Harrisburg Heat
Encyclopedia
Harrisburg Heat
Operated 1991 - 2003
Arena Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center
Based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...

Colors purple & white
Leagues NPSL II & MISL II
Old logo (1991-1997)

The Harrisburg Heat was a professional indoor soccer team
Indoor soccer
Indoor soccer or arena soccer, or six-a-side football in the United Kingdom, is a game derived from association football adapted for play in an indoor arena such as a turf-covered hockey arena or skating rink. The most important difference in play is that the indoor field is surrounded by a wall...

 based in Harrisburg
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...

, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...

. The team was part of the National Professional Soccer League, which later became the Major Indoor Soccer League, and has been defunct since 2003
2003 in sports
2003 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season championship: Stephan Eberharter, Austria** Women's overall season championship: Janica Kostelić, Croatia-American football:...

. The Harrisburg Heat was first formed during the 1991
1991 in sports
1991 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Marc Girardelli, Luxembourg** Women's overall season champion: Petra Kronberger, Austria-American football:...

-92
1992 in sports
1992 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup* Men's overall season champion: Paul Accola, Switzerland* Women's overall season champion: Petra Kronberger, Austria-American football:...

 season by Dr. Rex Herbert, following the folding of the Hershey Impact
Hershey Impact
The Hershey Impact was an indoor soccer club based in Hershey, Pennsylvania that competed in the National Professional Soccer League.The team played its home games at the Hersheypark Arena for all of its 3 seasons.-Staff & Ownership:...

, another NPSL team where Herbert was the team physician. Along with numerous investors Dr. Rex Herbert invested and produced the fiscal and economic backdrop to support the team.

The Heat went through several seasons when it was among the most financially sound teams in the League. However, its only trip to the league finals was during the 1994
1994 in sports
1994 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* January 29 – death of Ulrike Maier , Austrian skier, who broke her neck when she crashed during a World Cup downhill race at Garmisch-Partenkirchen...

-95
1995 in sports
1995 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Alberto Tomba, Italy** Women's overall season champion: Vreni Schneider, Switzerland-American football:...

 season, when the Heat took on the St. Louis Ambush
St. Louis Ambush
The St. Louis Ambush was a professional indoor soccer team based in St. Louis, Missouri. Originally located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the team played one season at the Tulsas Pavilion Expo Square. Vernon Riggs was the General Manager. Keith Dial was the Managing General Partner. Former Tulsa Roughneck...

, also now defunct. The Heat lost, 4 games to 0, with scores of 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 Farm Show construction project that restricted parking and also charged a fee for parking. Also, team's ownership passed from Herbert to Rodney Rumberger, a Harrisburg-area businessman. Many of the team's popular players had also retired or signed with other teams. The team ceased operations following the 2002
2002 in sports
2002 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Stephan Eberharter, Austria** Women's overall season champion: Michaela Dorfmeister, Austria-American football:...

-03
2003 in sports
2003 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season championship: Stephan Eberharter, Austria** Women's overall season championship: Janica Kostelić, Croatia-American football:...

 season. Despite several attempts to put together a new ownership group, the Heat did not return the next season.

The Heat's home arena was in the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center.

Former Director of Broadcasting John Wilsbach, former MISL Commissioner David Grimaldi, and former General Manager Gregg Cook have been working to put an ownership group together to bring the Harrisburg Heat back to the Farm Show Arena in the PASL, rival league of the MISL.

Year-by-Year

Year League Reg. Season Playoffs Attendance
1991/92 NPSL 2nd, American Lost Quarterfinals N/A
1992/93 NPSL 4th, American Lost Semifinals N/A
1993/94 NPSL 4th, American Lost 2nd Round N/A
1994/95 NPSL 2nd, American Lost Finals N/A
1995/96 NPSL 3rd, American Lost Division Semifinals N/A
1996/97 NPSL 1st, American East Lost Conference Finals N/A
1997/98 NPSL 2nd, American East Lost Conference Semifinals N/A
1998/99 NPSL 2nd, American East Lost Conference Quarterfinals N/A
1999/00 NPSL 3rd, American East Did not qualify N/A
2000/01 NPSL 1st, American Lost Conference Semifinals N/A
2001/02 MISL 6th, MISL Did not qualify 4,104
2002/03 MISL 4th, Eastern Did not qualify 3,519

Staff

  • Vice President - Jim Pollihan
    Jim Pollihan
    James "Jim" Pollihan is a former U.S. soccer player who was an outstanding collegiate forward with Quincy University but moved to defense as a professional. He earned fifteen caps with the U.S. national team between 1976 and 1979.-College:...

  • General Manager - Gregg Cook
  • Public Relations Director - Gregory Bibb
  • Equipment Manager - Mike Butala
  • Director of Broadcasting - John Wilsbach
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