Pittsburgh Named Newest Expansion City in Major League Indoor Soccer

Pittsburgh, PA - Three Pittsburgh natives, Jack Shearer, Josh DiMatteo and Grant Glorioso are bringing professional indoor soccer back to the Steel City. 

After years of playing Division I collegiate and professional indoor soccer in the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL), with teams like the Baltimore Blast and Harrisburg Heat, the trio is launching a new franchise, Bridge City FC, in the Major League Indoor Soccer (MLIS). 

Shearer, Bridge City FC co-owner, says the ownership group was drawn to the teams and talent in the MLIS.

“We think it's cool to join a newer league with good growth opportunities,” Shearer says. “We've watched some footage; It's a pretty good level. We've done some research on the types of players in the league. … We want this to be a long-term process where we grow year to year, and we can get people excited about professional indoor soccer again in Pittsburgh.”

Their goal? To revive the energy of the Pittsburgh Spirit, a former professional indoor soccer team based in Pittsburgh and one of the original six teams that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL), and to create a community-centered, high-level soccer experience, right in their hometown.

“Growing up in Pittsburgh, we know how passionate the city is about its sports teams,” DiMatteo, a co-owner, says. “The goal is to pack the arena every game and create an amazing experience for fans. The ultimate goal? Win it all.”.

The organization is also looking forward to developing regional rivalries, especially with nearby teams like the Cleveland Crunch.

“We want Cleveland vs. Pittsburgh to be [a solid] matchup,” Glorioso, also a co-owner, says. “We [want] to lean into that and [make it a must-watch] game.”

The team will play its home games at Sewickley Sports Arena, once home to the Spirit before its Civic Arena days. 

And when it comes to recruiting players, the organization is leaning on their competitive backgrounds and deep roots in the Pittsburgh soccer scene. From their collegiate networks to years spent playing and coaching, the group already has a solid pipeline of local and regional talent.

“We're going to have a core group of guys that we know,” Glorioso says. “And then other than that, we're [going to] hold open tryouts. … Hopefully, we can find some talent that way as well.”

Open tryouts are already in the works, with more details to be announced soon. Stay tuned on the team's website and Instagram (@bridgecityfcpgh) for more information.