Atlanta Dream Shift WNBA Finals Game 6 to 12:30 p.m. as Venue Clash Upends Atlanta Schedule
Updated
Updated · ESPN · Oct 27
Atlanta Dream Shift WNBA Finals Game 6 to 12:30 p.m. as Venue Clash Upends Atlanta Schedule
3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Oct 27
Summary
Game 6 of the WNBA Finals in Atlanta was moved from 8 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday after the series shifted to 17,000-seat State Farm Arena instead of the Dream’s 3,500-seat Gateway Center.
The Dream said in an open letter that they warned two months ago about playoff date conflicts with NBA games, but those concerns “did not receive the attention” or urgency they deserved.
Weekend talks among the WNBA, NBA, Dream, Valkyries, Hawks and broadcasters explored keeping the game in prime time, but Atlanta and Cleveland both play Wednesday night, blocking an earlier Hawks slot Thursday.
The change again reshuffles Atlanta’s sports calendar: the Hawks’ home game against the Cavaliers was pushed back one hour to 8 p.m., after another Hawks game was delayed for Finals Game 4.
Players largely downplayed the noon start, but Dream coach Karl Smesko said some fans will miss a championship game because they have jobs, underscoring the tradeoff between bigger capacity and weekday access.