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FNB Field Home Opener Review

May 3, 2016 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Penn FC News Release


Harrisburg, PA - After 12 years of calling Skyline Sports Complex home, City Islanders Football Club kicked off their first set of games at FNB Field with success that will undoubtedly carry on throughout the 2016 USL season.

April 22 marked the first of 10 home matches that the City Islanders will play at FNB Field. The partnership began in January when the Harrisburg Senators, City Islanders' ownership and Harrisburg City officials announced the club's relocation to Harrisburg's beloved baseball team's stadium on City Island.

While the Islanders are optimistic that a soccer specific stadium is still obtainable for the club that has called Harrisburg home for 12 seasons in 2016 they will split time in their temporary homes: FNB Field in Harrisburg and Clipper Magazine Stadium in Lancaster.

"Let's face it, life is about diversity and attracting different people for different events. Again, this is a great example of let's experiment and see how it works. Our game plan would be to be here for one more year and then in a soccer-specific stadium in 2018." Said City Islanders CEO, Eric Pettis.

Although the stadium configuration gave FNB a new look, a majority opinion quickly surfaced from the fans. Watching soccer in a dynamic baseball stadium was a hit.

The Isles 2016 home opener series brought out faithful season ticket holders and curious casual fans alike. Local soccer enthusiast Scott Fikse who was in attendance for the first two matches of the season at FNB Field was one of many fans who were impressed by the new look.

"The views are extraordinary," said Fikse. "I admit I was initially skeptical a baseball stadium would not be the best environment to watch a soccer match; however, this experience surpassed all of my expectations."

The new fan experience offers more than top-level professional soccer for the Central Pennsylvania community. General admission, reserved and suite seating offer fans amenities they never had access to at Skyline Sports Complex. Concessions will now house a variety of beverage, beer and food choices and the infamous Socceritaville will now receive an upgrade by taking over the right field bar behind the goal.

Longtime season ticket holder Brian LaBine and his group from Camp Hill lined up bar stool seats along the concourse in left-center field. With the field configured for soccer, it put LaBine at midfield about 50 feet from the field.

"We were looking at the schematic of the field before the season and were wondering where Socceritaville (under main scoreboard) was because that's usually where we typically have our seats," said LaBine.

"I thought these bar stool seats would be perfect. We love them. They are just the right height and you're close to the action."

Aside from the lively Socceritaville area, seats and picnic tables down the third base, and the Ollie's Cheap Seats in beyond the left field fence, were the most popular.

While much has changed, the club's commitment to the local community and development of youth soccer has remained the same. The Islanders take pride in supporting and honoring the Central Pennsylvania soccer community and beyond on and off the field. If your team or group is interested in having a group night at a match this season please contact Molly Gilroy at 717-441-4625 (GOAL).

If you didn't make it to the first two games at FNB, you will have eight more chances to catch all of the action on the island.

Come see your professional team take on USL newcomer FC Cincinnati behind Head Coach and National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee, John Harkes Saturday, May 7 and Monday, May 9 when they take on longtime eastern conference rival the Charleston Battery.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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