Get this: The Golden State Valkyries are making their franchise’s first trip to the WNBA Finals, and their road games in Atlanta are likely going to be played in a 3,500-seat arena. Yep, you read that right: 3,500 seats for a WNBA Finals series. This is for a seven-game series against the Atlanta Dream, and it looks like it’s all going down at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, about 45 minutes outside Atlanta. According to reports from The IX Sports, WSB-TV, and USA Today, the Dream’s efforts to find a bigger spot in the city have just hit a wall.
A 3,500-Seat Finals? Atlanta’s Venue Woes Hit Different
The Gateway Center Arena has actually been the Dream’s home turf for the last six seasons. But check this out: the Dream just played their first three WNBA playoff games at the State Farm Arena in downtown Atlanta, which is where the NBA’s Hawks play. That place holds over 17,000 fans, and the Dream were pulling in more than 9,500 fans for those early playoff games. Talk about a massive drop-off for the Finals. The Dream have used State Farm Arena before, even playing multiple regular season games there in recent years (including six this year), and they’re set to move back there full-time in 2027 under a multi-year deal. But since it wasn’t their official home this year, the Hawks apparently booked it up without the kind of contractual flexibility Golden State has for their own home games.
Concerts, Hawks, and the Unlucky Calendar
So, why can’t the Dream play in the bigger arena where they just crushed it in the playoffs? State Farm Arena, which the Hawks operate, has conflicts for all three possible home game dates in the WNBA Finals. Game 3, set for October 22, is booked for a Sombr concert. Two days later, Game 4 on October 24, is the Hawks’ home opener against the Rockets. And if the series goes to a Game 6 on October 29, the Hawks are scheduled to host the Heat. It’s a full calendar clash, plain and simple.
The Valkyries actually had a similar scare with a potential Game 5 on October 26, originally booked for a Doja Cat concert. But Golden State officials had a contingency date in their contract, and the concert got moved to October 25 after the Valkyries swept the Aces. It just shows you what a little foresight can do. The Dream, meanwhile, reportedly tried other spots like the 13,000-seat Gas South Arena and Georgia Tech’s 8,500-seat McCamish Arena, but USA Today reported those efforts “hit a roadblock.” This isn’t a new problem for the WNBA either; teams have been forced into smaller venues for playoff games throughout the league’s 30-year history when their main arenas prioritized other events. The Dream even had this happen in their last Finals trip in 2013, and the Valkyries themselves moved their first-ever playoff game last year to San Jose’s SAP Center because their arena was booked for a tennis competition.
This is the Valkyries’ first Finals trip, and they’ve got to navigate this wild road game situation. Game 3 is set for October 22, Game 4 on October 24, and who knows if we’ll even hit a potential Game 6 on October 29. Talk about an unexpected hurdle for a championship run!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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