Georgia Force going back to the burbs

Atlanta Business Chronicle - 3:49 PM EDT Wednesday, September 12, 2007

After three seasons at Philips Arena, the Georgia Force are again headed back to The Arena at Gwinnett Center, this time with a 10-year lease.

The Arena Football League team played at The Arena at Gwinnett Center in 2003 and 2004. The Force spent its inaugural season in 2002 at Philips Arena in downtown Atlanta, and moved back there in 2005.

The team said the move back to Gwinnett will provide fans with more affordable lower level seating, closer game-day action for more fans, free parking and more tailgating opportunities. The team also plans to become more active in the Gwinnett and surrounding communities.

"After much deliberation, we've made the decision for the Force to return to The Arena at Gwinnett Center," said Georgia Force president Dick Sullivan. "We see many opportunities to create even more excitement around the Force at this venue, including providing more value and options to our fans."

Current season ticket holders will be able to renew their accounts at the same price point as in 2007, but in most cases will be relocated closer to the field of play at Gwinnett. Every season ticket holder who had 200 level tickets in '07 will be placed in 100 level seats at The Arena at Gwinnett Center. The Arena provides a larger number of lower level seats than fans have had in the past three seasons. Fans will also be able to enjoy free parking and will be able to take advantage of spacious areas for tailgating prior to the game.

Georgia Force leave Philips Arena, move back to Atlanta suburbs

The Associated Press - FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga.

After playing the last three years in downtown Atlanta, the Georgia Force is moving back to the suburbs.

The Arena Football League team announced Wednesday that it has agreed to a 10-year lease with The Arena at Gwinnett Center in Duluth.

The Force have bounced back and forth between Philips Arena and the 11,500-seat Gwinnett area during their six-year history, but hopes the long-term deal will bring the franchise more stability and build a larger fan base.

"We see many opportunities to create even more excitement around the Force at this venue, including providing more value and options to our fans," Force president Dick Sullivan said.

The team played its inaugural season at Philips Arena in 2002, then moved to Gwinnett for two seasons. In 2005, Georgia shifted back the downtown venue, which has about 7,000 more seats but was never close to being filled to capacity.

Despite a 14-2 record and a trip to the conference championship game, the Force averaged just 11,369 per game this past season, ranking 14th in the 19-team league.

At least those crowds will look a lot larger in the Gwinnett arena. Plus, the team said it will be able to will provide more affordable lower-level seating, closer game-day action for more fans, more tailgating opportunities and free parking.

The team's new home also is closer to its training base in Flowery Branch, which it shares with the NFL's Atlanta Falcons.

Arthur Blank owns both teams.