Columbus Lions to kick off 10th season at home on March 20

The Columbus Lions will open the 2016 season at home in the Columbus Civic Center with a game against the Georgia Firebirds on Sunday, March 20.

The Lions won the PIFL title last season, the final one for that league.

Columbus, which moved to a new league earlier this year -- American Indoor Football -- will play an eight-game schedule with five coming at home.

After the opener, the Lions will travel to Lakeland, Fla., to play Central Florida on March 26.

After a week off, three straight home games will follow with the Atlanta Vultures on April 9, the Myrtle Beach Freedom on April 16 and the Florida Tarpons on April 23.

The Lions visit the Firebirds in Albany on April 30, then play the Savannah Steam at home on May 7.

The Lions close the regular season at Myrtle Beach on May 23.

Columbus is in the 12-team Southern Division. There are 11 teams in the Northern Division.

The 2016 season will be the 10th for the Lions' ownership group. The franchise began in 2006 as the Chattahoochee Valley Vipers in the World Indoor Football League. It was sold to the current ownership group during that season.

The team name was changed to the Columbus Lions for the 2007 season, and Jason Gibsonb was hired as the head coach.

"What started out for me 10 years ago as a job that I felt was a stepping stone has turned into a career with an organization that many consider to be one of the premiere franchises in all of indoor football," Gibson said in a news release. "Our fans and sponsors continue to support our product year in and year out and the relationship I have built with them over the years is truly the biggest reward of all.

"Having a strong group of local owners who work together and share a common vision has definitely set us apart from other organizations and the players recognize the stability of the organization which helps me recruit the top talent."

Note: The Lions will host a tryout on Saturday at Garrett-Harrison Stadium. Registration will begin at 11 a.m. with the tryout starting at noon.

This story was originally published December 17, 2015 at 6:57 PM with the headline "Columbus Lions to kick off 10th season at home on March 20 ."