ECHL Announces Expansion To Augusta, Georgia

Originally posted on Inside The Rink
By Armand Klisivitch | Last updated Aug 20, 2025 8:17 PM ET

The ECHL has announced that it is once again expanding, as it is headed back to Augusta, Georgia, beginning in the 2027-28 season. It will be the fourth straight year that the ECHL has had a new team joining the league. With the expansion of Augusta, the league will match the NHL and AHL with 32 teams, which has also been a goal of the league.

Secrets out… Augusta, GA coming soon
Welcome @agsprohockey

: https://t.co/Ur1NRO0dEY pic.twitter.com/NqHpn8yZgW
— ECHL (@ECHL) August 20, 2025

A Return To Augusta

This isn’t the first time the ECHL has been in Augusta, as the Augusta Lynx spent ten years in the league from 1998 to 2008. Hockey returned to Augusta just two years later, but as an SPHL team.

“This is a proud day for Augusta,” said Mayor Garnett L. Johnson, City of Augusta. “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.”

The team will play at the New Augusta Arena, which is currently under construction, and a name will be chosen at a later date. The arena will hold 10,500 people. Augusta sits within three hours of the two other Georgia teams, the Atlanta Gladiators and Savannah Ghost Pirates.

Tim Tebow, along with Hodges Management Group, will be at the head of the project, similar to when Lake Tahoe joined the league.

This article first appeared on Inside The Rink and was syndicated with permission.

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