By Delorean Fleetwood

Orlando, FL: The former Massachusetts Pirates and the Indoor Football League announced Monday morning that the Pirates will be relocating from their original home in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to the State of Florida for the 2026 IFL season.

IFL Commissioner Todd Tryon praised the relocation and new market for the leagues growth. “This relocation represents both growth and opportunity — for the Pirates organization, for the Indoor Football League, and for the passionate sports community of Orlando. The Yatim family has invested heavily in building a strong, recognizable brand with the Pirates. We’re excited to see them move into a market that truly reflects their vision and energy.”

The Pirates will play their home games at the former home of the long time fan favorites, the Orlando Predators, at the Kia Center in downtown Orlando.

After playing in Worcester, Massachusetts from the beginning of the team’s history in 2018 to 2023, the team made a move to Lowell at the Tsongas Center for the next two seasons. During that time, the team struggled to draw enough fans to keep the lights on in Lowell. With the departure of the former AF1 team (and former NAL squad) the Orlando Predators, the Pirates will have an opportunity to make their mark in the Central Florida market with a rich history in the sport, but it won’t be easy.

The Pirates have been a success on the field since their inception, making the playoffs every season in the team’s history. They made the postseason in both years they played in the National Arena League, but failed to win a playoff game as they were defeated both times in the semi-finals. After the 2020 season was canceled, the Pirates announced a move to IFL beginning with the 2021 season.

The Pirates made the playoffs their first four years after joining the IFL, before missing out for the first time in team history in 2025. The Pirates are one of the premier squads in the league year in and year out. Their 2021 United Bowl win against the Arizona Rattlers at the Snake Pit in with 6385 in attendance was one of the biggest upsets in league history, forcing Drew Powell to turn it over inside the five yard line before kicking the game winning field goal in overtime, winning their lone championship 37-34.

The Pirates did make a return trip in 2024 after winning the Eastern Conference Championship, but Arizona got their revenge in a 53-16 drubbing at the Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson, Nevada.

With a new city and new in state rivalry with the Jacksonville Sharks, the Pirates will have a chance to make a splash in Central Florida in 2025 when they kickoff at the newly formed New Mexico Chupacabras on the road, March 22nd. The Pirates will weigh anchor at the Kia Center for the first time on Sunday April 5th when they renew the “Battle of the Boats” against the Quad City steamwheelers.