Harrisburg Heat (2012–present)

Harrisburg Heat
Full nameHarrisburg Heat
Founded2012
StadiumHersheypark Arena
Capacity7,286
OwnerCarl Delmont
PresidentKevin Healey
Head CoachHugo Da Silva (interim)
LeagueMajor Arena Soccer League 2
2024–257th, Eastern Division
Playoffs: DNQ
Websitewww.harrisburgheat.com

The Harrisburg Heat are an American professional indoor soccer team based in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The team temporarily competes in the Major Arena Soccer League 2 (MASL2), with plans to return to the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) for the 2026-27 season.[1]

The Heat formerly played its home games at the New Holland Arena (originally called the "Large Arena") and the Equine Arena at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.[2] Beginning with the 2025-26 season, the team moved to nearby Hershey where it currently plays at the Hersheypark Arena.[1]

The Harrisburg Heat claim the heritage of an original Harrisburg Heat franchise that was a member of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL), which later became the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL).[3] Their mascot is a purple dragon named Scorch.

History

On May 2, 2012, the Heat were awarded a Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL) expansion franchise to begin with the 2012–13 season.[4][5][6]

Richard Chinapoo served as the team's head coach the first two seasons before retiring and being replaced by onetime indoor soccer star Tarik Walker, who was fired after an 0-13 start in the 2015-16 season. Gino DiFlorio longtime assistant coach, served as interim head co-coach with Mark Ludwig for the remainder of the season, with a 1-5 record.[7]

The Heat was sold by the PASL in September 2013 and was owned and operated by the Heat Soccer Group, LLC with longtime indoor soccer broadcaster John Wilsbach as the principal owner. Wilsbach served as the president and general manager.

On January 24, 2014, the Heat announced they would relocate from the 1,660-seat Equine Arena at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center to the complex's 7,300-seat New Holland Arena starting with the 2014–15 season. The original Harrisburg Heat played their home matches at the Large Arena during their 12 seasons of existence.[8] The team was scheduled to join the Indoor Professional League in 2016, but it was later announced that they had rejoined the MASL.[9]

Carl Delmont purchased the team in June 2016 from John Wilsbach.[10] Wilsbach remains with the team as the vice president of broadcasting.

Denison Cabral was named head coach of the Heat for the 2016-17 season and stepped down after the 2017-18 season.[11] In August 2018, it was announced that they had signed former Baltimore Blast player Pat Healey as head coach and general manager, along with his father, former Blast general manager Kevin Healey, as president.[12]

New management at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center failed to give the Heat required dates by the league-mandated deadline for the 2025-26 season, so the team moved to the Hersheypark Arena in nearby Hershey. Due to scheduling conflicts with their new home, the team was forced to play in the Major Arena Soccer League 2 (MASL2) for the 2025-26 season. It plans to return to the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) for the 2026-27 season.[1]

In October 2025, the Heat announced that Pat Healey was stepping down from his roles and that goalkeeper Hugo Da Silva would become interim head coach for the 2025-26 season.[13]

Ownership

  • Professional Arena Soccer League (2012–2013)
  • John Wilsbach (2013–2016)
  • Carl Delmont (2016–)[14]

Staff

  • Kevin Healey – President
  • Hugo Da Silva – Interim Head Coach
  • Christopher Wooton – Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
  • Kileigh Hess – Athletic Trainer

Notable former players

Year-by-year

League Champions Runners-up Division champions Playoff berth
Season League Won Lost OTL GF GA Regular season Playoffs Avg. attendance U.S. Open Cup
2012–13 PASL 6 10 106 102 3rd, Eastern Division Did not qualify 1,781 Quarter-finals
2013–14 PASL 4 12 94 156 5th, Eastern Division Did not qualify 1,720 Quarter-finals
2014–15 MASL 2 18 104 216 5th, Eastern Division Did not qualify 2,989 N/A
2015–16 MASL 1 18 38 79 4th, Eastern Division Did not qualify 2,029 N/A
2016–17 MASL 10 10 116 124 2nd, Eastern Division Division Final 1,449 N/A
2017–18 MASL 6 16 114 148 4th, Eastern Division Did not Qualify 1,459 N/A
2018–19 MASL 11 13 146 158 3rd, Eastern Division Did not Qualify 2,194 N/A
2019–20 MASL 13 8 150 115 5th, Eastern Conference Did not Qualify 2,468 N/A
2021–22 MASL 4 19 1 108 169 4th, Eastern Division Did not Qualify 1,470 N/A
2022–23 MASL 6 17 1 89 161 7th, Eastern Division Did not Qualify 1,471 N/A
2023–24 MASL 2 19 3 105 191 7th, Eastern Division Did not Qualify 1,385 N/A
2024–25 MASL

Playoffs

Season Record GF GA Avg. attendance
2016–17 1–2 10 15 1,152

References

  1. ^ a b c Bell, Mac (October 3, 2025). "Harrisburg indoor soccer team moving to Hershey". WHTM-TV.
  2. ^ Sedor, Michael (November 14, 2012). "Harrisburg Heat Saturday home opener to feature new Farm Show scoreboard". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg, PA. Retrieved November 15, 2012.
  3. ^ Bullock, Michael (November 16, 2012). "Memorable dates in Harrisburg Heat history". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg, PA. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
  4. ^ Bristol, Jason (May 2, 2012). "Harrisburg Heat is back, begins play in November in PASL". WHP-TV. Archived from the original on February 9, 2013. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  5. ^ "Harrisburg Heat Return for 2012/13 Season" (Press release). Professional Arena Soccer League. May 2, 2012. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  6. ^ Bullock, Michael (May 2, 2012). "Indoor soccer making return to Farm Show as Harrisburg Heat is reborn". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg, PA. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  7. ^ Bristol, Jason (August 22, 2012). "Chinapoo to coach newly-formed Harrisburg Heat soccer team". Harrisburg, PA: WHP-TV. Archived from the original on April 12, 2013. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
  8. ^ Bullock, Michael (January 24, 2014). "Harrisburg Heat moving to Farm Show's Large Arena in 2014-15, maybe sooner". The Patriot-News. Harrisburg, PA: Advance Publications. Retrieved January 24, 2014.
  9. ^ "MAJOR ARENA SOCCER LEAGUE EXPANDS TO THE SUNSHINE STATE | Major Arena Soccer League". Archived from the original on September 2, 2016. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  10. ^ "Harrisburg Heat's New Owner Announced - Harrisburg Heat". harrisburgheat.com. June 3, 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  11. ^ "Hot off the Press".
  12. ^ "Blast president, general manager Kevin Healey steps down to join the Harrisburg Heat". Baltimore Sun. August 24, 2018. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  13. ^ Beauchamp, Christopher (October 8, 2025). "Heat Congratulate Coach Healey On New Role". Harrisburg Heat. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  14. ^ "Harrisburg Heat's New Owner Announced - Harrisburg Heat". harrisburgheat.com. June 3, 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
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