Rome Red Cats join AAL for 2027.

LOCAL BUSINESSMAN KACEE SMITH BRINGS PRO ARENA FOOTBALL TO ROME: On Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, local businessman Kacee Smith, center, a Calhoun native and Gordon Central alum who has a long history of ownership within professional arena football, held a press conference to introduce the Rome Red Cats, the newest team of the American Arena League (AAL), at the Forum River Center in downtown Rome, which will be the home field for the team.

Smith was one of three co-owners available during the press conference, laying out their plans for the new team.

A 2005 graduate of Gordon Central High School, Smith earned a Marketing Management degree from Georgia Northwestern Technical College. With the goal of combining his passion for football and community, Smith then founded the Georgia Rampage, a professional indoor football team, where he served as president and general manager. He later also served as president of the X-League Professional Indoor Football League. Most recently, he served as co-owner and president of the Columbus Lions.