Atlanta Dream owners call for more respect after WNBA Finals scheduling issues
· Yahoo Sports
The Atlanta Dream’s ownership says the team deserves more consideration after scheduling conflicts forced changes for its WNBA Finals games, including a Thursday afternoon matchup at State Farm Arena.
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In an open letter to Atlanta Dream fans, the team’s ownership thanked supporters for their patience during the postseason and said the team’s run to the Finals has proven the franchise deserves to be taken seriously.
“When one of us has an opportunity to make history, we all want to see it happen,” the owners wrote.
The letter said the team raised concerns two months ago, when the WNBA finalized its playoff schedule, because the Finals dates and times conflicted with NBA games at State Farm Arena. The ownership said it continued to raise those concerns throughout the playoffs but did not receive the attention or urgency it believed was warranted.
“Perhaps it was assumed that the Dream would not make it this far. Perhaps, our place in the Finals was not accounted for,” the letter stated. “Whatever the reason, the reality is that we are here. We earned our place in the Finals, and our city deserves the opportunity to show up for its team.”
The owners acknowledged that playing a Finals game in the early afternoon on a Thursday was not their preference, but said they wanted fans to experience the historic series at State Farm Arena rather than Gateway Center Arena.
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They also thanked the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena for adjusting their schedules three times to accommodate the Dream’s postseason run.
“And what a celebration it has been: a party, a concert and incredible Dream basketball all rolled into one,” the letter stated.
The ownership described the scheduling changes as an example of Atlanta’s sports teams supporting one another, despite having different histories.
The letter also made clear that the organization expects future planning and consideration to reflect the level at which the team competes.
“We intend to keep building. We intend to keep winning,” the owners wrote. “And we expect the opportunities, planning, and consideration afforded to us to reflect the level at which we compete.”
The letter was signed by Atlanta Dream owners Larry, Robyn, Suzanne and Renee.
The owners closed by thanking fans for rallying around the team and expressing pride in representing Atlanta in the WNBA Finals.
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