Football has been gone from Nationwide Arena for a decade, but it’s coming back.

Thursday the Arena Football League officially announced Columbus will operate a new franchise in the league and begin play this spring.

It’s an aggressive timeline and the team hopes to announce a coach and management structure soon. The team will play 12 regular season games in a 6-team league.

The Columbus Destroyers were the prior Arena Football team for the city, playing from 2004-2008.

Earle Bruce and Chris Spielman were among the former coaches during their tenure.

Columbus made the ArenaBowl championship game in 2007 with current Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy as the quarterback.

It’s unclear whether the “Destroyers” will remain the team nickname, although several sources tell NBC4 that’s the current plan.

“This is a banner day for the Arena Football League, with the return of one of the League’s most attractive markets that has proven to be comprised of loyal fans,” said Ron Jaworski, the AFL chairman of the executive committee in a news release. “We are going to deliver an AFL team that will immediately excite and draw in the people of Columbus.”

Season ticket sales will begin soon, at www.columbusafl.com.