 | |
| Founded | 2002 (Original incarnation) |
|---|---|
| Folded | 2012 (Second incarnation) |
| Team history |
|
| Based in | Arena at Gwinnett Center inDuluth, Georgia |
| Home arenas |
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| Mascot | Blu |
| League | Arena Football League (2002–2012)
|
| Colors | Blue, black, white |
| Personnel | |
| Head coach | Dean Cokinos |
| Team president | Corey Remillard |
| Owner | Doug MacGregor |
| Championships | |
| Conference titles (1) | Prior to 2005, the AFL did not have conference championship games |
| Division titles (3) | |
| Playoff appearances (6) | |
TheGeorgia Force was anArena Football League (AFL) team based inGwinnett County,Georgia,United States (part ofsuburban Atlanta) that played in the South Division of the American Conference. The team was owned by Doug MacGregor and Donn Jennings.
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]
In 2010, theAlabama Vipers announced they would leave Huntsville, and would move to suburban Atlanta for the 2011 AFL season, once again playing home games atArena at Gwinnett Center.
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]
The team began as the firstNashville Kats team from1997 to2001. The original Kats played in the Nashville Arena (later known as Gaylord Entertainment Center, now known asBridgestone Arena) in downtown Nashville and were initially coached by Eddie Khayat in 1997 and 1998. Khayat was then succeeded byPat Sperduto for the balance of the team's time in Nashville. The Kats were the league's "Organization of the Year" for their inaugural year of 1997, and were in the playoffs for every season of their relatively brief existence, even playing in theArenaBowl each of their final two seasons, albeit losing both times they reached the AFL's championship game.
Virgil Williams, an Atlanta businessman,[3] purchased the franchise for nearly$10 million in December 2001, and moved the team to Atlanta after the team's previous owners failed to negotiate a favorable lease with the arena's primary tenant and manager, theNational Hockey League'sNashville Predators. The Kats would return toNashville as an expansion team in 2005 (in a situation similar to theNational Football League'sCleveland Browns). The secondNashville Kats team would fold after a losing 2007 season.
The rechristened Force initially played in Duluth, a suburb of Atlanta, in theArena at Gwinnett Center until relocating in the 2004 season to Philips Arena in downtown Atlanta.
The team name was chosen through a contest in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Anthony R Ward submitted the winning name.
Under Williams' three-year tenure as owner, the team made the playoffs one time in 2003. Upon selling the team toAtlanta Falcons ownerArthur Blank in September 2004, it was announced that the franchise would return to the downtown Philips Arena for the 2005 season in response to fan desires as expressed in apoll. However, following the 2007 season, the Force announced they were returning to the Gwinnett Center in 2008 after signing a 10-year lease.[5]
The Georgia Force's only rival in the Arena Football League was the New Orleans VooDoo. Previous owners of both teams, owned NFL teams in the same market. The New Orleans Saints rivaled with The Atlanta Falcons & The New Orleans VooDoo rivaled with The Georgia Force.
The 2005 season was, by far, the most successful in team history with highlights including a conference-best 11–5 record, and undefeated home record (8–0), a division title, a National Conference Championship, and a trip toArenaBowl XIX. They lost to the Colorado Crush, 51–48.They also won Southern Division titles in 2007 and 2008.
The Force's official mascot used to be a high-tech runner namedG-Force, but was later changed to a blue, cuddly monster namedBlu.[6]
An unrelated traveling team bearing the same name played in the short-lived 2024Arena Football League.
| Head coach | Tenure | Regular season record (W–L) | Post season record (W–L) | Most recent coaching staff | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Lyles | 2002 | 1–4[7] | 0–0[7] | ||
| Marty Lowe | 2002–2004 | 12–15[8] | 1–1[8] | ||
| Bob Kronenberg | 2004 | 3–2[9] | 0–0[9] | ||
| Doug Plank | 2005–2008 | 43–21[10] | 4–4[10] | 2x Arena Football League Coach of the Year (2005,2007)[10] | |
| Dean Cokinos | 2011–2012 | 11–7 | 1–0 | Asst./Line Coach: James Clark (2011–present) Asst./Line Coach: Juan Porter (2011–present) Asst./DB Coach:Willie Gary (2011–present) |
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The following Force players were named toAll-Arena Teams:
The following Force players were named to All-Ironman Teams:
The following Force players were named to All-Rookie Teams:
