Harrisburg City Islanders News Release -- www.cityislanders.com
Friday, April 26, 2013
HARRISBURG, Pa. -- The Harrisburg City Islanders celebrate their 10th Anniversary season with the Home Opener this Saturday night at Skyline Sports Complex, City Island. The Islanders opened their season on the road with two straight winning games. With this 10th season the Islanders have become a staple in Central Pennsylvania sports culture.
“Did we have any idea where this was going to lead?” asked Eric Pettis, Islanders CEO. “Absolutely not, but, along the way we have made some history, entertained Central Pa. with high quality soccer that keeps getting better and became a valuable resource for local sports fans and players.”
Pettis added that it seems like yesterday that Mayor Reed was complaining that we had created a traffic mess with all of the fans that came to the first-ever home match against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds in 2004.
The Islanders season started this year on April 13 with a cross-state match against their rivals, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. The season opener ended in a 2-1 win with two late goals. The Islanders then made USL PRO history as they took victory against Major League Soccer's Colorado Rapids Reserves last Saturday night, with Cris Hernandez recording a goal and assist in a 2-1 victory.
The home opener on Saturday will pit the Islanders against a familiar rival, the Rochester Rhinos.
“We have developed quite a rivalry with Rochester since we started competing in the same league in 2011,” said City Islanders coach Bill Becher. “Every game we have played against them has had a playoff type atmosphere, and I expect it to be the same for our home opener.”
The gates will open at 5:30 p.m. and kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. The Islanders have many things planned for off the field to celebrate this momentous occasion including the first 1,000 fans will receive a commemorative 10th Anniversary color changing stadium cup compliments of Capital BlueCross. In addition, fans at every USL PRO Islanders match will have the chance to win one of 10 Anniversary Presents offered by sponsors and local businesses. More than 250 gifts with a value of more than $6,500 will be offered to Islander fans throughout the 2013 season. Finally the Islanders have completed a list of the top 10 milestones including single game performances, memorable goals and games. The club's All-Decade team will also be announced this season.
Islanders General Manager John Gregg said that the 10th anniversary is a perfect time to show the local community there is more than just pro soccer.
“We have 3-versus-3 tournament, our first annual Capital Cup soccer tournament, and a number of wonderful promotional events with a number of our business partners,” Gregg said. “Everyone has been working extremely hard to make this the best season ever.”
The Islanders have been committed to professional soccer for the past 10 seasons. The latest addition in the growth of professional soccer and the Harrisburg organization included the most recent approved agreement between the club and their exclusive affiliate of Major League Soccer, the Philadelphia Union. Part of the approved agreement includes placement of four Union players permanently with the Islanders for this season.
Pettis said that if they can continue to develop as they have over the first 10 years into the next 10 that he is confident that the organization will be able to jump on the new wave of soccer fans that get what professional soccer can be.
“There have been a ton of sacrifices made by so many people over the past decade that have allowed us to survive,” Pettis said. “We want to take this opportunity to thank those past and present that gave themselves so freely to keep this club going.”
“This is Central Pa’s team!”
Tickets for the home opener on Saturday night at 7 p.m. against the Rochester Rhinos are now on sale. The Islanders have reduced the prices from the 2012 season. Tickets are $12 Adults (ages 18and over) $10 Seniors (62 and over) $7 Youth (ages 4 and under). Purchase tickets online and save an additional dollar per ticket. For more information or to purchase tickets for the upcoming
season, call 717-441-GOAL or visit www.cityislanders.com.