ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) \u2014 The Atlanta Dream will play home games at State Farm Arena through 2031, according to Suzanne Abair, co-owner and CEO of the team.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, the Dream announced the downtown Atlanta arena would be their new home starting in 2027 as part of a multi-year agreement, but did not specify how many years.<\/p>\n
The Dream are back in the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2013.<\/p>\n
However, the journey to get back has been years in the making.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe came in with a plan, and we planned to build this franchise into what the Dream deserved and what the city of Atlanta deserved for the women\u2019s professional basketball league,\u201d Abair told ANF sports director Baillie Burmaster in San Francisco ahead of game two of the finals.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo to be here five years later, we are thrilled,\u201d Abair added.<\/p>\n
The organization and vision for the franchise were built on major core values and one that is personal to Abair: Women\u2019s sports are not a gamble…they are an investment.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the time (2021), there was a slogan and it said, \u2018Bet on women\u2019s sports,\u2019 and personally I took offense to it,\u201d Abair detailed. \u201cBecause betting? Betting is something you do when you expect to lose your money. Investing is when you expect to get a return and I think the return that we have received in our investment in the franchise… is exponential.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u2019s right. More than 40,000 fans sat in the queue for tickets at State Farm Arena for game three of the WNBA finals in Atlanta.<\/p>\n
The growth is unprecedented.<\/p>\n
The city of Atlanta has rallied behind them.<\/p>\n
Which begs the question: Is it time to reflect or is the job unfinished?<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are incredibly proud to have made the finals,\u201d Abair said. \u201cWe want to bring a basketball championship to the city of Atlanta. I would be lying if I said we would be disappointed if we didn\u2019t win.\u201d<\/p>\n
The team also expects to have an announcement concerning their practice facility and possible location sooner than later.<\/p>\n
RELATED COVERAGE:<\/p>\n
Atlanta Dream fans energized by WNBA Finals; ticket demand surges<\/a><\/p>\n Atlanta Dream moving WNBA Finals games to State Farm Arena<\/a><\/p>\n