CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Nashville Spartans, one of the top teams in the USPHL, is moving to the F&M Bank Arena in Clarksville under a new name: the Red River Spartans.
The team, entering its third season, is moving its home games from Nolensville to Clarksville, starting with debut matches on Sept. 13 and 14 at the main arena, team owners told Clarksville Now. Of the remaining 19 home games, two will be played at the Bellevue Ford Ice Center and the other 17 at the Clarksville Ford Ice Center in the F&M Bank Arena. Next season, the team will move its offices to Clarksville.
“We’re excited to bring an excellent brand of hockey to the Clarksville community to watch for the fans,” co-owner Zach Sabatini said.
The team had outgrown its former home in the Nashville suburb of Nolensville; they will have a much larger capacity, with better amenities for fans, in Clarksville’s Ford Ice Center, co-owner Jon Tuggle told Clarksville Now. For now, most games will be played in the Ford Ice Center, with bigger games on the arena’s main ice sheet.
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Red River Spartans
The Spartans have one of the largest followings in the US Premier Hockey League, made up of over 150 teams of NCAA Division I prospects, ages 16-21. The Spartans were national champion contenders last year, their second year on the ice.
“These players are the next generation of NCAA hockey players. These players are actively being recruited by NCAA schools to play college hockey at the highest level,” Sabatini said. “The level of hockey will be excellent to watch and very enjoyable for the fans.”
One of those players is Aydin Suss of Clarksville, who’s been with the Spartans from the beginning and is in his third season.
“We’ve had such an enjoyable time coaching Aydin Suss and helping him develop on his hockey journey,” Sabatini said. “We’re looking forward to him having a really big season for us and being able to represent his hometown in Clarksville and show some fans some really quality hockey.”
Plans for debut weekend
The Friday, Sept. 13, game against the Columbus (Ohio) Mavericks will be held in commemoration of 9/11. It will be opened by Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden giving the “Let’s play hockey” announcement. The official puck drop will feature Clarksville Fire Rescue and the Clarksville Police Department. Tickets will be discounted for all first responders.
The Saturday, Sept. 14, game, also with the Mavericks, will be a “Red River Redout / Hockey Night in Clarksville” game. The fun will start with an official team tailgate at 4:30 p.m. with Spartans merchandise for sale.
Tickets to the games are $20, with military/first responders $15, and college students and kids 12 and younger $12. The new ticket portal will open Friday, Aug. 23, along with sales of official team apparel.
Correction: While the Spartans plan to move their offices to Clarksville, those offices might not be inside F&M Bank Arena. Also, the ticket pricing has been updated.
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