Renee Montgomery: Moving Dream’s Finals Games Was a ‘Group Project’

The Atlanta Dream were successfully able to secure the 17,000-seat State Farm Arena to host Games 3 and 4 of the WNBA Finals, after speculation they would have to play in an arena that was a fraction of the size. Renee Montgomery, who is a part-owner of the Dream, says it took a village to make it happen.

“When we say a group project, I think people don’t understand that we really mean a group project,” Montgomery told Front Office Sports.

The former WNBA All-Star, who played her last two seasons with the Dream (2018–2019), said that it was not only the Dream and State Farm Arena, which is managed by the NBA’s Hawks, that had to work to ensure Games 3 and 4 of the Finals were played at the venue. Montgomery said the leagues (NBA and WNBA), broadcast partners (NBC and USA Network), and even the Golden State Valkyries, Atlanta’s Finals opponent, had to agree to the reschedule.

“To come and make this happen in such short notice, like people have to understand this was unreal,” Montgomery said.

On Tuesday, the WNBA announced it was rescheduling Games 3 and 4 of the Finals, and that the games would be played in State Farm Arena. The Dream had played their first- and second-round playoff games at the NBA arena, rather than Gateway Center, their home since 2021 that only has about 3,500 seats.

Game 3 was originally scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 22, but there is a Sombr concert scheduled at State Farm Arena on that date. The game has been moved to Wednesday, Oct. 21 and will air on USA Network, where Montgomery also works as a studio analyst.

Game 4 will still be played on its original date, Saturday, Oct. 24, but was moved from 3:30 p.m. ET to 1 p.m. ET. The Hawks’ home opener is scheduled on the same day and will tip-off at 8:30 p.m. instead of 8 p.m. 

The Dream have averaged nearly 10,000 fans at State Farm Arena through their first three home playoff games. They limited capacity for their playoff games, despite selling out of five of six regular-season games at State Farm Arena, due to a short turnaround between the regular-season and playoffs.

But State Farm Arena and Hawks CEO Steve Koonin told FOS earlier this week that the entire State Farm Arena will be open for the WNBA Finals games. USA Today reported Thursday night that the games are “close to being sold out.”

However, neither Montgomery nor Koonin would confirm where a possible Game 6 would be played. Atlanta is scheduled to host a potential Game 6, should one be necessary in the best-of-seven series.

“We’ll have to wait and see,” Montgomery said.

Game 1 of the WNBA Finals tips-off Saturday from Chase Center in San Francisco.