Dream Unable to Secure Larger Venue for WNBA Finals Games

The Atlanta Dream will host Games 3 (Oct. 22), 4 (Oct. 24) and possibly 6 (Oct. 29) of the WNBA Finals at Gateway Center Arena, which seats 3,500 for basketball, after efforts to use State Farm Arena or another larger Atlanta venue failed as of Sunday night, Oct. 11. State Farm Arena is booked for a Sombr concert on Oct. 22 and Hawks games on Oct. 24 and Oct. 29, including the Hawks home opener. The Dream played 6 of 22 regular-season home games at State Farm and averaged 9,695 fans across three prior playoff games there. The Golden State Valkyries will host Games 1, 2, 5 and 7 at Chase Center (18,064) and have sold out every game this season. Dream guard Rhyne Howard said of State Farm regular-season games that "they felt like playoff games" and that the experience "helps us get ready for this environment." Valkyries president Jess Smith said contingency booking is standard and, of the Dream situation, "It's not a headline." Last week the Dream said all 2027 home games will be at State Farm Arena under a 50-game WNBA schedule. Atlanta swept the Mystics and Liberty to reach the Finals; Angel Reese was honored as Defensive Player of the Year at a State Farm Arena semifinal opener against the Liberty.