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The Massachusetts Pirates of the Indoor Football League are relocating to Central Florida and will begin playing as the Orlando Pirates (Website) in 2026. The team will make the Kia Center its new home, adding another professional sports franchise to downtown Orlando.
Team founder and CEO Jawad Yatim (Instagram) said the move was driven by the strength of the Orlando market and the opportunity to build a long-term fan base. He described Orlando as the ideal location for the next phase of the franchise and said the organization intends to deliver a team the community can support and be proud of.
The Pirates were founded in 2017 and quickly became one of the league’s top teams, earning multiple championship appearances and winning the IFL title in 2021. According to the announcement, the move to Orlando includes a renewed focus on recruiting local talent and building a roster with Central Florida players who can compete in front of home audiences.
The team has hired Rob Keefe as head coach. Keefe previously led the Orlando Predators from 2014 to 2016, taking the team to three playoff appearances and two division titles. His background includes more than two decades in arena football as both a player and coach.
Season ticket deposits for 2026 are now open, and single-game tickets will start at $19.99 once the schedule is released. All games will be played at the Kia Center, with reserved seating throughout the venue.
The season is expected to start in March 2026.
