The Macon Mayhem brought professional hockey to Middle Georgia in the 2015-16 season after relocating from Augusta, establishing a consistent local presence in a market historically dominated by football.
Regional Sports Tourism Initiatives Attract Visitors
- Regional sports tourism initiatives via Visit Macon lean on the franchise to attract visitors who would not otherwise travel to the area.
Macon Builds a Hockey Culture After Past False Starts
Professional hockey has occasionally surfaced in Macon across previous decades, starting with the Macon Whoopees in the 1970s and later the Macon Trax during the early 2000s. Neither venture sustained long-term roots. That changed when the Mayhem arrived ahead of the 2015-16 Southern Professional Hockey League campaign following a franchise relocation from Augusta.
Operating in a region where football reigns supreme required the organization to lean heavily on accessible entertainment and community integration. Macon Mayhem Community Outreach and Merchandise Coordinator Chelsie Correll noted that the sport reflects the local demographic makeup. “I think hockey is just kind of a statement of what Macon is,” Correll said, describing Middle Georgia as a smorgasbord of people, experiences, and livelihoods.
Matchnight Experience and Community Integration at the Macon Centerplex
Roster construction brings in international talent from hockey pipelines in Canada and Europe, blending varied backgrounds under a single team banner. That international player pool merges with a southern fanbase inside the Macon Centerplex.
Macon Centerplex General Manager David Aiello pointed to the interactive nature of the venue experience as a primary draw for local crowds. “There’s entertainment on every stop, every corner. There’s, you know, it’s physical. But also, they do a really good job having the players and the coaches interact with the fans,” Aiello said.
Unlike larger, traditional hockey markets where player access is tightly restricted, post-game skating sessions and direct player meet-and-greets provide an intimate atmosphere. Visit Macon Sports Development Manager Alex Wood emphasized the economic and cultural draw of these fixtures. “Hockey fans aren’t going to come to Macon unless there’s a hockey team. So getting those sort of people here through a unique sort of lens is just a different way of bringing people into the community,” Wood said.
| Franchise Era | Active Period | Home Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Macon Whoopees | 1970s | Macon Coliseum |
| Macon Trax | Early 2000s | Macon Coliseum |
| Macon Mayhem | 2015–Present | Macon Centerplex |
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