The ECHL announced on Wednesday that the League Board of Directors has approved the extension application of Augusta, Georgia for access to the competition. The club starts playing in the 2027-28 season.
The team, which is later mentioned, will be owned by the HEISMAN Trophy winner of 2007 and former National Football League Quarterback, Tim Tebow, together with David Hodges, CEO of Hodges Management Group, LLC.
With the addition of Augusta for the 2027-28 season, the ECHL has 32 member teams, which corresponds to the number of teams in both the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League.
“The return from Echl hockey to Augusta is exciting at a number of levels,” said Echl Commissioner Ryan Crelin. “The growth of the market and the newly constructed location will ensure a first-class entertainment experience, while also adding a great new rival city under our southern division. Moreover, the ownership of David and Tim is an exemplary one in Tahoe, and we look ahead to their continuous growth in the Augusta-Markt, which will further solve the market for the development area and a market in the development area and a market in the field and a market in the field and a market in the field and a market in the field and a market in the development area and a development area and a market in the development area and AHL and the NHL and AHL in the market for the 2027-27 season.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to bring hockey back to Augusta with our partnership group,” Tebow said. “We are delighted to see this team bring people from all over the country together to enjoy companionship, competition and community impact. Our desire is to have a positive impact on both outside the ice. We can’t wait for the Puck drop in October 2027!”
“Tim and I are pleased to bring Echl hockey back to Augusta,” said Hodges. “On behalf of our partnership group, we look forward to covering this community assets. We both believe in the power of sport to bring communities together and are dedicated to positively influence this community and to deliver family -friendly environments that make lasting memories.”
“Augusta is a passionate, sports -loving community that really deserves to have professional hockey in the city,” said Zawyer Sports CEO Andy Kaufmann. “We are committed to building a strong franchise that will thrive here for years. And we are convinced that the new Augusta Arena will be a prominent home for our team, giving fans and players an environment of world class to name their own.”
“This is a proud day for Augusta,” said Mayor Garnett L. Johnson, Stad Augusta. “Bringing professional hockey back to our city is about stimulating our community, attracting visitors and creating opportunities for our local economy to grow. The new Augusta Arena and our new ECHL team will become an incredible source of pride and excitement for residents in the region.”
Augusta was previously the home of the Echl’s Augusta Lynx of 1998-2008 and the SPHL’s Augusta Riverhawks from 2010-13. The new Augusta membership plays his home games in the new Augusta Arena, a location of 10,500 seats currently under construction in the center of Augusta.
#Echl #approves #expansion #membership #good #Augusta #Pro #hockey #news