Iconic arena, historic team making stop in Major Arena Soccer League 2 in 2025-26

TAMPA, Florida – When the Harrisburg Heat make their Major Arena Soccer League 2 debut in a couple of months, they will do so in an historic venue with pro indoor soccer history, keeping alive the sport's decades-old tradition in the state Capital region.

The Heat will move to MASL 2 for the 2025-26 season with the blessings of the MASL, where they are planning to return to play in 2026-27. And  they will play at the iconic Hersheypark Arena, a 7,800 seat facility that was originally built in the 1930s and for more than 60 years played host to the popular American Hockey League Hershey Bears  and where Wilt Chamberlain famously had his 100 point game.

Heat CEO Carl Delmont said the decision was necessitated by the lack of available dates at their longtime home which recently underwent a management changeover, the Farm Show Complex.

“While disappointed in the inability to obtain dates from our prior arena, it opened the door for our talks with Hershey to renew,” Delmont said. “For our players, a new and improved facility is exciting. For our fans, this provides a great history, atmosphere and more seating. For our staff, it is rewarding to be welcomed with open arms and a collaborative mindset.”

“The MASL is focused on growth and the Hershey brand supports this endeavor. We are excited for the future and returning to M1 next season” Delmont added.

MASL 2 Commissioner Chris Economides said the move will bring a new excitement to the league and the east division, which features some of the strongest teams in the league.

“This is a great example of the MASL pyramid working as it should. We have had teams move up and move down at all three levels over the past few years. Sometimes, there are certain things that fans may or may not see that dictate such a move, and with all of the league working together, transitions like this are pretty seamless.”

The Heat will play in the East Division along with United Elite Krajisnik, Spice City FC, FC Baltimore 1729 and the popularly-named Salisbury Steaks.

United Elite Krajisnik, the official MASL 2 of Utica City FC in the MASL, advanced to last season's post-season and Spice City FC out of Danbury, Connecticut – whose owners seven-on-seven team Newtown Pride --won the inaugural $1 million winner-take-all TST in 2023 in Cary, North Carolina. Salisbury began its journey several years ago in MASL 3, and moved up to MASL 2 two seasons ago. Their home games are broadcast live on a regional sports channel in their area, the Delmarva Sports Network. 

FC Baltimore 1729 is also new to the MASL 2 family this year, under the direction of former player and longtime Blast front office man Mike Conway and co-owner Ron Dawson.

“I think Heat fans might really be surprised at the quality and style of play in MASL 2,” Economides added. “Sometimes in MASL 2, our game seems even a bit faster, and more physical, more like old time indoor soccer, so I think Harrisburg supporters will be entertained. The players at our level are super motivated to take that final step to the top of the pyramid, and that translates to a really exciting product on the field.”

Harrisburg fans would be familiar with a number of players who suited up in the MASL 2 over the past few seasons, including Wellington Bramusse who dressed in several games for the Baltimore Arsenal in last year, and who scored 18 goals for the Baltimore Blast during the 2024-25 season. Junior Alencar played last season for Spice City following seven seasons in the MASL, including two with Utica City. Mershad Ahmadi was the sixth leading scorer for Utica City last year, and also appeared in nine games for United Elite Krajisnik, scoring 26 goals and adding 10 assists.

The Heat also recently signed MASL 2 veteran Murilo Ceruli, who in five seasons with the Omaha Kings and Iowa Demon Hawks, appeared in 54 games and scored 77 points.

Hersheypark Arena was home to the Hershey Impact in both the American Indoor Soccer Association and the National Professional Soccer League from 1988-1992 and featured many players who formed the nucleus of the first-ever Harrisburg Heat team to debut in the NPSL in 1992. Just weeks after the Impact announced they were dropping out of the NPSL, the league approved a new team in Harrisburg, which quickly signed such Heat legends as John Abe, Franklin McIntosh, Bill Becher, and Bob Lilley who were all part of the Hershey roster.

In addition to those who went on to join the Heat, the Impact featured such indoor stalwarts as Drago Dumbovic, Mark Kerlin, Jim Schwab, Art Kramer, and Scoop Stanisic. They compiled a record of 59-61 in their years at Hersheypark Arena, which is also the current home of the United States Premier Hockey League Hershey Cubs.

“We applaud Carl Delmont, Kevin Healey and the Harrisburg Heat for working closely with the MASL to determine the best path forward for their team, fans, and community,” said MASL Commissioner Keith Tozer. “Faced with the challenge of securing dates while also sharing in the owners’ commitment to new professional standards, the Heat’s management stepped up and found a solution—transitioning to M2 and Hershey for the 2025-26 season.“

MASL 2 will start its ninth season of play with 17 teams in three divisions covering both the United States and Mexico, including the debut of a new team in Baltimore this season  and a new team in Mexico City, the largest city in North America.

More information on the league can be found at www.masl2.com. More information on the Heat is available on team social pages, or at www.harrisburgheat.com. Each team plays a 12-game regular season schedule with playoffs in the spring. Last season, Chihuahua Savage 2 defeated the Iowa Demon Hawks in a double-overtime thriller to decide the 2024-25 championship.