NFL
By: Ashmere Prasad
Last year, the Valkyries made history by becoming the first expansion team to play in a playoff game in their inaugural season. Then they scrambled to find a place to play Game 2 because Chase Center was hosting the Lavar Cup. Luckily, they relocated to SAP Center, where the San Jose Sharks play, and their 17,000+ fans could comfortably enjoy the game.
The Atlanta Dream don’t have the same luxury heading into the WNBA Finals.
Over the last 24 hours, the media has shared multiple storylines about where Game 3 and Game 4 will take place in Atlanta. As of yesterday, Meghan Hall at USA Today said that although the Dream are exploring alternative options in the Atlanta area, none are available. The Dream will resort to playing at the Gateway Center, which seats 3,500 fans as a basketball arena.
Game 3 is reserved for a Sombr concert, while Game 4 is the Atlanta Hawks’ season opener.
After what Golden State dealt with last season, teams in contention for a playoff push should have backup plans for issues such as this. When the Dream traded for Angel Reese in April and signed DeWanna Bonner in August, it signaled the team’s belief they could go far in the playoffs, at least in my opinion.
The Dream have averaged 9,700 fans in the last two playoff series, while Ballhalla has sold out every home game this season, including a preseason game with their 18,000 fans.
Fans and creators across social media have shared their disappointment with the Dreams’ front office for putting the team in this position.
For the Valkyries, Joe Lacob owns Chase Center and can change scheduling and add contingency plans to reschedule events at any time; this front office won’t make the same mistake twice. Unfortunately, for the Dream, State Farm Arena is owned by Tony Ressler, owner of the Atlanta Hawks.
Valkyries fans travel, especially with the opportunity to see their team win a championship in only its second season. An arena this small limits fans’ ability to experience playoff basketball. It’s extremely unfair to the hard work both teams have put in all season, and it’s a tough pill to swallow that the Dream won’t have their entire home crowd there to support them.
When asked about the possibility of a smaller arena, Veronica Burton and Tiffany Hayes both said these issues are out of their control. Their main focus is preparing for the first two home games in front of their fans. One game at a time.
“The arena is an arena,” head coach Natalie Nakase said. “You’ve got two baskets, you’ve got a court the same size and the same basketball; that stuff doesn’t change. For us, it’s locking in on the game plan and us making sure we execute four quarters.”
