| Harrisburg Heat | |
| Operated | 1991 - 2003 |
| Arena | Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center |
| Based in | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania |
| Colors | purple & white |
| Leagues | NPSL II & MISL II |
| Old logo (1991-1997) | |
The Harrisburg Heat was a 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. The Harrisburg Heat was first formed during the 1991-92 season by Dr. Rex Herbert, following the folding of the Hershey Impact, 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 1994-95 season, when the Heat took on the St. Louis Ambush, 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 2002-03 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.
Contents |
| Year | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991/92 | NPSL | 2nd, American | Lost Quarterfinals | 3,114 |
| 1992/93 | NPSL | 4th, American | Lost Semifinals | 4,435 |
| 1993/94 | NPSL | 4th, American | Lost 2nd Round | 4,847 |
| 1994/95 | NPSL | 2nd, American | Lost Finals | 6,003 |
| 1995/96 | NPSL | 3rd, American | Lost Division Semifinals | 6,003 |
| 1996/97 | NPSL | 1st, American East | Lost Conference Finals | 7,518 |
| 1997/98 | NPSL | 2nd, American East | Lost Conference Semifinals | 5,905 |
| 1998/99 | NPSL | 2nd, American East | Lost Conference Quarterfinals | 5,600 |
| 1999/00 | NPSL | 3rd, American East | Did not qualify | 5,094 |
| 2000/01 | NPSL | 1st, American | Lost Conference Semifinals | 5,178 |
| 2001/02 | MISL | 6th, MISL | Did not qualify | 4,104 |
| 2002/03 | MISL | 4th, Eastern | Did not qualify | 3,519 |