Dream's Historic Run to WNBA Finals Could Force Move to 3,500-Seat Arena
Atlanta is a city in Fulton County, Georgia. The Atlanta Dream swept the New York Liberty last Friday to reach the WNBA Finals for the fourth time in franchise history, where they will face the Golden State Valkyries for the championship. Game 1 tips off this Saturday in San Francisco. The Dream have played this postseason's home games at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, drawing about 9,700 fans per game — a franchise playoff attendance record.
The problem: Games 3 and 4 and a possible Game 6 of the Finals, scheduled for October 22, 24 and 29, conflict with existing bookings at State Farm Arena — a concert by singer Sombr on the 22nd, and Atlanta Hawks home games on the 24th and 29th. The team reportedly tried to book larger venues such as Georgia Tech without success, and may be forced back to its regular home in College Park, the Gateway Center Arena, which holds only about 3,500 fans and is the smallest arena in the league. As of Monday night, the team had not formally announced its Finals home venue, and fan frustration over a 'Finals in a tiny gym' was building.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：亚特兰大梦想队（深色球衣）与明尼苏达山猫队比赛画面。摄影：Lorie Shaull，CC BY-SA 4.0，来源：Wikimedia Commons
