Augusta takes a big step in bringing back pro hockey

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – With approval of an expansion team in Augusta, officials on Wednesday announced progress on their plans to bring professional hockey back to the community.

Officials said they plan to have a team in place by October 2027 at the yet-to-be-built downtown Augusta arena.

The team will be owned by Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow and David Hodges.

To celebrate the occasion, the team is accepting season ticket deposits and has launched a contest to name the team on AugustaProHockey.com.

Tebow was in town to speak at a news conference Wednesday afternoon announcing the big development.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to bring hockey back to Augusta with our partnership group,” he said. “We are excited to see this team bring people together from all over the country to enjoy camaraderie, competition, and community impact.”

PRO HOCKEY RETURNING TO AUGUSTA: HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW

He says this will be a positive experience for the community both on and off the ice.

“When we come together, incredible things can happen,” he said.

“I’ve been able to see many times in my life what sports can do for a community,” he said.

“I really see that today in this room,” he said at the news conference at the Bell Auditorium.

He said he likes to win, but this is about more than winning and losing; it’s about caring for people and building memories.

“We want everyone in Augusta to know that it is your team, and we are here to support you,” he said.

There’s no name for the hockey team yet.

There’s also no arena for it, after the James Brown Arena was torn down.

But, funded by a sales tax, a new arena will take shape in its place, serving as a home for the team. Leaders said they expect the new 10,000-seat arena to open in 2027.

“It’s like I can’t even tell you how excited I am,” said John Whitwell, former hockey player. “All the memories of me playing back way back when on the old ice and you know it’s a real deal. The memories are there. They’ve been 27 years now for me since I first stepped onto the ice here. And so I’m excited for the next generation to come through and have those same memories.”

It’s unclear what the new arena will be called, as the Augusta-Richmond County Coliseum Authority wants to sell the naming rights – even though there’s been concern from residents and city officials who want to keep Brown’s name on the arena.

Plans to rename the arena caught many by surprise, since officials and the public had been calling it “the new James Brown Arena,” and no one from the authority or elsewhere seemed to step forward to stop them until recently.

Exactly three months ago, the authority showed off the progress and plans for the new arena. At the time, officials said they were working on a hockey deal but to expect an announcement in coming months.

In January, the authority approved a contract with ECHL, which at one time was known as the East Coast Hockey League, to form a new team for the first time in more than a decade.

This isn’t the first time for Augusta to have an ECHL team.

“But in my opinion, this opportunity is clearly different,” said Ryan Crelin, commissioner with the league.

‘Ownership has already demonstrated their commitment to success both on and off the ice, creating an unmatched venue experience and, of course, a new hometown team for the city of Augusta.”

Hockey fans can expect to see young talent develop in Augusta as members of the league’s 32nd team, Crelin said.

“However, our biggest impact in this community will be off the ice as we take pride in being a community asset,” he said.

“The growth is great. It’s not only physical growth, it’s growth in our perspective and in our ability to get things done,” said Mayor Garnett Johnson.

The announcement marks the return of ECHL hockey to Augusta for the first time since the 2008–2009 season, when the Augusta Lynx entertained hockey fans for 10 seasons.

After the departure of the Lynx, the Southern Professional Hockey League’s Augusta RiverHawks played three seasons from 2010–2013.

WHAT TIM TEBOW SAID IN AUGUSTA

Now, with professional hockey returning, this new franchise will become the third ECHL team to represent the state of Georgia, joining the Atlanta Gladiators and Savannah Ghost Pirates.

“This is a proud day for Augusta,” Johnson said. “Bringing professional hockey back to our city is all about energizing our community, attracting visitors, and creating opportunities for our local economy to grow. The New Augusta Arena and our new ECHL team are set to become an incredible source of pride and excitement for residents across the region.”

“There’s not many sports that people can be so close to the action and feel like they’re a part of it. I mean, when you are down there by the glass, it’s a different feel. And obviously I love football. I love baseball, basketball, so many sports. But there’s a there’s a distance, right? You’re in the bleachers behind players. You’re watching the game. You’re at the diamond, and there’s this separation. One of the things that we’ve really found that’s so fun is you get to be really such a part of the action. And that’s really contagious,” said Tebow.

The “AA” ECHL will embark on its 38th season in 2025-26. More than 700 players have graduated from the ECHL to the National Hockey League.

ECHL alumni have been represented on Stanley Cup champion rosters for 24 consecutive years. All 29 ECHL teams are currently affiliated with NHL teams; an affiliate for the Augusta team will be announced in the future.

“Seeing what it could do for communities, for families and all the above, it’s something that’s so special. Especially when you give young boys and girls role models and people they can look up to, and it’s contagious, and people want to be a part of it,” said Tebow.

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