It's an exciting time to be a basketball fan in Atlanta.
The Atlanta Dream are on a championship run, playing in Game 6 of the WNBA Finals later this week against the Golden State Valkaries.
And the Atlanta Hawks season has kicked off in the same city, hitting the court in primetime against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday.
There is just one big problem — the teams both need to play in State Farm Arena.
The more than 15,000-capacity arena has earned national and international accolades as one of the best venues in the world, making Billboard's global Top 10 for three consecutive years.
More than 2 million guests visit the arena every year, and basketball games are no exception. Here's how the stadium has prepared for two professional teams playing
on the same day.
How did State Farm Arena host a double-header?
The arena has already had practice with one double-header during the WNBA Finals run.
On Saturday, Oct. 24, the Atlanta Dream wrapped up their game against the Valkyries around 3:30 p.m., and the staff at State Farm Arena had less than four hours to completely transform the court for the Hawks game at 7:30 p.m.
Both courts have the same dimensions, but they are unique to each league meaning the staff had to completely disassemble one to set up the other.
It took about 2,500 staff to make the transformation from one game to the next, but the teams were both able to take the court.
It's also good practice for the future. Starting in 2027, State Farm Arena will host all Atlanta Dream games, meaning both the Dream and the Hawks will call the arena home.
When is the next double-header at State Farm Arena?
The staff will do it all again on Thursday when the Dream take the court at 12:30 p.m. for Game 6 and the Hawks play in the arena at 8 p.m. the same night.
“The sellout crowds and extraordinary atmosphere at State Farm Arena for Games 3 and 4 were a tremendous success, and we’re excited to give thousands more fans the opportunity to experience Game 6 with a championship on the line,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement on Monday. “We thank the NBA, Dream, Valkyries, Hawks, State Farm Arena and USA Network for the collaboration and flexibility that made this move possible. We look forward to delivering another unforgettable Finals experience in Atlanta.”
Game times spark controversy
The double-booking hasn't been entirely met by appreciation, though.
Coach Jackie, a prominent social media personality who comments on women's sports, is one of many voices online calling into question why a WNBA championship game is playing in the middle of the day while a regular season NBA game gets the primetime slot.
"You can't get more embarrassing than this," the influencer said in a post on Monday. She noted the Valkyries are a West Coast team, meaning tipoff time for fans in California is at 9:30 a.m. on a work day for a major championship game. "Somebody could become a WNBA champion over brunch? During lunch? While you're in a Teams meeting? Did you think it through?"
Criticisms of the game time range from fans calling the leagues "misogynistic" to saying this is why it's harder to watch women's sports.
There is also a chance, given the quick turnover, if a winner is crowned on Thursday the team may not be able to celebrate on the court for any extended period of time because the staff need to get into the arena and begin transitioning the court for the Hawks.
The Valkyries are up 3-2 on the Dream, meaning they will clinch the championship with a win on Thursday. If the Dream wins, the series will go to Game 7.
"I'm not kidding, there is no way this happens," Coach Jackie said on TikTok.
Irene Wright is the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA Today’s Deep South Connect team. Find her on X @IreneEWright or email her at ismith@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How does State Farm Arena host WNBA finals, NBA games on same day?
