Dream should host WNBA Finals games at State Farm Arena
The article argues that Atlanta's WNBA Finals home games against the Valkyries should be held at State Farm Arena instead of the much smaller Gateway Center. It notes that State Farm Arena seats about 17,000 and that the Hawks adjusted their schedule so the Dream could use the building. The piece says the Dream can fill the larger NBA venue during their Finals run.
Gateway Center Arena, the Dream’s usual home, holds 3,800, while State Farm Arena holds roughly 17,000. Atlanta has already used the larger venue nine times in 2026: six regular-season games and three playoff games, with Finals Games 3 and 4 also set there.
The Hawks adjusted their home opener, and the Finals schedule shifted around a concert at the arena. Presale demand was large, with about 42,000 people queued, and arena CEO Steve Koonin said tickets were close to sold out. Atlanta filled the full arena in five of six regular-season games there; earlier playoff games used limited capacity because of timing.
The decision could affect Atlanta-area fans who were shut out at the smaller venue, and it may signal to teams and venues that women’s sports can draw large crowds. A bigger Finals stage may boost local business and visibility for the league, though the long-term effect depends on sustained demand beyond this series.