Dream Still Waiting on an Arena for Finals Game 6 in Atlanta

ATLANTA, Ga. — The Atlanta Dream know they are coming home for Game 6 of the WNBA Finals. They just do not know which building they will play in.

Golden State beat the Dream 67-62 on Saturday to even the best-of-seven series at two games apiece, which guaranteed a sixth game in Atlanta. That game is scheduled for 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, but the league schedule still lists the site as to be determined.

The problem is a calendar clash. State Farm Arena is booked that same night for a 7 p.m. Hawks game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Hawks are home against Miami on Wednesday too, so a Wednesday switch is off the table.

If nothing changes, the game goes to the Dream’s regular-season home, Gateway Center Arena in College Park. It seats about 3,500, the smallest arena in the league. The Dream have played every postseason game this year at State Farm Arena, which holds 17,044, including Finals Games 3 and 4 in front of sellout crowds. Getting those two dates required shuffling, including a Saturday afternoon start for Game 4 so the Hawks could play their home opener that night.

Hawks and State Farm Arena chief executive Steve Koonin said the arena has offered several dates for Game 6, but that any move is up to the league.

Other ideas have surfaced. One would push Game 6 to Friday, Oct. 30, when State Farm Arena is open, and slide a possible Game 7 to Tuesday, Nov. 3. Georgia Tech’s McCamish Pavilion, which seats 8,600 and was the Dream’s home for two seasons, is open Thursday. A weekday afternoon tip, like the Game 4 fix, is said to be unpopular with the league.

Game 5 is Monday night at 8 p.m. in San Francisco. Starting in 2027, the Dream will play every home game at State Farm Arena under a multi-year deal announced this month.

Filed under: Atlanta GA Sports News