New professional sports team to debut in the Tri-State in 2026
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New professional sports team to debut in the Tri-State in 2026
The Kentucky Barrels will play in the Arena Football One league in 2026. The team will play at the Truist Arena at Northern Kentucky University. The Barrels are owned by entrepreneur and NKU alum Corey Cunningham. They will be coached by Cedric Walker, who led the Billing Outlaws to a Championship in 2024.
The new arena football team will kick off at Truist Arena at Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights as a member of the Arena Football One league next Spring.
“We are excited to welcome arena football to the Truist Arena,” NKY president Cady Short-Thompson, said. “We look forward to cheering on the team and seeing all the fans in the stands.”
The Barrels will be coached by Cedric Walker, who previously led the Billing Outlaws to a Championship in 2024, and owned by entrepreneur and NKU alum Corey Cunningham.
“Corey and coach Walker are hard at work building this team the right way for 2026 and beyond,” AF1 commissioner Jeff Fisher said in a social media post.
Arena Football One was founded in September 2024 and the Kentucky Barrels will face off against eight teams from across the country for a chance to win the title.
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Source: https://www.fox19.com/2025/08/18/new-professional-sports-team-debut-tri-state-beginning-2026/