The National Indoor Soccer League announces the Rome Gladiators as its fourth team to play the 2021-2022 season. The Gladiators will be based in Rome, GA joining the Columbus Rapids (GA), Memphis Americans, and the Fayetteville Fury. Due to circumstances affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Gladiators ownership group was unable to secure an arena lease and get the necessary indoor turf field built in time to be able to play at home for the 2021-2022 season. Team leadership continues to work with local officials to secure a lease for the 2022-2023 season.
However, since relationships with local sponsors have already been established, coaches and players have already been chosen and have been practicing, the Gladiators ownership has decided to go ahead and play the 2021-2022 season as a travel team. The Gladiators will field both a men’s team and a women’s team and compete in 12 games this season. Games will be shown on the NISL YouTube page. More information about the Gladiators can be found on the website www.romegladiatorsga.com. Sponsorship opportunities are available, and the team will host tryouts for both the men’s team and women’s team to fill out the remaining roster spots. Tryout times and locations will be announced in the next few days.
The Gladiators will be the first professional indoor soccer team in Rome, GA. Joao Guilherme Garcia will serve as the first head coach of the Rome Gladiators and brings a wealth of coaching experience. Joao is also the head coach of the Atletico Atlanta of the UPSL and has coached for the Atlanta Soccer Club, Brasil Minifootball Federation Arena Soccer Team, Atlanta Silverbacks, Barry University, Miami Dade FC, Florida National University, Andrew College, and the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. The team’s ownership group feels that with Jaoa leading the team, the Gladiators will be instant contenders in the NISL and have a solid foundation to build on for years to come. The National Indoor Soccer League, with league offices in Georgia, is a professional indoor soccer league and was founded in January 2021 by a group of experienced sports team and league owners with over 40 years of ownership experience.
The NISL has plans to grow the league nationally within the next three years and will kick off its inaugural season on December 26th, 2021. The league will operate both a men’s and women’s division with each market fielding both teams. Fans will be able to watch both the men’s and women’s games each day for the price of a single ticket. For more information go to www.nislpro.com.
