Dream owners criticize WNBA over Finals scheduling; Atlanta mayor tells employers, educators to let fans watch – CBS News

Dream owners criticize WNBA over Finals scheduling; Atlanta mayor tells employers, educators to let fans watch  CBS News

The Atlanta Dream's owners say their warnings about WNBA Finals scheduling conflicts did not get the attention they deserved. Now, with a must-win game set for the middle of a workday, Mayor Andre Dickens is asking employers and educators to let fans cheer on their team.Game 6 against the Golden State Valkyries will tip off Thursday at 12:30 p.m. at State Farm Arena, moving from its originally scheduled 8 p.m. start. Atlanta trails Golden State in the best-of-seven series 3-2 after Monday's 64-55 loss. The Dream must win to keep its championship hopes alive. Dream owners say scheduling concerns went unaddressedIn an open letter to Atlanta, Dream ownership said it raised concerns two months ago when the WNBA finalized playoff dates and times that conflicted with NBA games at State Farm Arena.

The team said it repeated those concerns as it advanced through the playoffs."Our concerns did not receive the attention, nor the urgency that they deserved," the owners wrote.The owners said they wanted fans to have the opportunity to experience the Finals at State Farm Arena, rather than the smaller Gateway Center Arena. But they made it clear that the afternoon start was not their preferred solution."Playing a midday game on a Thursday is not what we would have chosen and not what we fought for," the letter said.Ownership