A Sporting Chance
Riverhounds Hope to Find Success at CV Stadium
By Brian Knavish

When the Pittsburgh Riverhounds “took a year off ” in 2007 amid ownership change, many thought the hiatus spelled curtains for the region’s professional soccer team.

In a city that has proven difficult for minor league sports teams to survive, many thought the Riverhounds had gone the way of the dinosaur. Or rather, the way of the Spirit, Gladiators and Piranhas. But this spring, the Riverhounds are taking the field once again – specifically the field at Chartiers Valley High School – where the team will play its home games from May through early August.

The team, which is now primarily owned by Jay Hill and the Greentree SportsPlex, has an impressive strategic plan in place, and it appears the Riverhounds may have a chance at a full resurrection.The new ownership and venue relocation are the latest in a series of changes that have kept the franchise in a state of flux for virtually its entire existence.

The Riverhounds were founded in 1999 by Paul Heasley, a local businessman and soccer enthusiast, who hoped to capture the sport’s participation popularity and translate that into spectator popularity. Since then, the team has shuffled around various local venues, various soccer leagues, and had a few different owners. Last year, when the team was again put up for sale, a group of investors who own the Greentree Sportsplex – an indoor soccer facility – saw an opportunity.

The new ownership group indicated that the team would take a hiatus during the 2007 season in order to regain some stability and build a long-term future.While a professional sports team taking an entire season off is unorthodox, and certainly not a sign of stability, the move may have been necessary to save the franchise.

The new ownership group appears totally committed to building the team for the long haul and keeping the Riverhounds from becoming the next RiverRats, Pipers or Forge. The team will compete in the USL 2 professional soccer division, which isn’t quite up to par with the Class-A league in which the team used to play. “As for the level of play, I think people are going to find that every year the USL 2 gets better,” says head coach/general manager Gene Klein. “I think people are going to find it very, very comparable to A-league competition of a few years ago.”

Klein noted that six of the final eight 2007 U.S. Open Cup teams were from the USL, including two from USL 2. Klein is committed to bringing soccer talent to the Riverhounds. He spent much of the offseason scouring the country – via countless tryouts, combines and film study –for players he sees as a fit.

But, just as important as signing players is marketing the team.

According to the front office, when the team played its home games at Falconi Field in Washington County, attendance dropped because that area doesn’t have a strong soccer community like Chartiers Valley’s. So, one of the first things the new management did was to secure a new home venue at Chartiers Valley.While the team still has hopes of building a soccer-only complex in the region, Chartiers Valley’s bustling soccer community and convenient geographic location made it an ideal home.

The second attractive quality was the ease with which soccer fans from other parts of Western Pennsylvania could get to Chartiers Valley.The stadium’s proximity to Interstate 79 makes getting to a game a breeze.

A third component of marketing the Riverhounds is targeting that soccer community, particularly youth programs, which will be a significant segment of the fan base.That involves more than just luring youth soccer players to games. “We want to get the pro team involved at the youth level,” says Jay Kutney, a player who doubles as director of youth development. He touted the team’s year-round soccer academy, as well as player appearances at practices and soccer camps. “We want the community involved.With other sports, you go and root for your team, but with us, your kids can get involved with the team before and after the game.”

But, marketing will have to go beyond just the traditional soccer community; luring casual sports fans is essential.The Riverhounds have taken a big step in that direction by making tickets affordable ($9 to $25).The next step will be making the games entertaining, even for non-soccer fans.

Successful minor league baseball teams have shown that marketing, promotions and making game nights “events” are more important factors in attendance than on-field action. Klein indicated the team is open to that.“

We want it to be a great soccer atmosphere,” he says. “We want the most entertaining part of the match to be the teams. But, there will be plenty of other activities going on. It will be a fun atmosphere.”

Having lasted a decade already, the Riverhounds have shown they have more staying power than many minor league sports teams in this town. Maybe the Riverhounds won’t become the next Crossfire, Phantoms or Pit Bulls.

The Riverhounds will play nine home games at Chartiers Valley, from May 3 through August 9.For more information, visit www.riverhounds.com or call 412-922-1818.

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Scott Township’s Police Department unanimously names Alan Ballo its top cop.

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