The Atlanta Dream is preparing for one of their most highly anticipated games this season when the team takes on the Indiana Fever on Friday at State Farm Arena.
The Dream typically plays home games at College Park’s Gateway Center Arena, a facility which seats up to 3,500 fans for sporting events and has housed the WNBA team since 2021.
However, due to high ticket demand, the game is one of two this season scheduled to be held at State Farm, which seats over 15,000 spectators for sporting events.
Much of the excitement for Friday’s game comes from Fever point guard Caitlin Clark, the first overall pick in this year’s WNBA draft.
The Dream’s second home game against the Fever on Aug. 26 will also be played at State Farm.
“Atlanta Dream fans are the best in the WNBA,” said Atlanta Dream President and COO Morgan Shaw Parker in a May press release. “Their passion and excitement led us to the most sellouts in the league over the last two years and has created a demand for tickets that far outpaces the supply inside our current arena, which is why we wanted to find a way to give more fans access to experience these two games.
The two games are expected to have the highest audience turnouts in the history of the Dream franchise.
According to the team, the previous attendance record was held for the team’s inaugural game in 2008 against the Detroit Shock (now known as the Dallas Wings), with 11,609 filled seats.
The Dream previously played against the Fever at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on June 13, with the Midwestern team winning 91-84.
The upcoming State Farm Arena games are one of the many Dream highlights this season.
Earlier this year, the team became the second in WNBA history to sell out its season ticket allotment. In addition, the team has sold out 10 home games since the season tipped off last month.
The team is also coming off a season that saw them make the WNBA playoffs, a first for the Dream since 2018.
Dream representatives hope that Friday’s game will increase interest and support for the team that will last for the rest of the season.
“We are excited to welcome our loyal Dream fan base, along with new fans, to State Farm Arena,” said Dream Head Coach Tanisha Wright in a press release published last month.
“We want to create the ultimate home court advantage and pack the house with red and blue as we work toward another playoff push this year.”
