State Farm Arena scheduling conflicts complicate Atlanta Dream’s WNBA Finals plans
By CBS Bay Area
The Atlanta Dream are headed to the WNBA Finals, but where they will play their home games remains a mystery.
CBS News Atlanta asked Dream VP of communications Traci Messier over the weekend about home games proposed for Oct. 22 at 8 p.m. and Oct. 24 at 3:30 p.m., with a potential Game 6 on Oct. 29 at 8 p.m., and was told there weren’t any updates.
According to CBS Sports, the Dream and the WNBA have not made a final decision on the venue for Atlanta’s home games against the Golden State Valkyries.
Dream president and chief operating officer Morgan Shaw Parker said last week that the team was “finalizing details on their home venue and where we will be playing,” CBS Sports reported.
State Farm Arena hosted five Dream regular-season games and their first three playoff home games. But CBS Sports reported that the arena has scheduling conflicts on all three Atlanta Finals dates:
| WNBA Finals game | Date | Scheduled State Farm Arena event |
|---|---|---|
| Game 3 | Oct. 22 | Sombr concert |
| Game 4 | Oct. 24 | Hawks vs. Rockets — Hawks’ home opener |
| Game 6, if necessary | Oct. 29 | Hawks vs. Cavaliers |
The Dream typically play at Gateway Center Arena in College Park, which holds 3,500 people and is the WNBA’s smallest arena, according to CBS Sports.
CBS Sports reported that Gas South Arena in Duluth, which holds just over 13,000 people, could be an option for Games 3 and 4.
Atlanta reached its first WNBA Finals since 2013 by sweeping the New York Liberty in the semifinals.
CBS Sports contributed to this report.
