Enes Kanter Freedom Rejects Private Suite In WNBA Finals Seat Dispute

Enes Kanter Freedom wanted the seats he paid for, not a private suite at the WNBA Finals. The former NBA player said security kept him from those seats at Atlanta’s State Farm Arena.

The Associated Press reported that he turned down the suite and left. Freedom gave his own account in a halftime video, saying he had been thrown out.

The Atlanta Dream hosted the Golden State Valkyries in Game 3 on Wednesday, October 21. Ludacris was among the music stars in the sold-out crowd, according to the WNBA’s AP recap.

Freedom’s tickets were close to the court, EFE reported. Before the game, he said security would not let him get to those seats and would have to escort him out.

“I purchased tickets, right? Just because I purchased tickets, I would like to sit in my seat. That’s all I want,” Freedom said, according to AP.

His prior WNBA visit ended with an ejection and an arena ban in Chicago. AP reported a heated exchange with Sky guard Natasha Cloud in late August.

For Atlanta’s arena, the suite was a way to address his safety concerns. In a statement reported by EFE, the venue said Freedom had raised those concerns with federal, state and local authorities. He had also contacted the league, team and arena.

The venue spoke with the league, team owners and security staff before setting up the suite. But the offer came with a condition. EFE reported that someone told Freedom in a halftime video that he could enter only if he agreed to use the suite.

AP said the suite would have extra security. State police had also assigned an officer at his request.

For the Dream, the move to State Farm Arena meant more room for fans. The team’s usual home, Gateway Center Arena, seats 3,500. State Farm Arena can hold more than 17,000. Both Atlanta games sold out.

“Protect home court,” Dream guard Rhyne Howard said of the team’s focus, according to AP. “Giving our fans a show. We fought for this arena so we had to protect it.”

Atlanta won 97-71 to take a 2-1 series lead. Game 4 was set for Saturday, October 24, at the same arena.