Full name Harrisburg Heat Ground Capacity 7,317 Founded 1991 | Dissolved 2003 League NPSL II & MISL II | |
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Stadium Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Owners Dr. Rex Herbert
Rodney Rumberger Ground Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center | ||
The Harrisburg Heat were an American professional indoor soccer team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The team was part of the National Professional Soccer League, which later became the Major Indoor Soccer League, and has been defunct since 2003.
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History
The Harrisburg Heat were first formed during the 1991–92 season by Dr. Rex Herbert, following the folding of the Hershey Impact, another NPSL team for which Herbert was the team physician. Along with other investors, Herbert produced the fiscal and economic backdrop to support the team.
The Heat went through several seasons when they were among the most financially sound teams in the league. However, their only trip to the league finals was during the 1994–95 season, when the Heat took on the St. Louis Ambush, also now defunct. The Heat were swept in four games, losing 19–9, 18–8, 12–7 and 14–11.
The last few years of the team's existence saw declining attendance numbers, partly due to the State Farm Show Complex's construction project that restricted parking and also charged a fee for parking. Also, a portion of the team's ownership passed from Herbert to Rodney Rumberger, a Harrisburg-area businessman. Many of the team's popular players also had retired or signed with other teams. The team ceased operations following the 2002–03 season. Despite several attempts to put together a new ownership group, the Heat did not return the next season.
On May 2, 2012, it was announced that an expansion team named after the Harrisburg Heat will join the Professional Arena Soccer League in the fall. Longtime Heat broadcaster John Wilsbach is the current owner. The team is currently a member of the Major Arena Soccer League, a rebranding of the PASL.
The original Heat's home arena was in the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center.