Atlanta Dream Donate Court to Hayes’ Facility, Hoop Nation ATL

Posted on November 22, 2021June 7, 2023 by WebDev

Renee Montgomery presented the court in a ceremony on Monday night

COLLEGE PARK, GA – The Atlanta Dream ownership group of Larry Gottesdiener, Suzanne Abair and Renee Montgomery donated the team’s home basketball court to Hoop Nation ATL, a multi-purpose basketball facility owned by Dream All-Star Tiffany Hayes.

Atlanta Dream Co-Owner and Vice President Renee Montgomery presented the court to Hoop Nation ATL in a ceremony on Monday night (November 16). The dedication took place during Renee’s Runs, a free weekly women’s pick-up program held every Monday night from 8-10 p.m. at Hoop Nation ATL. The runs are designed to promote women’s health and fitness, tracked by the program’s technology partner, 1891©.

“Investing in women starts in the community, and we’re excited to begin with Hoop Nation ATL,” Montgomery said. “Tiffany Hayes and her family are investing in College Park and we are thrilled to have the chance to support them.”

The court was installed this month by Dominique Wilkins’ CBA Sports and will give basketball players of all ages an opportunity to play on a professional court, and puts WNBA branding front and center to build brand familiarity among Hoop Nation patrons.

Hoop Nation ATL was opened by Hayes in February 2020 and is now home to several youth programs that target primarily underserved communities on the southside of Atlanta. The facility offers camps and classes for basketball players of all experience and ages, seasonal basketball leagues and pick-up leagues like Renee’s Runs.

Hoop Nation ATL is located in College Park, Georgia at 4855 Old National Hwy in Atlanta, Ga 30337.

The Atlanta Dream will tip off their 15^th season in the WNBA in 2022. The organization, who plays its home games at the Gateway Center Arena @ College Park, has qualified for the WNBA Playoffs in nine of its first 14 seasons. To learn more about the Dream and inquire about 2022 season tickets, please visit www.atlantadream.net, call 877-977-7729 or email tickets@atlantadream.net.

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Kelsey Bibik
Public Relations Manager | Atlanta Dream
101 Marietta Street NW Suite 3550
Atlanta, GA 30303
C: 858-361-9855
W: 404-920-2545
dreammediacentral.com

WNBA APPROVES NEW PLAYOFF FORMAT

Posted on November 18, 2021November 22, 2021 by WebDev

— Postseason to Consist of Three Rounds Featuring a Best-of 3-5-5 Series Format —

— Top Eight Teams to Qualify for Bracket-Style Postseason —

NEW YORK, Nov. 18, 2021 – The WNBA Board of Governors approved changes to the league’s playoff format and postseason seeding, effective with the 2022 season, the WNBA announced today. The reconfigured postseason structure will include three rounds of series-play using a best-of 3-5-5 format.

Beginning with the WNBA’s 26^th season, the eight teams with the highest winning percentages over a 36-game schedule regardless of conference will qualify for the playoffs and be seeded based on their record. All eight playoff teams will participate in first-round, bracket-style play consisting of four best-of-three series.

In one bracket, first-round play will place the No. 1 seed facing the No. 8 seed and the No. 4 seed versus the No. 5 seed in a best-of-three series, with the winners advancing to a best-of-five semifinals series against one another. In the other bracket, the No. 3 seed will face the No. 6 seed and the No. 2 seed will meet the No. 7 seed, with the winners moving on to face one another in the other best-of-five semifinals series.

The winners of the semifinals series will then meet in the WNBA Finals, which also will be a best-of-five series, to determine the WNBA champion.

Additional elements regarding the playoff structure are as follows:

The number of playoff rounds shifts from four to three and no teams will receive a bye to start the postseason. Teams will not be reseeded following the first round.
The planned change for the first-round series games will include a 2-1 format in which the higher seed will host Games 1 and 2 and the lower seed will host Game 3 if necessary.
The new format will add eight potential games to the playoff footprint.
The semifinals and WNBA Finals will each remain unchanged as best-of-five series and follow the same 2-2-1 format whereby the higher seed hosts Games 1, 2 and 5, and the lower-seeded team will host Games 3 and 4 in their respective series.

“We have been evaluating different playoff formats over the past 12 months, and the new playoff format being announced today will enable fans to engage with all of the league’s best teams and top stars right from the start of the postseason with all eight championship contenders immediately involved in exciting, first-round action,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “Following significant discussions with our Competition Committee and a Playoff subcommittee we formed last year, it was clear that while the prior format’s single-elimination games created a win-and-advance level of excitement to the start of the postseason, the new best-of-three series format will provide added opportunities to create and showcase rivalries with all playoff-eligible teams participating.”

The prior playoff format, adopted in 2016 consisted of four rounds using a 1-1-5-5 format, with two single elimination rounds and the No. 1 and 2 seeds receiving double-byes into the semifinals. The new playoff format being announced today will provide the top eight teams with a consistent start to their playoff runs.

About the WNBA

Having just completed its 25^th season in 2021, the WNBA is a bold, progressive basketball league that stands for the power of women. Featuring 12 teams, the W is a unique sports property that combines competition and entertainment with a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and social responsibility. Through its world-class athletes, the in-game fan experience, TV and digital broadcasts, digital and social content and community outreach programs, the league celebrates and elevates the game of basketball and the culture around it.

In 2020, the WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) signed a groundbreaking eight-year CBA that charts a new course for women’s basketball—and women’s sports overall—with a focus on increased player compensation, improvements to the player experience, expanded career development opportunities, and resources specifically tailored to the female professional athlete. Key elements of the agreement are supported through the league’s new platform, WNBA Changemakers, with AT&T, the WNBA’s Marquee Partner and inaugural Changemaker, as well as fellow inaugural Changemakers Deloitte and Nike, and the recent addition of Google. During the 2020 season, the WNBA and WNBPA launched the WNBA Justice Movement forming the Social Justice Council with the mission of being a driving force of necessary change and continuing conversations about race and voting rights, among other important societal issues. For more information, visit WNBA.com.

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Contact: Ron Howard, (212) 407-8641, rhoward@nba.com

Sam Tager, (212) 407-8358, stager@nba.com

Sharife Cooper, Jalen Johnson and Skylar Mays Re-Join College Park Skyhawks

Posted on November 5, 2021 by WebDev

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 11/5/21
CONTACT: Jerome Schwich, College Park Skyhawks Communications, (773) 329-1225

SHARIFE COOPER, JALEN JOHNSON AND SKYLAR MAYS RE-JOIN COLLEGE PARK SKYHAWKS

COLLEGE PARK, Ga. – The College Park Skyhawks announced today that forward Jalen Johnson has been assigned to the College Park Skyhawks, while two-way players and guards Sharife Cooper and Skylar Mays have been transferred to the College Park Skyhawks.

Johnson and Mays each played three minutes in the Hawks’ Thursday night defeat to the Utah Jazz.

The Skyhawks open their regular season with two home games this weekend against the Maine Celtics. The home opener on Friday night, presented by Emory Healthcare, will tip-off at 7 p.m. ET at the Gateway Center Arena at College Park. The two teams will match up again in College Park on Sunday afternoon, with that game set to tip at 2 p.m. ET.

#Southside#

ABOUT COLLEGE PARK SKYHAWKS

Home to the world’s most traveled airport in Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International and Georgia’s newest convention center, the Georgia International Convention Center, the city of College Park is the home of the Atlanta Hawks’ NBA G League affiliate, the College Park Skyhawks. The Skyhawks host games at the Gateway Center Arena at College Park, a 3500-seat multipurpose sports and entertainment venue, that is the premier event facility in south Atlanta. Owned and operated by the Atlanta Hawks, the Skyhawks ownership team also includes Grammy Award-winning recording artist, hip-hop superstar and College Park native 2 Chainz. Season-Ticket Memberships are on-sale now! Founding Members will experience exclusive benefits, such as VIP Member Events, discounts on Skyhawks merchandise, and a personal contact in the front office. To find out more, email info@cpskyhawks.com, visitwww.cpskyhawks.com or call 404-878-3370.

Atlanta Dream names Tanisha Wright as Head Coach

Posted on October 12, 2021October 12, 2021 by WebDev

Tanisha Wright

The Atlanta Dream today announced industry veteran Tanisha Wright will join the team as head coach. As the fifth head coach in franchise history, Wright brings over 14 years of experience in the league as a player and coach to this role, most recently serving as an assistant coach for the Las Vegas Aces.

“It’s an honor to be chosen as head coach for the Atlanta Dream, and I’m excited to play a role in building a successful organization centered around the player experience,” said Wright. “I have been part of championship teams and understand what it takes to win in this league. I look forward to bringing my talents to this franchise and helping the Dream achieve success.”

As head coach, Wright will be responsible for fostering the growth of the Dream’s players and establishing a culture of integrity and accountability. She comes to the Dream during a pivotal year in which the organization welcomed the new ownership group including WNBA All Star Renee Montgomery, the first former player to become both an owner and executive in the WNBA.

Wright’s announcement is yet another positive milestone in building the Dream organization, as former NFL executive Morgan Shaw Parker was recently named President and COO. Earlier this year, the Dream was also named the 2020 ESPN Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year for the players’ remarkable work last year championing social justice efforts that influenced the Georgia Senate election.

Read Full Release

Steve Gansey Named Head Coach Of College Park Skyhawks

Posted on September 15, 2021 by WebDev

ATLANTA – The College Park SkyHawks today announced Steve Gansey as the team’s head coach. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“Steve is a dynamic, hard-working and experienced leader who has seen a lot of success in the G League, both in terms of wins as well as player development. As we resume play in College Park this season, we’re excited to welcome Steve to the SkyHawks family,” said SkyHawks General Manager Tori Miller.

Read the full article on the Skyhawks website »

Atlanta Dream names NFL Executive and Sports Industry Veteran Morgan Shaw Parker as President and Chief Operating Officer

Posted on September 15, 2021September 15, 2021 by WebDev

CMO of AMB Sports + Entertainment to oversee team’s business operations, drive community outreach and engagement

Atlanta, Georgia (September 8, 2021) – The Atlanta Dream announced today that NFL Executive Morgan Shaw Parker will join the team as President and Chief Operating Officer. A remarkable milestone for the Dream and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), Shaw Parker brings over 25 years of experience and values-driven leadership at all levels of the sports industry. Most recently she served as Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Arthur M. Blank Sports & Entertainment (AMBSE) where she led marketing and communications initiatives for the Atlanta Falcons and Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Prior to AMBSE, Shaw Parker spent over a decade at Nike, Inc., five years with the Kansas City Chiefs and several years with two industry-leading sports marketing agencies.

Read the full article on the Atlanta Dream’s website »

Atlanta Dream Announces New Home Court at Gateway Center in College Park

Posted on October 18, 2019October 18, 2019 by WebDev

Atlanta Dream Announces New Home Court at Gateway Center in College Park
Dream will move to brand new arena in Metro Atlanta’s Southside

ATLANTA – The WNBA’s Atlanta Dream announced it will play its 2020 home games at Gateway Center Arena @ College Park. After playing at State Farm Arena in downtown last season, the Dream will move to its new home in Metro Atlanta’s Southside for its 13^th season, and the 10^th season for owners Mary Brock and Kelly Loeffler.

“The Atlanta Dream seeks to represent the best of Atlanta, from a diverse community to warm hospitality to the sports and entertainment leadership our city is increasingly known for,” Brock and Loeffler said. “When we learned we needed to find a new homecourt, we turned challenge into opportunity, and are thrilled to showcase the Atlanta Dream in College Park @ Gateway Center where the growth of the city is evident. We’re excited to offer our fans a professional basketball experience in a state-of-the-art setting.”

Gateway Center Arena, a new 100,000-square-foot arena, is set to open on Friday, October 26, with first events scheduled for November. The arena will seat 3,500 and expandable up to 5,000 for concerts. The venue, operated by the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC), will also host the College Park Skyhawks, the Atlanta Hawk’s G-League team, as well as concerts, conventions and more.

“We are fortunate to have great support in Atlanta and a new venue that wants to be our partner,” Dream President and General Manager Chris Sienko said. “Designed to create a professional sports experience for players, fans and sponsors, it will offer a unique and intimate experience for our fans and establish an amazing home-court experience that the athletes will feel on the floor. This will all be supported by modern amenities to build an engaging and exciting community experience for our fans.”

“This partnership with the Dream confirms our validity as a major economic influencer for the Atlanta Metropolitan Area,” GICC Executive Director Mercedes Miller said. “I salute the Atlanta Dream for the foresight to recognize the value of this new relationship. This is a historical moment for the City of College Park and a dream come true for me! We are looking forward to the Dream’s loyal fans making the Gateway Arena @ College Park their new home.”

Designed with the spectator in mind, the facility’s unique layout allows for 360-degree views from any seat, complemented by an exclusive food and beverage partnership with CulinAero by Proof of the Pudding. The award-winning culinary team aims to create a dining experience that is more than just “concession food” with four concourse-level concession stands including Southern Fried, The Hangar, Post Oak BBQ and Tri-Cities Pizza. Select beer and wines will be available at each concession stand, as well as full bar selections at portable bar locations throughout the concourse.

The Gateway Center will comprise the arena, the GICC, four full-service hotels and a number of dining options. Fans will be greeted with ample parking right outside the arena doors and free Wi-Fi throughout the arena.

Located minutes from downtown Atlanta and a quarter mile from the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the Gateway Center Arena will be easily accessible via the free ATL SkyTrain, the highway or MARTA. The ATL SkyTrain travels just 2 minutes along a 1.6-mile elevated guideway from the airport terminal to the Gateway Center and GICC.

The Atlanta Dream will tip-off their 13^th season in the WNBA in May 2020. Atlanta holds the No. 4 pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft. The organization, which will play its home games at the Gateway Center Arena at College Park, has qualified for the WNBA Playoffs in nine of its first 12 seasons. The Dream will begin taking deposits for the 2020 season on Wednesday, October 23 at 10 a.m., with early purchase discounts and a free hat with each ticket purchased.

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Gateway Center Arena @ College Park Names Arena Manager

Posted on September 28, 2019October 17, 2019 by WebDev

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Gateway Center Arena @ College Park Names Arena Manager
Yanous Barner will manage forthcoming Arena, slated for fall 2019 debut

College Park, GA (June 28, 2019) – Yanous Barner, Operations Superintendent for the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC) for more than 16 years, has officially been named Arena Manager for The Gateway Center Arena @ College Park, set to open its doors this fall as home the College Park SkyHawks – the Atlanta Hawks G-league basketball team. With a 30-year career in the hospitality industry, Barner has spent 22 years of those years working in hotel food and beverage, holding positions as food and beverage director, assistant banquet manager, convention service manager, restaurant manager, room service manager and sales support.

Active in the community, he has served as a board member with Atlanta Technical College Hospitality Board advocating for the continued growth of adult education. He is currently an active board member of the Old National Merchant Association, the Camp Creek Business Association and the Cascade Business Association, committed to creating and maintaining sustainable businesses for the Southside community as a whole. Barner is also a member of International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM).

As Arena manager, Barner will direct and schedule all operational aspects, including engineering, technical services, security, maintenance, custodial and contracted services. He will be responsible for the capital budget, the implementation of the business blueprint, personnel, sales and marketing goals, risk management and compliance, as well as attendance and revenue projections.

Earlier this month, the Arena announced its partnership with The Fox Theatre as the venue’s exclusive booking, marketing and consulting partner.

“Yanous is an astute hospitality professional. When it was confirmed that College Park would be building the new Arena, I set my sights on Mr. Barner as he totally grasps our concept here,” explains executive director of the GICC, Mercedes Miller. “He has great rapport with not only our clients, but also with staff. He was the natural choice to step in and manage the new facility.”

About the Georgia International Convention Center

The Georgia International Convention Center is the second largest convention center in Georgia, uniquely positioned to offer its guests and clients unprecedented convenience for conferences, expositions, convocations and more. Directly connected to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport via the ATL SkyTrain, the GICC is the world’s only convention center with such access, set alongside three hotels, class-A office space, the BMW Training Center and the forthcoming Gateway Center Arena @ College Park, set to open in fall 2019. The GICC is located at 2000 Convention Center Concourse, College Park, GA 30337. For more information, please visit www.gicc.com.

About College Park:

Encompassing 11.1 square miles, College Park is home to the world headquarters of Chick-fil-A, the most traveled airport worldwide in Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, and has the largest and one of the most prestigious K-12 private schools in the continental United States – Woodward Academy. College Park has one of Georgia’s most vibrant historical communities, while the city moves boldly ahead in new technologies and alternative fuel and energy platforms. College Park’s progressive mission focuses on economic development, hospitality and entertainment. The city-operated Georgia International Convention Center boasts the largest ballroom in the state of Georgia, and a new multipurpose arena to be built next door is slated to open this fall as the home court for the Atlanta Hawks’ Developmental League team, the College Park SkyHawks.

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MEDIA CONTACT
Julia Dorio / Bianca Beran
Phase 3 Marketing and Communications
Julia.Dorio@phase3mc.com / Bianca.Beran@phase3mc.com
404.367.9898

Gateway Center Arena @ College Park Slated to Open in October

Posted on September 16, 2019October 17, 2019 by WebDev

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Gateway Center Arena @ College Park Slated to Open in October
South Atlanta’s newest state-of-the-art, multipurpose venue to debut quality entertainment and events this fall

College Park, Ga. (Monday, September 16, 2019) – The highly anticipated Gateway Center Arena @ College Park is set to officially open its doors this fall – Friday, October 26 – with its first events scheduled for early November. Operated by the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC) in partnership with The Fox Theatre, the multipurpose sports and entertainment venue will serve as the home to the College Park Skyhawks, the official NBA G League affiliate of the Atlanta Hawks, and hold 5,000 seats for live events, concerts, graduations, conventions and more.

Located next door to the city-operated Georgia International Convention Center and minutes from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the 100,000 square foot entertainment destination is poised to become the premier event facility on the city’s southside. The venue, which will bring an estimated 600 jobs to College Park and surrounding areas, is complemented by easy access to MARTA, surrounding hotels, curated dining experiences, neighboring attractions including the Delta Flight Museum, the Porsche Driving Experience, and more.

“The Gateway Center Arena establishes the City of College Park as not only a unique entertainment destination within Atlanta, but also as a leader in the city’s economic development,” says Mercedes Miller, Executive Director at the GICC and Gateway Center Arena @ College Park. “Especially with our partnership with The Fox Theatre, we now have a venue hosting sought-after events that is easily accessible for those who live and work in south Atlanta, and even further beyond the city.”

With construction nearing completion, Gateway Center Arena looks ahead to an exciting inaugural line-up of events this fall. One of the first public events taking place in the new Arena will be FanFest, a family friendly event on Saturday, November 9, from noon to 4 p.m. Details on the event will be released soon, followed by the first events announced by the Skyhawks and exclusive booking partner the Fox Theatre, respectively: the Skyhawks home opener on Thursday, November 21, followed by the #TBTour with Immature on Saturday, November 23, tickets on sale now here.

Last month, the Skyhawks released season ticket membership sales, which will give ticket holders priority access to all 24 regular season home games between November and March, and special members-only benefits and privileges. The full Skyhawks schedule and individual ticket sales are now available, as well. For more information and updates about the team and season tickets, click here.

In addition to serving as the home to the Skyhawks, Gateway Center Arena is also partnering with the Fox Theatre to bring a variety of other sports and entertainment events to the multipurpose venue, including concerts, comedy performances, family shows, lifestyle events, and amateur and professional sporting events. Under this multi-year agreement, the Fox Theatre will consult in several key business areas, including accounting, programming, marketing, digital media, production and general facility management. Live event updates can be viewed here.

Gateway Center Arena is located at 2330 Convention Center Concourse, College Park, GA 30337. For more information and updates, go to www.arenagatewaycenter.com, or visit the Arena on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

About Gateway Center Arena @ College Park:

Home to the College Park SkyHawks, the official NBA G League affiliate of the Atlanta Hawks, Gateway Center Arena @ College Park will open its doors in fall 2019 as a multipurpose sports and entertainment venue. Operated by the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC) in partnership with The Fox Theatre, the Arena will hold 5,000 seats for live events, concerts, graduations, conventions and more. For more information, visit www.arenagatewaycenter.com.

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MEDIA CONTACT
Caroline Haye / Bianca Beran
Phase 3 Marketing and Communications
gateway@phase3mc.com
404.367.9898