Bridge City FC revives Pittsburgh’s indoor soccer legacy

The scent of rubber turf mixed with sweat is evident upon entering the arena, as is the sound of cleats striking the ball. The echo of fans cheering along with the blow of the referee’s whistle fill the air as the ball whooshes into the net.

It’s the anticipation of the excitement of indoor soccer.

After a three-decade hiatus, professional indoor soccer returns to Pittsburgh with the founding of Bridge City Football Club this year.

Owners Jack Shearer, Grant Glorioso and Josh DiMatteo came together in their love for soccer after meeting through the professional indoor soccer league Harrisburg Heat, a part of the Major Arena Soccer League.

“It started as a joke. …” Glorioso said. “Month after month, we started to have serious talks about, ‘What if we could do this?’ Then eventually, after the season (with Harrisburg), we were like, ‘Let’s give it a shot.’ And the rest is history.”

Anyone can form a soccer club, but to play in a professional league, specific requirements must be met. Bridge City FC needed to submit an application for approval, prove financial stability, have access to an indoor arena meeting size requirements, follow a specific player and staff structure and have a community and marketing plan.

What started as a joke between teammates soon grew into something that could fill a decades-long void in Pittsburgh sports.

The last professional indoor soccer team in Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Stingers, played two seasons from 1994-1995.

Bridge City hopes to follow in the footsteps of the team that came before the Stingers, the Pittsburgh Spirit.

The Spirit, which played from 1978-1986, drew crowds even larger than the Pittsburgh Penguins did at times. Its influence had a large fan base and contributed to the growth of youth soccer programs in the region.

The fall of professional indoor soccer in Pittsburgh came with the closing of Pittsburgh Spirit. They eventually suffered from poor ticket sales and significant financial losses.

Bridge City FC attempts to fill that void, placing its own team in the Major League Indoor Soccer and hosting home games and practices in the same venue that Pittsburgh Spirit once did, Sewickley Sports Arena, which can hold more than 1,000 spectators.

“We knew that indoor soccer in Pittsburgh back in the ‘70s and ‘80s was so big. They were basically selling out the Civic Arena over the Pens most nights that they had games. So we knew that the attraction was there,” said Glorioso. “We think the attraction can be here again.”

While Bridge City hopes to recapture some of that old excitement, its roster reflects a new kind of Pittsburgh soccer story.

“It’s all Pittsburgh people. And it’s a lot of guys that maybe didn’t get an opportunity to go play after college, and they’re back home working nine to five. They want to play soccer. They’re missing the game. They’re missing the family,” said Glorioso.

With the vision in place, the next step was finding the players who could bring it to life. That process began with open tryouts.

Tryouts for the team occurred Oct. 16, where the owners utilized their connections in the area as well as social media to spread the word and promote the up-and-coming team.

Despite marketing challenges, the owners focused on reaching as many players as possible while staying true to their vision for the team.

Shearer said, “We want to make it Pittsburgh-themed, so we’re looking for grit. We’re looking for competitiveness. Obviously, the skill set and the talent have to be there, but on top of that, we’re looking for just good guys with leadership qualities, guys that want to be able to win a championship and those that stay positive through the good and the bad.”

On the field, that vision takes shape in the players who now wear the Bridge City crest.

Bridge City FC goalkeeper Kevin Garcia, who coached the Riverhounds with Glorioso, already enjoys his time with the team.

“It’s a very good environment. I think what I really enjoy the most is that most of us know each other. … It’s just beautiful interactions with everyone, and I feel like I could be myself,” said Garcia.

Professional indoor soccer has rules that are slightly different from those of an outdoor soccer game.

Indoor soccer is faster paced with quicker passes and less emphasis on long distance and endurance. It requires five to seven players on each side for its 60-minute games, which are split into quarters. The 90-minute outdoor soccer game has 11 players on a larger field, demanding greater stamina and room for strategic long-distance plays.

Glorioso said, “It really caters to the American viewer, because sometimes, people think 11 v. 11 soccer can get a bit boring … whereas indoor soccer, it’s never boring. There’s always action, a lot of goals, and it’s a super exciting game to watch.”

That nonstop pace doesn’t just attract fans; it challenges players, too. For many, the adjustment to the smaller field and quicker play brings a whole new energy to the game.

Garcia never played indoor soccer before trying out and joining Bridge City FC. The shift from outdoor to indoor play came with a learning curve. For goalkeepers especially, the pace leaves no room for hesitation. Every shot can come from just a few feet away, and one split-second delay can decide the match.

“I definitely do enjoy it, mainly because it’s a very fast-paced game,” said Garcia. “You have to be sharp and make sure you can make those big saves. … I love keeping myself on my toes, and I like being in the game and kind of having that mental block to be focused throughout the entire moment, waiting for that one opportunity.”

Now, Garcia is learning how to adapt his outdoor instincts to an environment where every touch counts and every play demands total focus.

That fast-paced energy is exactly what the owners hope will draw a new generation of fans to the sport.

The owners plan to expand Bridge City FC through community engagement, family-friendly entertainment and high school and middle school outreach and training camps.

“We really want this to be almost like entertainment, with soccer there as well. So we’re trying to engage the fans as much as possible,” said Glorioso.

They also hope to later expand beyond their current home venue in Sewickley, allowing for a bigger audience, a better experience and more involvement.

Bridge City FC was scheduled to play its opener Nov. 22 against Fort Wayne.