Major Indoor Soccer League (2013-2014)
Tombstone
Born: July 24, 2013 – MISL expansion franchise
Folded: Spring 2014
First Game: November 15, 2013 (L 18-7 vs. Syracuse Silver Knights)
Last Game: March 2, 2014 (L 18-2 vs. Baltimore Blast)
MISL Championships: None
Arena
Santander Arena (7,200)
Opened: 2001
Marketing
Team Colors:
Ownership
Owners: Andrew Haines & Glen Goldstein
Background
The Pennsylvania Roar were yet another creation of minor league promoter Andrew Haines. The serial entrepreneur has left a trail of zero-budget teams and unpaid legal judgments throughout the Eastern U.S. in recent years.
Haines and his partner Glen Goldstein hoped to operate a pair of indoor franchises at Reading’s Santander Arena. The Roar, formed in July 2013, began play in November 2013. The duo also announced plans for an indoor football team, known as the Pennsylvania Steam, that would begin play in the spring of 2014.
Unlike the ill-fated Steam, the Roar actually managed to stage a season in Reading. And it was historically awful. The Roar were outscored 375-109 on the season and finished with a record of 1-19. Crowds were an embarrassment for the team’s 10 home dates at Santander Arena (see the archived stream of the team’s 2013 home opener below). To the surprise of no one, the Roar quietly closed their doors sometime in April/May of 2014.
Pennsylvania Roar Video
The Roar debut in Reading at an empty Santander Arena on November 15th, 2013.
One Response
I am the PA announcer for the ECHL hockey club in Reading, I also worked the Roar games. On a local level it was a good organization and everyone worked hard to make it a success, had the ownership cared AT ALL it would have been much better. In keeping with the spirit of this website I will also say YES, it was fun while it lasted.