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 .
So, here we are, folks. The WNBA Finals are upon us, and the Atlanta Dream find themselves in a bit of a pickle. Instead of competing in the spacious State Farm Arena, home of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, they’ll be battling it out in the Gateway Center Arena, which boasts a staggering capacity of 3,500. Yes, you heard that right—3,500! I mean, who needs elbow room when you can have a cozy, intimate setting, right?
Now, you might be wondering why on earth the Dream are stuck in a venue that feels more like a high school gym than the grand stage of the WNBA Finals. Well, thanks to scheduling conflicts (because why wouldn’t there be a concert on the same night as a championship game?), the Dream have been forced to make this less-than-ideal switch. State Farm Arena was the place to be during the regular season, where they averaged nearly 10,000 fans per game. But now? Now they’re relegated to a place that holds less than half of that. Talk about a downgrade!
In the Finals, they’ll host Games 3, 4, and possibly 6 at the Gateway Center Arena on October 22, 24, and 29. Meanwhile, the Golden State Valkyries, their opponents, will be enjoying the luxury of the Chase Center in San Francisco, which can hold over 18,000 fans. They’ve sold out every game this season, which is likely a good thing for their morale but just adds salt to the wound for the Dream. It’s like showing up to a potluck with a sad, half-eaten bag of chips while everyone else has gourmet dishes.
The Dream did announce that they plan to host all their 2027 home games at State Farm Arena, which is a bold move considering they’re currently grappling with the challenge of finding a larger venue for the Finals. One can only hope that they can pull off a last-minute miracle and relocate these championship games to a spot that can actually accommodate a crowd. Maybe they should just throw a party and invite everyone to watch the games on a big screen—at least that way, they could still pretend it’s a big event!
In the grand scheme of things, this situation might be a minor hiccup in what should be a thrilling Finals series. Angel Reese and the Dream are ready to show up and give it their all, even if they’re crammed into a venue that feels more like a quaint coffee shop than a professional sports arena. So, here’s to hoping that the fans who do manage to squeeze into the Gateway Center Arena make enough noise to make it feel like a true championship atmosphere. And for those watching from home, you can cheer extra loud—because someone has to make up for the lack of space, right?
In conclusion, while the venue may be small, the stakes are high, and the excitement is palpable. Let’s just hope the Dream can turn this challenge into an opportunity and prove that size doesn’t always matter in the world of sports. Bring on the Finals!
Inspired by: “Angel Reese, Dream forced to play WNBA Finals in 3,500-capacity venue” (r/Entertainment)