home arena, the Gateway Center Arena, which holds just 3,500 spectators. They initially hoped to use the 17,000-capacity State Farm Arena for the series, but were unsuccessful in securing it. The arena was already booked on the days scheduled for Games 3, 4, and 6.
Reacting to the situation, former ESPN host Linda Cohn simply hoped that the franchise would get an alternative solution. “Hope they find a Plan B,” she wrote.
The Dream have actually used State Farm Arena multiple times this season already. In fact, they sold out five of the six regular-season home games they hosted there and played all three of their semifinal home games at the arena as well. But even their use of State Farm Arena this postseason was not without complication.
Despite announcing in August that their postseason games would be at State Farm Arena, the team intentionally curtained off the entire upper deck for their semifinal matchups. The Dream’s management cited the extremely short turnaround window between the end of the regular season and the start of the playoffs as the reason, arguing that there was insufficient time to effectively market and sell the full seating capacity. The decision drew significant criticism from fans and media alike.
What the Dream are now facing, however, is a considerably more serious problem, a full scheduling conflict that leaves them with no straightforward solution. October 22, the scheduled date for Game 3, is already booked for a concert. On October 24, the date for Game 4, the Atlanta Hawks will be playing their home opener. And October 29, which would host a potential Game 6, is also booked for an Atlanta Hawks regular-season game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
This is undeniably the Atlanta Dream franchise’s peak moment in over a decade, their first WNBA Finals appearance since 2013, and the most attention the organisation has attracted in years.
The timing of this venue conflict is as frustrating as it is avoidable. The Dream have already made arrangements to ensure this situation does not repeat itself, having secured a multi-year agreement with State Farm Arena for the 2027 season. Perhaps that is a step they should have taken considerably earlier this season.
Atlanta Dream Announce Multi-Year Deal to Make State Farm Arena Their New Home
The Atlanta Dream have officially announced a new multi-year agreement to make State Farm Arena their permanent home court, beginning with the 2027 WNBA season. Coinciding with the league’s expansion of the regular-season slate to 50 games in 2027, the Dream will host all 25 regular-season home games, plus any home playoff matchups, at the arena.
“The move to State Farm Arena reflects the unprecedented growth of the franchise, increasing ticket demand and overall excitement for the entire Dream fan experience,” the team’s press release stated.
Speaking about this development, Atlanta Dream Chief Operating Officer Morgan Shaw Parker framed the move as the natural next step for a franchise that has outgrown its current surroundings.
“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,” Parker said. “Our players and our fans have transformed Gateway Center Arena into the most exciting experience in the WNBA.”
The Dream will, of course, still share State Farm Arena with the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, who have operated out of the building since 1999. However, the multi-year agreement will give the Dream a permanent home in the larger downtown Atlanta venue, allowing the franchise to accommodate greater ticket demand and provide more fans with the opportunity to watch the team throughout the regular season and playoffs.