Thank you Athens

As the 2025–26 season comes to a close, the Athens Rock Lobsters organization wants to simply say thank you.

To every fan, family, partner, sponsor, arena staff member, and all 125,000+ members of Crustacean Nation who showed up, stood tall, and gave your hearts to this team; you helped create something truly special in Athens. While we didn’t finish where we ultimately hoped, what was built this season goes far beyond the final score.

Night after night, The Tank at Akins Ford Arena was filled with an energy that could be felt the second the team stepped on the ice. The noise. The pride. The loyalty. The passion. Athens didn’t just support hockey — Athens embraced it.

Ten sellout crowds of 5,500+ fans proved what this community is capable of when it rallies behind something it believes in. Fifteen unforgettable theme nights brought together families, college students, youth hockey players, local businesses, and fans from all walks of life; creating moments that were bigger than the game itself.

“This season has meant more to our organization than words can fully capture,” said Scott Hull, President of the Athens Rock Lobsters. “To see this community show up the way Athens has; game after game, moment after moment has been incredibly special. Over 100k + fans came through our doors this season, but more importantly, they brought passion, pride, and belief in what we are building together. You could feel the energy in our locker room because of this fanbase. Our players felt it. Our staff felt it. Our entire organization felt it. We are proud to be part of this community, and we are already hard at work preparing for next season. We look forward to sharing more exciting news with our fans this summer.”

From youth hockey families experiencing the sport together for the first time, to college students making game nights part of their weekly routine, to season ticket holders who proudly wore the crest night in and night out; the Rock Lobsters became more than a team. They became part of the Athens experience.

“What stands out most are the moments,” said Britton Briley, Chief Marketing Officer of the Athens Rock Lobsters. “Seeing mothers, fathers, kids, college students, and our season ticket holders all standing together, cheering for the same team, is something special. We’ve watched people fall in love with hockey right in front of us. We’ve seen fans travel from across Northeast Georgia and even from the Atlanta market to experience what Crustacean Nation is all about. The theme nights, the traditions, the atmosphere; it’s been incredible to introduce so many people to what we truly believe is one of the most exciting brands in minor league hockey. But more importantly, it’s been incredible watching this community make it their own.”

Throughout the season, we have brought creativity, excitement, and passion to every single night; whether it was a sold-out crowd, a themed jersey, a first-time fan experiencing hockey, or a playoff moment that reminded everyone why this sport is so powerful.

Athens showed up.
Athens showed out.
And this organization is incredibly proud to call this city home.

While the final result of the season wasn’t what the team hoped for, the commitment moving forward is clear: continue building, continue growing, and continue creating an experience that this community can be proud of as the Rock Lobsters prepare for the 2026–27 season beginning this October.

To the fans who cheered, the partners who believed, the staff who created unforgettable nights, and the community that welcomed this team with open arms; thank you for taking this journey with us.

Thank you for believing in this team.
Thank you for being loud.
Thank you for caring.
Thank you for showing what Athens is all about.

This is only the beginning for the Athens Rock Lobsters, and the organization looks forward to continuing to build something that makes the entire state of Georgia proud.

Thank you, Crustacean Nation.