On Wednesday, May 2, 2012, central Pennsylvania sports fans learned that there would soon be one more team in the region. The Harrisburg Heat would be returning to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, as part of the Professional Arena Soccer League. The team will be based out of the Pennsylvania Farm Show and Expo Center located in Harrisburg. If local soccer fans are getting a sense of déjà vu, that is because nine years ago there was also an indoor soccer team named the Harrisburg Heat. It is expected that Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, will also have a team in the league, but no official announcement has been made as of yet. Philadelphia already has a Major League Soccer team but an indoor team would hold its season after the Philadelphia Union's season.
From 1991 until 2003, the Harrisburg Heat were a part of the National Professional Soccer League, which is now the Major Indoor Soccer League. The Heat were formed after the Hershey Impact were forced to leave the league. The team found little success and only once made the finals of the playoffs. In the last couple of years, the team failed to make the playoffs altogether. Though the Heat also called the Farm Show Complex home, the team was forced to fold after 12 seasons. The MISL does still exist and is currently composed of seven teams. The closest team to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, is the Baltimore Blast.
Fans of indoor soccer can look forward to seeing the new Heat play starting in November of 2012. Tickets will start at $10 for a single game or $80 for a season. For fans wishing to spend more, box seats will cost $20 for a single game or $160 for a season. Season tickets are currently on sale. It is expected that most of the Heat's games will be against regional teams. Fans should be sure to get out and support the team or else the team may suffer the same fate as the previous team. Without strong ticket sales, the team will not be able to last for long. Hopefully, the team will find success in Harrisburg, just as the Harrisburg City Islanders and the Harrisburg Senators have found success.
