After making it to the A-League final in 2001, the Hershey Wildcats, folded without warning when the Hershey Corp. pulled the financial plug on the team. During that fall's USL Annual Operations Meeting, speculation was going hot and heavy that a group in Harrisburg might just step in to keep that franchise alive and the back and forth phone calls went right up until the last minute. The league could wait no longer without a solid commitment, and so professional soccer in that area of Pennsylvania came to and end, at least for the short term.
Behind the scenes though, the effort to revive the hopes that Harrisburg could become the home to a new team continued. They had a potential home, and enough interest for some level of play, but what had to be decided was how strong the support was and at what level to get back in to the professional soccer market.
Rob Wilson, our a-league.com match reporter for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds during their A-League tenure, and regular contributor of other feature pieces, contacted Harrisburg City Islanders General Manager Joe Sierko to find out more about how the Harrisburg team came into being and asked about future plans.
[Rob Wilson] Why did the City Islanders choose the PSL? Why not the PDL or A-league?
[Joe Sierko] We felt the PSL offered the best opportunity to enjoy success right away, and also build towards the future. Based upon the history of professional soccer in Harrisburg, we felt that the players, fans, and business community would respond more to a PSL team than a PDL team. Frankly, the A-league was not a consideration - the budget demands would have put us in the same financial position as past franchises. We'd love to move to the A-League at some point, but we're compelled to prove to our fans, sponsors, players and the City of Harrisburg that we can succeed at this level first. Our ultimate goal would to be an A-league franchise that can offer both PDL and W-league opportunities to players and fans. The USL has created very attractive options, so that, individual communities can find their place within the structure.
[Rob Wilson] Do you believe that you'll eventually 'promote' the City Islanders into the A-league? What would need to happen for that to occur?
[Joe Sierko] We certainly think the market exists. The support we've received so far has been unbelievable. But again, we have to prove to everyone that we're capable of making the move up. Skyline Sports Complex would have to be renovated to meet the A-League's minimum standards. The bottom line is the bottom line - if it doesn't make financial sense to move up, we won't. However, we owe it the players, many of whom are capable of playing at the A-League level, and the fans to keep moving in that direction.
[Rob Wilson] With so much emphasis being placed on Soccer Specific Stadiums, what is your relationship with Skyline? (For example, are you the only tenant, do you have "first choice" of dates, etc.)
[Joe Sierko] Skyline is also the home to the Central Penn Piranha, an incredibly successful minor league football team, and also hosts high school sports and many other varied events. It is part of the Harrisburg Department of Parks and Recreation. Our relationship with the City and the grounds crew on the Island has been wonderful. They've been very good to us. We are not opposed to a Soccer Specific Stadium but believe it is in the best interest of this Community to have a first-class multi-sport facility.
[Rob Wilson] What improvements, if any, are you planning to make or would like to make to Skyline?
[Joe Sierko] At our current stage, it's an ideal facility. We couldn't be happier with it. The fans are right on top of the action, it's accessible, it's scenic. If we eventually consider a move to the A-League, things like seating capacity, amenities, press facilities, locker rooms, and the like would have to be addressed. Ultimately, those are decisions that have to be made by Mayor Stephen Reed and the City of Harrisburg - again, we have to prove we're worth the upgrades.
[Rob Wilson] Soccer has had a bit of history in the Harrisburg area due to the success of the Heat over the years. How do the City Islanders intend to build on that tradition?
[Joe Sierko] The Heat and the Hershey Wildcats provided a lot of fond memories over the years, and perhaps their biggest contribution was to the soccer culture of Central Pennsylvania. Many of the professional players that came to the area remained here, and have become critical to the development of young players. If we are successful, one of the biggest reasons will be those relationships: the soccer community here is very strong, and it's in large part because the Heat and Wildcats helped make it that way. As we become established, we intend to recognize those contributions. We are in the unique position of being a new team with a great deal of history behind it.
[Rob Wilson] The Heat may possibly be up for sale; do the Islanders have any plans to enter the indoor arena, perhaps something similar to the A-league's Milwaukee Wave United?
[Joe Sierko] Our focus right now is on the great opportunity we have before us in the USL. Milwaukee provides a great example of how an indoor-outdoor organization can succeed, but it's not easy. We're in favor of anything that's good for soccer in Harrisburg, but right now we'll concentrate on making ourselves a successful outdoor team.
[Rob Wilson] What have you learned from other USL soccer teams? What do you need to do to survive in a tough media market?
[Joe Sierko] We could not have asked for a better group of people to be partnered with in the USL. From the leadership at the USL level, to our colleagues within the various leagues - everyone has been helpful and forthcoming. While we are fierce competitors on the field, we should always remain loyal and empathetic partners off the field.
Many people in this organization have soccer backgrounds, be it indoors or outdoors, as a player or as management. Through experience, all of these people acknowledge how important it is to maintain the value of your ticket. Ticket sales, with the emphasis on sales, are the lifeblood of any team. Media recognition and business partnerships will follow the fan base. We don't think that our media market is any tougher than anywhere else - you have to cultivate those relationships, be professional and consistent. We have to prove ourselves to the media, too. No one owes us any favors - and we don't expect any special treatment.
[Rob Wilson] What will you consider "successful" for the team? That is as far as attendance, media coverage and overall record go.
[Joe Sierko] We have divided the team into two categories: business and soccer. Obviously, there are many instances where the two will intersect. However, our goals are to break-even on the financial side and to win the Championship on the soccer side. If we don't break-even I have not achieved my goal as General Manager. If we don't win the Championship, the Head Coach has not achieved his goal. We are both content with letting others label the team successful or unsuccessful beyond those parameters. We have set our sights high - but not so high that their unachievable.
[Rob Wilson] What are you planning to do to make the City Islanders unique? In other words, convince me, the average sports fan in Harrisburg, to come back to Skyline.
[Joe Sierko] Forget about Skyline, how about City Island as a whole. You cross over the bridge and find yourself on an island in the middle of the Susquehanna River. You park your car (for free!) and take a scenic walk towards the Complex. On your left is Commerce Bank Park, home of the AA Harrisburg Senators and on your right is the skyline of Harrisburg, the Capital of Pennsylvania. Not to mention that there's a train circling the island, there's carriage rides, miniature golf, and a myriad of activity on the river itself. Your nose is the first to be aware of Skyline Sports Complex. The smell of Beef Bar-B-Que and Kettle Corn fill the air. Then your ears perk up - the sounds of the Beach Boys, Dick Dale, or Don Ho put you in a relaxed mood. You've reached the entrance to the Complex. Our burly security guard in his red Hawaiian shirts shoots you a "menacing" smile. Enjoy the Game! If you just want pure soccer - focus on the field and enjoy the action. If you want more - look around at the dozens of kids playing on the sand volley ball courts, the inflatable palm trees and monkeys tied to every imaginable post and tree, the great merchandise choices and the attitude of every single member of the gameday staff. There's no way around it - it's a party and your our guest!
We want to cultivate an atmosphere where you're either smiling or cheering. First, we have to make a City Islanders event worth your time, then we have to make it worth your money. If someone goes home feeling that they've wasted their time or that they didn't get their money's worth then we have failed. Failure is not one of our options. Respond to the invitation - join the party! So how was that: Are you coming back?
[Rob Wilson] Can you describe how the community in Harrisburg has received the City Islanders so far?
[Joe Sierko] One word: amazing. To be honest, we didn't expect the incredible support we've received so far. I think people see that we're working hard to succeed, to provide a great source of entertainment and really add something to the community, and they want to be part of that. Ultimately, this is their team. We must always take time to keep our mouths shut and our ears open. While not all decisions will be popular and not all tasks will be done to perfection, we will always explain our reasoning and take responsibility for our mistakes. As an organization, we will always be in a mode of continuous improvement and as a citizen of this community will always strive to play a significant role. No matter how successful our events become, we want to always be able to say that the next one will be even better!
