Arena football will return to Memphis in 2026 as The Arena League announced the city as one of its new expansion locations.
The league shared the news on Nov. 6, saying that months of preparation and visits to communities and arenas across the Midwest and Central United States led to this decision. “This announcement comes after months of preparation for league operations, visits to explore communities and arenas all over the Midwest and Central portion of the US,” a statement released by the league read.
The team does not yet have an official name. According to The Arena League, fans will help choose a name for Memphis’ team, while partnerships with local business leaders are also planned to build community involvement and possibly shift toward local ownership in the future. “While the league is prepared to own and operate the team, we feel that it will grow stronger roots in Memphis if it were owned, at least in part, by local leaders who want to invest in something designed to be good for their hometown,” said Tim Brown, chairman and commissioner of The Arena League.
The expansion team’s home games will be played at Memphis Sports and Events Center located at Liberty Park. This venue seats up to 3,500 people according to information on its website. It remains unclear whether capacity changes are expected as professional football comes back to town.
“Football at the Sports and Events Center will be a remarkable experience, from sight lines and close proximity all the way through to the postgame autograph sessions,” said Chase Bobbitt, director of business development at Memphis Sports and Events Center. “We are very proud to be hosting The Arena League.”
Memphis previously hosted two arena football teams: The Memphis Pharaohs played in the mid-1990s before relocating after two seasons, while AF2’s Memphis Xplorers competed from 2001 through 2006—winning a championship title in 2005.
Ticket prices for adults start at $15; children aged twelve or younger may attend for $10. Additional information about tickets or other details can be found on The Arena League’s website.
With arena football returning next year, Memphis prepares for renewed engagement with professional indoor sports.
Information from this article can be found here.
