After the Atlanta Dream’s WNBA game against Indiana Fever was moved because of a “scheduling conflict,” Larry Gottesdiener, the team’s primary owner, has come under fire.
Originally scheduled to take place at the Gateway Center Arena at College Park, a stadium with 3,500 capacity, the face-off commemorates the Dream’s home opening on May 22. In a turn of events, they will now perform in the bigger NBA-sized State Farm Arena, which can accommodate an amazing 16,888 people instead.
Experts say that the real draw is Caitlin Clark, the rookie sensation as the venue change reflects last season’s trend whereby games involving the Fever star were enhanced venue-wise to appeal to fervent ticket-buyers eager to see the emerging prodigy on the court.
While Gottesdiener sticks to his schedule, the 23-year-old superstar did not only play ball last year; she smashed records left and right, increasing audience stats on screens and filled stadiums, thereby becoming a golden ticket for club coffers.
“We have invested major resources and effort into making Gateway Center Arena the most distinctive home-court experience in the WNBA,” he said in a Wednesday press statement. “But a scheduling conflict at Gateway presented a chance for us to bring this great early-season game to State Farm Arena, therefore enabling even more attendance of this thrilling event. We value the hospitality.
Not all supporters, nevertheless, are purchasing Gottesdiener’s narrative; many went straight to X to share their unvarnished opinions. They were unreserved, some outright accusing the majority owner of “lies.”
One supporter responded quickly: “It’s called The Caitlin Clark Effect.” Agreements abound: “Never trust someone who lies for no reason.” Still another responded: “It’s was about making MORE MONEY… who y’all trying to fool.”
Sports pundit Robin Lundberg notably also had something to say: “Very inconvenient for the Dream to have to sell 15,000 more tickets due to a scheduling conflict just as Caitlin Clark and the Fever come to town.”
The Dream averaged 3,315 from 18 games played at the Gateway Center Arena in the previous season. Fascinatingly, their two regular-season home games versus the Fever on June 21 and August 26 were moved to the State Farm Arena and drew 17,575 and 17,608 respectively.