The Atlanta Dream will be relocating full-time to the State Farm Arena, the home of the Atlanta Hawks, starting next season. Under a multiyear agreement, the Dream will play all 25 of their home games at this venue as part of the WNBA’s expanded 50-game schedule debuting next summer.
Previously, the Dream held their home games at Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia, which seats about 3,500 fans and was the smallest arena in the league.
“This marks an exciting new chapter for the Atlanta Dream, reflecting the thrilling style of our basketball, the dedication of our fans, and the impressive growth of the franchise,” said Dream president and COO Morgan Shaw Parker. “Our players and supporters made Gateway Center Arena a vibrant WNBA experience. Moving to State Farm Arena allows us to welcome thousands more fans and elevate women’s basketball in Atlanta. We’re excited to bring the passion and traditions of Gateway into the heart of the city.”
This past fall, the Dream reached the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season and advanced beyond the opening round for the first time since 2018, sweeping the Washington Mystics. Over the last five years, the team’s season ticket membership has increased by more than 400%. They have sold out every game at Gateway Center Arena for three seasons straight and have also sold out State Farm Arena eight times, which holds around 17,000 fans.
During this season, the Dream sold out five of their six regular-season games at State Farm Arena, including high-profile matchups against the Las Vegas Aces and Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever.
For the WNBA semifinals, the Dream will also use State Farm Arena but will only sell lower bowl seats due to a “quick turnaround” in ticket sales. The lower bowl can accommodate roughly 8,800 fans.
In Game 1 of the semifinals series, the Dream defeated the New York Liberty 92-82. They will host Game 2 on Wednesday and potentially Game 5 next week if needed. Should they reach the WNBA Finals, Atlanta would host Games 3, 4, and 6.
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Fan Take: The Dream’s move to a larger, premier venue is a huge win for WNBA fans, signaling real growth and increased visibility for the league. Playing in the State Farm Arena could boost attendance, fan engagement, and showcase women’s basketball on a bigger stage in a passionate sports market.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
