Georgia Force

Georgia Force
Based in Atlanta, the Georgia Force is an Arena Football League team that plays in the Southern Division of the National Conference..

The Original Nashville Kats:
The team began as the first Nashville Kats team from 1997 to 2001. Gaylord Entertainment Center in downtown Nashville was the venue of the original Kats. Initially, Eddie Khayat coached the team in 1997 and 1998. Eddie Khayat was succeeded by Pat Sperduto for the balance of the team's time in Nashville.

For their inaugural year of 1997, the Kats were the league's Organization of the Year . They were in the playoffs for every season of their relatively brief existence. In each of their final two seasons, they were able to play in the ArenaBowl even though losing both times they reached the AFL's championship game.

In December of 2001, the franchise was purchased by Virgil Williams, an Atlanta businessman, for nearly $10 million (US). As the team's previous owners failed to negotiate a favorable lease with the arena's primary tenant and manager, the National Hockey League's Nashville Predators, the team was moved to Atlanta.

Georgia Force
Prior to relocating to suburban Duluth and playing in the Arena at Gwinnett Center for the 2003 and 2004 seasons, Atlanta's downtown Philips Arena was the venue of the initial games of the rechristened Force. The team name was chosen through a contest in the Atlanta Journal Constitution. The winning name was submitted by Anthony R. Ward.

The team made the playoffs one time in 2003 under Williams' three-year tenure as owner. Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank purchased the team in September of 2004. In response to fan desires as expressed in a poll, it was announced that the franchise would return to the downtown Philips Arena for the 2005 season.

The Nashville Kats returned to the league in 2005. They acquired all of the pre-move history from the Force, making this franchise a 2002 expansion team. In team history, the 2005 season proved to be the most successful. The highlights included a conference-best 11-5 record, and undefeated home record (8-0), a National Conference Championship, and a trip to ArenaBowl XIX.

A high-tech runner named G-Force used to be the Force's official mascot. Now, a blue, cuddly monster named Blu is their current mascot.