Nashville Kats plan to utilize F&M Bank Arena in Clarksville for 2025 playoffs | VIDEO

Updated with additional information. 

CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Nashville Kats held a press conference on Tuesday, June 17, where they announced they will play at F&M Bank Arena for their home playoff game this weekend, as well as the remainder of the 2025 playoffs. The game is set to take place on Sunday, June 22, at 4:30 p.m. Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden said a tailgate will take place at 2 p.m. at the Downtown Commons to celebrate the event.

The Kats made their F&M Bank Arena debut in 2024, and most recently clinched their spot in the AF1 2025 postseason after defeating Corpus Christi in Clarksville this past Saturday. Now, they are looking forward to officially calling the arena the organization’s second home ahead of their playoff game in Clarksville.

‘What a great football fan base’

AF1 Commissioner and Nashville Kats partner Jeff Fisher,  who formerly coached the Tennessee Titans and the St. Louis Rams, said when he first arrived in the state of Tennessee, he could tell how special of a football fan base there was. Now, he’s looking to grow the indoor game in Middle Tennessee, as well as at a national level.

“When we were entertaining the possibility of relocating the Houston Oilers to Nashville and the state of Tennessee, I made numerous trips and caravanned all over the state,” Fisher told Clarksville Now. “I quickly realized what a great football fan base there was. There’s University of Tennessee obviously, but we also knew there was room for another team.

“Early on, we set the bar high, we wanted to pay a lot of respect and watch and see what was done out as far as community involvement, fan engagement, things like that. So, we started doing it, and that’s just kind of the way I’m wired. When I got out of the NFL, I stayed in the game at a lot of different levels. Whether it was helping small college programs, or whether it was spring 11-on-11 football. Now, I find myself right in the middle of the 50-yard game, the indoor game.”

Interest in league expansion

Fisher said when he took over as interim commissioner, the league had a lot of things to clean up, which included acquiring the naming rights for AF1.

“As we look at it right now, it’s our inaugural season for AF1 … The playoffs are staring everyone right in the face. Once we get through the playoffs, things are really going to change,” Fisher said. “We have a lot of potential opportunities, not only for national sponsorships, but also a couple days don’t go by where we don’t interview potential new clubs.

“There are investors who want to put teams in different cities, so we’re looking at that. Actually, we were real close to bringing on three or four teams this past season, but we just felt it was in the best interest of everybody if they wait and raise some more money. We just didn’t want to take on any financial burdens. But, we have a lot of interest right now.”

Fisher, who was officially named acting AF1 commissioner later in 2024, said the league will know by September whether or not additional teams will be added ahead of the 2026 season.

What’s next

Coming off a dominating win against Corpus Christi, the Kats will look to carry their momentum into this weekend against the Southwest Kansas Storm.

Tickets for the Nashville Kats home playoff game in Clarksville are expected to go on live at noon today. For more information, visit the F&M Bank Arena’s official website.