ATLANTA ― The Atlanta Dream are getting new digs for the 2027 WNBA season.
On Tuesday, the organization announced it will call State Farm Arena home next year. The move comes as part of a multi-year agreement with the facility to host home games and amid record growth for the league. Next season, the WNBA will move to 50 games and State Farm will host the Dream's 25 home contests.
The Dream sold out every game during the last three seasons at its current home, Gateway Center Arena, a space which holds 3,500-plus seats. Within that same span, Atlanta played multiple games at State Farm, including six regular-season and two playoff games this season, with another postseason game tipping off Wednesday against the New York Liberty. The venue was sold out eight
times and had multiple games at full capacity, with more than 17,000 seats.
"We didn't have playoff games (at State Farm Arena) last year ... but we had a couple of games there, and they felt like playoff games. So I think for us to have had those during the season and have the outcome that we had, I think it helps us get ready for this environment," Dream guard Rhyne Howard said.
"Our fans are gonna show up every day, whether we're here (at Gateway Center Area or) whether we're in State Farm, but I think being able to have all of our games there ― it gives us more. Obviously, there's more people, but I think you give more people the opportunity to come cheer for you."
"Something (Dream co-owner) Suzanne Abair said to me ... she said, we don't believe in betting on women because when you place a bet, you expect that you might lose your money. But when you invest, you expect a return," Morgan Shaw Parker, the team president and chief operating officer, said on Wednesday. "You have to invest it. It takes a lot out of our leadership, takes a lot out of our ownership. It costs. The operating budget is extremely important, but how do you maintain that? You set the vision, and you don't take your foot off the gas."
Shaw Parker also said the addition of Angel Reese impacted the decision to move arenas.
"It was a huge impact to our organization with Angel coming. What I've always said is we would have never been able to attract someone like Angel Reese if we weren't ready to receive her," Shaw Parker said. "Atlanta is here for her. She is here for Atlanta, but what she's brought is undeniable."
Atlanta, which joined the league as an expansion franchise in 2008, began its WNBA tenure at Philips Arena (now renamed State Farm Arena) the same year and played at the venue through the 2016 season. It then spent two seasons at Georgia Tech's McCamish Pavilion from 2017-2018 before returning to State Farm in 2019. Following the 2019 season, the Dream moved to Gateway Center in 2020, where it has played seven seasons.
Shaw Parker confirmed the Dream are also exploring plans for a women's specific arena in Atlanta in the future.
Atlanta is currently competing in the 2026 WNBA playoffs as the No. 4 seed after finishing 30-14 for the second consecutive season. It swept the Washington Mystics, 2-0,in the first round and is currently in the semifinals for the first time since 2018. The Dream are up 1-0 over the Liberty as of this publication.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Atlanta Dream to call State Farm Arena home in 2027 amid WNBA boom
