Atlanta Dream scrambles to find WNBA Finals venue amid scheduling conflicts | Dream of Atlanta

The Atlanta Dream are still looking for a venue to host their WNBA Finals games against the Golden State Valkyries after scheduling conflicts ruled out State Farm Arena in downtown Atlanta.

The Dream is scheduled to host Games 3 and 4 of the best-of-seven series on October 22 and 24, as well as Game 6 on October 29 if necessary. But State Farm Arena, 17,044-seat home of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, is not available on all three dates.

The arena hosts a concert by singer Sombr on October 22 and Hawks regular season games on October 24 and 29.

Atlanta’s usual stadium, the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia, can only accommodate 3,500 spectators for basketball. The Dream has explored larger alternatives, including the 13,000-seat Gas South Arena in Duluth and Georgia Tech’s 8,600-seat McCamish Pavilion, but has yet to reach a deal, USA Today reported.

Dream President and Chief Operating Officer Morgan Shaw Parker said last week that the team was “finalizing the details of their venue and where we will play.” The team and the WNBA had not announced a decision as of Sunday evening.

Atlanta has played six of its 22 regular season home games at State Farm Arena this season and hosted its previous three home playoff games there, averaging 9,695 fans.

The Dream announced last week that they would be moving to State Farm Arena full-time starting in 2027 as part of a multi-year deal. The move coincides with the WNBA’s expansion to a 50-game regular season, giving Atlanta 25 home dates.

Golden State, meanwhile, will host Games 1 and 2, as well as Games 5 and 7 if necessary, at the 18,064-seat Chase Center in San Francisco. The Valkyries have sold out every home game this season, becoming the first women’s professional sports team to surpass $100 million in annual revenue.

The WNBA has previously held Finals games in other locations due to scheduling conflicts. Atlanta hosted one game in the 2013 Finals in what is now Gas South Arena, while the Washington Mystics played three 2019 Finals games in their 4,200-seat arena.

The Dream are making their first appearance in the finals since 2013 after sweeping the Mystics in the first round and the 2024 champion New York Liberty in the semifinals.

Atlanta has reached the Finals three times previously, in 2010, 2011 and 2013, but has never won a single game in the Championship Series.