ROME– Professional arena football will return to downtown Rome next spring with the launch of the Rome Red Cats.

Team leaders introduced the new franchise Tuesday morning at the Forum River Center. The Red Cats plan to compete in the American Arena League beginning in April 2027.

Kacee Smith, the team’s co-owner and president, said the idea grew from years of conversations about Rome’s potential. He described the city as a natural fit for the fast-paced indoor game.

“I wanted to put a team here in Rome,” Smith said. “I just feel like Rome is a great market.”

Georgia’s Rome Office of Tourism executive director Lisa J. Smith opened the announcement. She welcomed city, county, and business leaders who attended the event.

In addition, she credited Forum general manager Jay Shell for helping the project take shape. Team officials said Shell also helped secure favorable Saturday dates for the planned season.

Experienced leadership takes the field

Kacee Smith brings more than 15 years of arena-football experience to the new club. His background includes team ownership, league management, sales, and marketing.

A National Arena League profile confirms that Smith joined the Columbus Lions ownership group in 2020. Before that, he founded the Georgia Rampage and served as its president and general manager.

The profile also documents Smith’s previous service as president of X-League Professional Indoor Football. Currently, he works as vice president and sales manager for Builtwell Insurance Agency.

Smith said his five seasons with Columbus produced five playoff appearances and three championship-game trips. The Lions won two of those title games, he said.

Meanwhile, James Moreland will lead the Red Cats as head coach and serve in the ownership group. Moreland is an Atlanta native who works for Atlanta Public Schools.

Moreland said he has spent about 13 years in arena football as a player and coach. During that span, he said he contributed to nine championship teams.

His experience also includes the Peach State Cats, a developmental arena-football program. The program has helped players gain experience and pursue opportunities at higher levels of the sport.

Moreland said he looks forward to building another championship contender in Rome. However, both leaders stressed that entertainment and community involvement will carry equal importance.

Fast football at family-friendly prices

Arena football uses eight players on each side and a field roughly half the length of a traditional football field. As a result, fans sit close to the action and see a faster game in a compact setting.

The Red Cats expect to play between eight and 12 regular-season games. The schedule should include four or five home dates and a similar number of road games.

Moreover, the team expects most home games to fall on Saturdays between April and mid-June. Officials may add an exhibition game if the schedule and arena availability allow it.

The league selects the championship site, Smith said. Therefore, the highest-seeded team will not automatically host the title game.

Ticket prices remain preliminary, but the club wants to keep games affordable for families. Smith said the current plan calls for $10 general admission and $20 field-level seating.

In addition, the team plans to offer suite packages and season tickets. Officials expect season-ticket information to become available within the next several weeks.

Roster building and local opportunities

The Red Cats have begun evaluating film and recruiting players with professional experience. Coaches also plan to give qualified local athletes a serious look.

Still, Moreland emphasized that every roster spot must meet a professional standard. The team wants players who can deliver competitive football and an entertaining game-day product.

Practices will likely take place in a central area between Douglasville and Rome. That arrangement would serve players traveling from Atlanta, Carrollton, Rome, and surrounding communities.

Once crews install the turf, the team also expects to practice at The Forum. Team officials have not announced final practice arrangements.

Beyond the roster, ownership hopes to create two or three full-time, year-round positions. The club also expects to add seasonal jobs, paid game-day roles, internships, and volunteer opportunities.

For example, students could gain experience in sports management, marketing, sales, and event operations. Team leaders also want to work with local colleges, schools, youth leagues, and community organizations.

Smith said the organization may involve youth athletes in game-day activities. Above all, he wants residents to view the Red Cats as their team.

“This is going to be Rome’s team,” Smith said.

Sponsorship drive comes next

The ownership group waited until the public announcement before beginning its formal sponsorship campaign. Now, the Red Cats plan to approach local and regional businesses about partnerships.

Smith said the team wants to provide measurable value instead of simply collecting sponsorship checks. Those partnerships could include in-arena exposure, community promotions, and digital visibility through game streams.

Likewise, streaming could give distant fans another way to follow the club. It could also extend sponsor exposure beyond people seated inside the arena.

The team name connects several parts of the ownership group’s football history. Leaders said the “Cats” name honors Moreland’s Peach State Cats while continuing the feline theme of the Columbus Lions.

They chose red as the club’s primary identity and wanted Rome in the name. Consequently, the group settled on the Rome Red Cats.

Building on Rome’s arena-football history

Rome previously hosted the Rome Renegades during the 2005 and 2006 seasons. Team leaders said that history helped demonstrate the city’s interest in arena football.

However, the sport’s business model has changed since the Renegades played. Streaming, social media, and digital sponsorships now offer teams more ways to reach fans and business partners.

The Red Cats are entering the AAL as the league expands for 2027. The league’s official website describes a growing national footprint and a development path between AAL2 and the professional AAL level.

Meanwhile, the Red Cats still must finalize their roster, schedule, sponsors, staffing, and office plans. Smith said the team will release those details through its website and social-media channels as they become available.

For now, ownership’s first message is simple: Professional arena football is returning to Rome. The organization wants the community involved from the beginning.

More coverage coming from WEIS Radio

WEIS Radio sports director Shannon Fagan spoke with members of the Rome Red Cats coaching staff. Look for more coverage from those interviews soon on WEISRadio.com.

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