Atlanta Dream owners became the latest voices to express their frustration with how Game 6 of the WNBA Finals against the Golden State Valkyries will happen.
“Playing a midday game on a Thursday is not what we would have chosen and not what we fought for,” read a joint letter from Dream owners Larry Gottesdiener, Robyn Gottesdiener, Suzanne Abair and Renee Montgomery that the organization sent to fans and media on Tuesday.
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While the Valks have had the sanctuary of Ballhalla to return to for every home game this series thus far, the Dream haven’t played a single game in their home arena throughout the Finals. That’s not as bad as it sounds. The Dream have gotten an upgrade for their home-court stands, playing in the over-17,000-seat State Farm Arena – where their NBA counterpart Atlanta Hawks play – instead of their typical 3,500-seat home in College Park, Georgia.
However, trade-offs for this arrangement will hang over Game 6, a game where the Valks could clinch a championship, as they’re up 3-2 in the series. One has already happened. Just like in Game 4, Game 6 will operate on a strict schedule where both teams, their staffs and media members will need to clear out of the building to make way for an NBA game later that evening. On Thursday, the Hawks are scheduled to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers in a regular-season matchup. The second is that tip-off is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. local time, or 9:30 a.m. for a majority of Valkyries fans back in the Bay Area.
This decision has been almost universally panned – although it’s worth noting that the players themselves have not complained – and Dream ownership joined the fray. In a letter sent to season ticket holders and local media members, the owners shared that they approached the league about this potential scheduling snafu with time to spare.
