ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The Lehigh Valley soon will be home to a professional indoor soccer team.
The Major Arena Soccer League announced Thursday that league owners have approved a team for Allentown, with play set to begin this fall at PPL Center. The first game is scheduled for Dec. 5.
The announcement came during a news conference at the arena, where team ownership and league officials outlined plans for the franchise.
“The MASL takes the popular game of soccer, it condenses it, which intensifies,” said Jim Brooks, whose Brooks Sports Group will own and operate the team.
“It speeds up the pace, lots of shots, lots of saves, lots of goals, full excitement, the whole game.”
‘Find the right fit’
Brooks said the organization had long sought a second tenant for PPL Center that could complement the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and connect with the community.
“We looked at basketball, we looked at indoor football, indoor lacrosse, indoor soccer and many other sports and activities,” he said.
“And it’s not an easy task, because we want to find the right fit for PPL Center and for the Lehigh Valley.”
League Commissioner Keith Tozer said the region is well-positioned to support the sport as soccer continues to grow nationwide.
“There’s nothing better than the time right now, [and the] timing for soccer right here in Lehigh Valley,” Tozer said.
“This building, the atmosphere and the community provides a perfect foundation for professional indoor soccer to thrive.”
He also pointed to the ownership group as a key factor in the league’s decision.
“This building, the atmosphere and the community provides a perfect foundation for professional indoor soccer to thrive.”Keith Tozer, MASL commissioner
“They bring integrity. They bring character. They bring professionalism," Tozer said. "They bring vision.
“They are disciplined, thoughtful and deeply committed, not just to building a successful organization, but by doing it the right way.”
A broader investment
State Sen. Nick Miller, D-Lehigh/Northampton, said the timing aligns with broader investment and momentum in downtown Allentown.
“The timing couldn’t be better on this,” Miller said. “We think about all the exciting things that we have going on in downtown Allentown.”
The Allentown team will compete in MASL’s top tier, the premier division. It will be the second MASL-affiliated team in Pennsylvania, though a team name has not yet been announced.
The Harrisburg Heat recently relocated to Hersheypark Arena and compete in MASL 2, part of the league’s tiered development system.
MASL operates a multi-level structure designed to move players from amateur competition to the professional ranks, with two developmental levels beneath its top division.
The league also operates a women’s division.
Games are played six-on-six with five field players and a goalkeeper on an artificial turf field surrounded by boards. Matches feature four 15-minute quarters, unlimited substitutions and power play penalties.
“We are excited to announce we have purchased a team, and we’ll be moving it here, opening here in Lehigh Valley this coming fall,” Brooks said.
A team name and additional details are expected to be announced in the coming months.
To place a deposit and secure season tickets for the team’s inaugural season, visit Lehigh Valley + Major Arena Soccer League.
