Georgia Force | |
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Established 2002 (Original incarnation), 2011 (Second incarnation), 2024 (Third incarnation) Folded 2008 (Original incarnation), 2012 (Second incarnation), 2024 (Third incarnation) [a] Played in Georgia State Convocation Center in Atlanta, Georgia | |
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League/conference affiliations | |
Arena Football League (2002–2008, 2011–2012, 2024
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Current uniform | |
Team colors | Blue, black, white |
Mascot | Blu |
Personnel | |
Owner(s) | Arena Football League |
Head coach | Durwood Roquemore |
Team history | |
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Championships | |
League championships (0) | |
Conference championships (1) Prior to 2005, the AFL did not have conference championship games | |
Division championships (3) | |
Playoff appearances (6) | |
Home arena(s) | |
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The Georgia Force was the name of three separate versions of Arena Football League (AFL) teams based in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area of Georgia, United States.
The first incarnation of the Force resulted from the relocation of the original Nashville Kats franchise in 2001 and beginning play in 2002 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, then relocated to The Arena at Gwinnett Center in Duluth, Georgia in 2003, then back to Philips Arena in 2005. Following the termination of operations of the Arena Football League on August 4, 2009, Georgia Force officials quickly followed with a release that indicated that they, too, were ceasing operations.[1] The franchise was last owned by Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank.
In 2010, the Alabama Vipers announced they would leave Huntsville, and would move to suburban Atlanta as the second incarnation of the Force for the 2011 AFL season, once again playing home games at Arena at Gwinnett Center. That team was owned by Doug MacGregor and Donn Jennings. Following the 2012 season, the franchise folded citing, "The market never responded to our extensive marketing and sales campaign," said team president Corey Remillard. "With all of the outreach, marketing, community and public relations that we put forward, it would have been impossible to not know that we were playing here, and the city simply did not respond. Atlanta is simply not a football town."[2]
In November 2023, a third incarnation of the Georgia Force was announced as a member of the reconstituted Arena Football League beginning play in 2024. This franchise was originally slated to play home games at the Georgia State Convocation Center in Atlanta, although this never came to fruition. Being unable to secure a home venue, the league scheduled the franchise as a traveling team playing every game in 2024 as a visitor. However, this was short-lived, as the Georgia Force folded in May 2024, just two weeks into the season.
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