Official Site of the
Athens INDOOR Football
SMALLER FIELD! BIGGER CHAOS!
The new Athens franchise will compete in the Indoor Football League (IFL) at the state-of-the-art Akins Ford Arena in the heart of downtown Athens. The team’s inaugural 2027 season is set to kick off in late March and run through July, with playoff action potentially extending into August. Fans can look forward to a 16-game regular season schedule, including 8 exciting home games that will bring fast-paced, high-energy football to Athens for the very first time.
The Athens franchise is owned by Athens Sports Entertainment, LLC, a passionate group of community-driven business leaders committed to bringing premier sports and entertainment to the city of Athens. The ownership group is anchored by an impressive roster of accomplished athletes and respected sports figures, including Jerome Bettis, Pro Football Hall of Famer and Super Bowl champion; David Pollack, College Football Hall of Famer and three-time University of Georgia All-American; and Brian Jordan, former Major League Baseball All-Star and Atlanta Falcon. Together, the group brings championship experience, deep community ties, and a shared vision for building a first-class franchise that Athens can proudly rally behind.
OWN EVERY GAME
Feel the energy. Hear the crowd. Experience every hit, every score & every unforgettable moment live at Akins Ford Arena.
The Indoor Football League (IFL) currently features 14 teams across the country, with franchises in dynamic markets including Green Bay, Orlando, Las Vegas, San Antonio, and San Diego. The league is also home to several iconic former Arena Football League franchises, including the Arizona Rattlers, Iowa Barnstormers, and Jacksonville Sharks — organizations with passionate fan bases and deep roots in indoor football history.
Combining the legacy of arena football with a modern, entertainment-driven game-day experience, the IFL delivers one of the fastest and most exciting versions of professional football in the country. Played on a 50-yard field enclosed by dasher boards, the game features eight players per side, high-powered offenses, fast-paced action, and constant momentum shifts that keep fans engaged from the opening kickoff all the way to the IFL National Championship.
The Indoor Football League (IFL) stands as the premier professional indoor football league in the United States. Since its founding in 2009, the league has grown into the nation’s longest continuously operating indoor football league and now ranks as the second-longest-running professional football league in America, behind only the National Football League.
Entering its 19th consecutive season in 2027, the IFL has built a national reputation for elite competition, passionate fan experiences, and organizational stability. The league has also become a proven development platform for top-tier talent, with more than 350 players earning opportunities with NFL and CFL organizations since the league’s inception. From emerging stars to seasoned veterans, the IFL continues to serve as a launching pad for athletes pursuing the highest levels of professional football while delivering fast-paced, championship-caliber entertainment to fans across the country.