LITTLE MIAMI, OH — July 28, 2026 — The Phantoms are coming home.
The American 7s Football League (A7FL) today announced that TPG Sports will relocate its sports franchise from Lexington, Kentucky, back to its original community of Little Miami in Cincinnati, Ohio, where the team will compete as the Little Miami Phantoms during the 2027 A7FL season.
After spending the 2026 season competing as the Lexington Phantoms, the organization is returning to the community it was originally built to represent.
The Phantoms are back in Little Miami.
The Lexington name and location represented a temporary chapter for the organization. The team competed as the Lexington Phantoms during the 2026 season while continuing to evaluate the right long-term home for the franchise.
With that process now complete, the organization will return to its original community of Little Miami for the 2027 season.
The Phantoms return home following a standout inaugural season in the A7FL. In their first season of competition, the team finished with a respectable 4-3 record, earning its first-ever appearance in the A7FL playoffs.
The 2026 campaign was led by star Kenyon “Keno” Thomas, who emerged as one of the team’s key playmakers and leaders throughout the season. The Phantoms’ inaugural campaign established the organization as a competitive presence in the A7FL and provides a strong foundation as the franchise prepares to return to Little Miami.
“Little Miami is home,” said Anthony Tolliver, owner of TPG Sports. “The Phantoms were built to represent this community, and we are excited to bring the team back. We have a clear vision for what we want to build here, and that starts with reconnecting with the community, rebuilding our local fan base, and creating an organization that Little Miami can truly call its own.”
The Little Miami Phantoms will compete in the American 7s Football League (A7FL), a national full-contact tackle football league that continues to expand its footprint across the United States. The A7FL has developed a growing national media and digital platform, with league games and content distributed across broadcast, streaming, and digital platforms, including DAZN. The league’s unique brand of football continues to attract attention from fans, athletes, and major sports and entertainment media outlets across the country.
For the Phantoms, the return to Little Miami represents a return to the organization’s roots.
Ownership and team leadership are focused on building a long-term program centered on discipline, intensity, and professionalism both on and off the field.
The organization is currently evaluating and building out its coaching staff for the upcoming season. All current staff members will have the opportunity to reapply as part of the team’s preparation for the 2027 season.
“We are going to continue to be intentional about building this the right way,” Tolliver said. “That means the right coaches, the right players, the right culture, and a strong relationship with the community. We want people in Little Miami to see the Phantoms as their home team.”
The organization will focus on rebuilding a strong local following, increasing community engagement, and creating a meaningful game-day experience for fans throughout Cincinnati and the Little Miami area.
The Phantoms will begin preparations for the 2027 A7FL season in the coming months, including coaching staff development, player recruitment, community engagement, and the continued growth of the organization throughout the region.
The Lexington chapter is over.
The Phantoms are home.
Little Miami football is back.
About The Little Miami Phantoms
The Little Miami Phantoms are an A7FL football organization owned and operated by TPG Sports. After competing as the Lexington Phantoms during the 2026 season, the organization will return to its original community of Little Miami in Cincinnati, Ohio, for the 2027 A7FL season.
About The American 7s Football League
With the launch of its 13th season, the American 7s Football League (A7FL®) has grown to 12 teams, 8 cities, and over 350 athletes nationwide by pioneering a familiar yet completely new format for America’s most popular sport: 7v7 tackle football without helmets or hard pads. The A7FL’s unique format retains the toughness that fans of all ages crave, while its unique gameplay delivers action-filled performances that generate tens of millions of views and attract a new, younger audience (more than 75% are 18-34). Founded in 2014 by CEO Sener Korkusuz and President Ryan DePaul, the Spring (March-July) league’s exciting new style has also attracted UFC® Co-Founder David Isaacs as Advisory Board Chair. The A7FL boasts over 875K social media followers and partnerships with DAZN, Scripps Sports Network, Creator Sports Network, and Unbeaten. For a taste of A7FL action, visit A7FL TV.
For media inquiries, partnership or ownership opportunities, or additional information, contact:
American 7s Football League
info@a7fl.com
877-627-2492
