Arena football is set to return to Amarillo after a two-year absence, marking a new chapter for indoor football fans in the Texas Panhandle. On March 13, the Amarillo Warbirds will make their debut at the Amarillo Civic Center, bringing professional arena football back to the city for the first time since the previous franchise ceased operations. The team’s arrival represents both a relocation and a reset, with an emphasis on local ownership, community engagement, and competitive football.
The Warbirds relocated from Odessa, where they previously competed as the West Texas Warbirds. The move became official in 2025 after Amarillo-area businessman Leif Kertis and a group of local investors acquired the franchise. While the team retains its Warbirds identity, the relocation to Amarillo is intended to create a stronger connection with a community that has a long history of supporting indoor football.
The team will compete in the National Arena League, a professional indoor football league that includes nine teams spread across Texas, Louisiana, Colorado, Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska. The league is considered one of the higher tiers of arena football, with rosters filled by experienced college players and athletes who have continued their careers beyond traditional outdoor football pathways. While arena football operates on a smaller scale than the NFL, it remains a professional sport that demands speed, adaptability, and a strong understanding of the indoor game.
Building the Warbirds roster has been a structured but familiar process for the coaching staff. Head coach Jermaine Blakely brings firsthand experience from his own arena football playing days, as well as prior coaching experience with the franchise during its time in Odessa. Those connections have played a significant role in recruiting players, particularly college athletes who may not have secured opportunities at the NFL level but still want to continue playing professionally. The team has relied on a combination of recommendations, direct outreach, and tryouts to assemble its talent pool.
The Warbirds are scheduled to hold a training camp on February 16, where the coaching staff will finalize a 25-man roster from a group of approximately 35 players. With arena football’s fast pace and smaller rosters, chemistry and scheme fit are often just as important as raw athletic ability. Coaches will use the camp to evaluate how players adapt to the system, work together on the field, and respond to the demands of the indoor game. The final roster will be set less than a month before the season opener.
The 2026 season is scheduled to run through May 30, with the Warbirds hosting five home games at the Civic Center. The home opener on March 13 will come just days after the team begins its season on the road against the Bossier City Rouxgaroux in Louisiana on March 7. Amarillo’s first home opponent will be the Sioux City Bandits, a long-established arena football franchise, setting a competitive tone for the Warbirds’ return to the city.
Kertis’s involvement with arena football dates back several years. Before owning a team, he assisted with broadcasting for the Amarillo Venom, which gave him early exposure to the business and operational side of indoor football. He later purchased a team that became the West Texas Warbirds, though the franchise’s early years were disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, delaying its first season until 2021. After selling the team in 2023, Kertis eventually reacquired the franchise following its collapse under different ownership and made the decision to bring it back to Amarillo.
In addition to ownership responsibilities, Kertis also serves as the team’s defensive line coach, giving him direct involvement in football operations. He has described the organization as a business centered around football, with an emphasis on long-term sustainability and local engagement. That philosophy has guided the Warbirds’ approach as they reintroduce arena football to Amarillo.
Community outreach has been a major focus since the team announced its relocation. The Warbirds have participated in local events and school visits, including a program known as High Five Fridays at area elementary schools. During these visits, players and staff interact with students and distribute milk in partnership with Plains Dairy, a local business. The partnership also includes promotional opportunities for fans, such as prize giveaways tied to specially marked dairy products.
According to team leadership, the reception in Amarillo has grown more positive as residents and businesses have learned that the franchise is locally owned and operated. While some initial skepticism existed, the emphasis on community involvement and local investment has helped generate interest and cautious optimism ahead of the season.
As the Warbirds prepare for their inaugural season in Amarillo, the organization’s goals extend beyond wins and losses. By combining professional arena football with consistent community engagement, the team hopes to reestablish indoor football as a lasting part of Amarillo’s sports landscape and provide fans with a fast-paced, accessible game to rally around once again.
