The Atlanta Dream have announced that they will be moving their two regular-season home games against the Indiana Fever to the State Farm Arena, home of the NBA Hawks, in order to accommodate larger crowds. The Dream's usual venue, the 3,500-seat Gateway Center Arena, is the smallest in the WNBA, prompting the move to the larger State Farm Arena, which can hold over 17,000 spectators.
The games against the Fever are scheduled for June 21 and August 26 and will feature top WNBA talents including Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Rhyne Howard. Clark, the most recent No. 1 overall draft pick, has generated significant buzz due to her impressive college career and entry into the professional league.
The decision to move the games comes as a response to the high demand for tickets from Atlanta Dream fans, who have consistently shown their passion and support for the team. The Dream's success in selling out games over the past two years has led to a need for a larger venue to accommodate the growing fan base.
Atlanta opened their season with a victory against Los Angeles and is looking to build on that momentum as they return to State Farm Arena for the upcoming games against the Fever. The team has a history of playing at various venues, including State Farm Arena, Georgia Tech's campus arena, and the Gateway Center Arena.
The Dream are aiming to surpass their franchise record attendance of 11,609, set during their inaugural game in 2008, for both games against the Fever. With ten of their 20 games already sold out at the Gateway Center Arena, the team is eager to welcome both loyal and new fans to the larger venue.
Coach Tanisha Wright expressed excitement about the move, emphasizing the desire to create a strong home court advantage and rally fan support as the Dream push for another successful season and a playoff berth.
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