Harrisburg Heat moving to Hershey, dropping down to second division for 2025-26 season

Professional indoor soccer is returning to Hersehypark Arena for the first time since 1991 with news that the Harrisburg Heat will be relocating to the historic arena for the 2025-26 season.

The Hershey Impact played at the arena from 1988-1991. The professional outdoor team the Hershey Wildcats played at the nearby Hersheypark Stadium from 1997-2001 so the Heat’s move also marks a return of professional soccer to the “Sweetest Place on Earth.”

The Heat have called the Equine Arena at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg home since their rebirth in 2012. A previous National Professional Soccer League iteration of the team played at the arena from 1991-2003.

“As the MASL continues to improve arena standards and focus on expansion, Hershey will provide and exceed all of the minimum standards,” a statement from the team reads. “In addition, Chocolate World and other venues will be open during the season to offer additional benefits for fans.”

As part of the announcement of the move, the Heat are also dropping down to the second division of the Major Arena Soccer League in order to accommodate scheduling. M2 has two Baltimore teams (Baltimore Arsenal and FC Baltimore 1729), the Salisbury Steaks (Md.) and Spice City FC (Conn.) listed on their website as the only other teams in the Northeast.

“For our players, an improved facility is exciting,” Heat CEO Carl Delmont said in a news release. “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.”

Hersheypark Arena opened in 1936 and was the home of the Hershey Bears hockey team until the Giant Center opened in 2002. The arena is home to the Lebanon Valley College ice hockey team and USPHL hockey team the Hershey Cubs.