Full Breakdown
State Farm Arena Secures Atlanta Dream’s WNBA Finals Home Games
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
The WNBA announced that Games 3 and 4 of the 2026 Finals between the Atlanta Dream and the Golden State Valkyries will be played at State Farm Arena in downtown Atlanta. Game 3, originally set for Thursday, October 22, was moved to Wednesday, October 21, at 8 p.m. ET. Game 4 will remain on Saturday, October 24, with tip-off at 1 p.m. ET to accommodate the Atlanta Hawks’ home opener later that evening. The change moves the Dream from their regular-season home, the 3,500-seat Gateway Center Arena, to the 17,000-plus-seat State Farm Arena.
Background & Context
Since 2021 the Dream have played most home games at Gateway Center Arena, the league’s smallest venue. Their postseason this year already featured six regular-season games and three playoff games at State Farm Arena, and a multiyear agreement signed on October 6 will make State Farm their permanent home beginning in the 2027 season. The Finals schedule initially conflicted with a concert on October 22 and the Hawks’ opener on October 24, raising the prospect of reverting to the smaller arena.
Timeline
- October 6 – Dream signs multiyear deal to make State Farm Arena their permanent home.
- October 13 – WNBA announces Games 3 and 4 will be held at State Farm Arena.
- October 21 – Game 3 moved to Wednesday, October 21, 8 p.m. ET.
- October 24 – Game 4 remains on Saturday, October 24, tip-off at 1 p.m. ET; Hawks’ opener shifted to 8:30 p.m. ET.
- October 29 – Potential Game 6 date; venue undecided because the Hawks have a home game that night.
- October 16 – Public ticket sales for Games 3 and 4 begin at 10 a.m. ET.
Data & Statistics
- State Farm Arena capacity: ? 17,000 seats (17,004 per official specifications).
- Gateway Center Arena capacity: 3,500 seats.
- Dream average attendance this postseason: 9,745 fans per game at State Farm Arena.
- Season-ticket growth: 400 % increase over the past five years.
Official Statements & Responses
Hawks CEO Steve Koonin said the Hawks’ ownership supported the change because it benefits basketball in Atlanta. Andrew Saltzman, president of business enterprise and chief commercial officer for the Hawks and State Farm Arena, expressed gratitude to stakeholders for making the coordination possible.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The location of a potential Game 6 on October 29 remains unresolved. The Hawks are slated to host the Cleveland Cavaliers at State Farm Arena that evening, and no alternative venue has been announced. Sources differ on whether the Dream will revert to Gateway Center Arena or seek another larger venue.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This is what the players and the fans deserve.” — Larry Gottesdiener
- “The change of venue dramatically expands the seating capacity and ensures that the Dream will be able to provide an extraordinary atmosphere for the first WNBA Finals game to be played in the Atlanta market since 2013,” — WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert
What’s Next
Tickets for the Atlanta games go on sale to the public on October 16. If a Game 6 is required, officials will need to negotiate a venue that does not conflict with the Hawks’ schedule. Starting in the 2027 season, the Dream will play all 25 regular-season home games at State Farm Arena, cementing the larger venue as the franchise’s permanent home.