ROME, Ga. — Rome will get a new professional arena football team. The Rome Red Cats announced their arrival during a news conference at the Forum River Center.
The Red Cats will compete in the American Arena League and plan to start play in April 2027. The team expects to host 4 to 6 home games and play 4 to 6 away games in the first season at the Forum River Center.
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Kacee Smith, Richard Maslia and head coach and co-owner James Moreland make up the ownership group. Smith and Maslia co-owned the Columbus Lions for five years. Moreland brings 13 years of arena football experience, including nine championship seasons.
Smith said Rome is a great market for arena football and praised the Forum River Center staff for their support. He also shared his own history as a fan of the former Rome Renegades.
The team expects tickets to cost between $10 and $20 and plans to offer a season-ticket package soon.
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Fans can look for upgrades at the Forum River Center, including improved video boards. The team also plans to livestream games so more people can follow along.
Moreland said the Red Cats will practice at venues between Rome and Atlanta and at the Forum. He has helped nearly 80 players move up to higher levels of professional football during his career, according to a league news release.
The American Arena League includes teams from West Virginia, Mississippi, Texas and New Jersey.
The Red Cats plan to launch their website Tuesday evening with information about the team, tickets and upcoming games.
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