Harrisburg City Islanders, 2013

Discussion in 'Harrisburg City Islanders' started by Hax, Nov 30, 2012.

  1. Hax

    Hax BigSoccer Supporter

    Feb 1, 2000
    I know it's still 2012, but since the Harrisburg City Islanders are busy preparing for the 2013 season, it seems like a good time to put 2012 to bed and start thinking about 2013. First things first, to celebrate their 10th season, the City Islanders have unveiled a new logo. It's pretty much the same, they've retained the palm tree and cartoonish font, but now encapsulate it in a badge with the dates of their anniversary in a ribbon blue and star for their lone USL championship above. Here's the logo and press release:

    [​IMG]

    http://www.cityislanders.org/pages/news/news_detail.aspx?newid=157
     
  2. Macsen

    Macsen Moderator
    Staff Member

    Nov 5, 2007
    Orlando
    Club:
    Orlando City SC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    A more typical shield logo would really look sweet.
     
  3. Mikey mouse

    Mikey mouse Member

    Jul 27, 1999
    Charleston, SC
    Club:
    Charleston
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Not bad update, sticks with a familiar logo and puts it in a more traditional sheild or crest.

    would look good on a scarf! ;) If your interested, send me a PM, I'm a rep for a scarf company now!
     
  4. ButlerBob

    ButlerBob Moderator
    Staff Member

    Nov 13, 2001
    Evanston, IL
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Regardless of how the Aniv. logo looks, the bigger deal that they are going into their 10th season. When you consider that they are working on a very limited budget, this is a very big deal that they have lasted this long. But then again, maybe it's not since the have a budget they can actually support.
     
    bullsear repped this.
  5. bullsear

    bullsear Member

    Feb 17, 2009
    Club:
    Newcastle United FC
    I'm not sure how this qualifies as a "new logo" or why it's advantageous--it's the exact same logo but now surrounded by a guitar pick shaped shield.

    Won't that just mean the text has to be smaller if you want to print it on a shirt? And won't it just clutter the shield on the jersey? What happens next year when it'll be their 11th anniversary?
     
  6. Macsen

    Macsen Moderator
    Staff Member

    Nov 5, 2007
    Orlando
    Club:
    Orlando City SC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I somehow doubt this is actually the logo going on the shirt. The wordmark is probably still going to be the shirt logo.
     
  7. bullsear

    bullsear Member

    Feb 17, 2009
    Club:
    Newcastle United FC
    Shirt, scarf, flag, whatever. The wordmark will necessarily have to be smaller than it would have been previously. And if you're not going to put it on your gear, and you have next to no social media presence, why is this an announcement?

    In short, my point is that the press release should be about the anniversary and all the cool things the team will be doing to commemorate it, not about the logo. If you're going to announce a new logo in an anniversary year, it should probably be new.
     
  8. markmcf8

    markmcf8 Member+

    Oct 18, 1999
    Vancouver, WA, USA
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I bet the drop the 10th Anniversary Circle, and maybe even the banner with the dates. That would make the logo more like a traditional shield. I think it would be even cooler.

    And yeah, they should be announcing other cool stuff besides the logo. Maybe there's more exciting news to come? Let's hope so.

    - Mark
     
  9. markmcf8

    markmcf8 Member+

    Oct 18, 1999
    Vancouver, WA, USA
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Oooo! Look!

    OK, so definitely more to come, but no word yet on what that is.

    Hax, so where do City Islander fans hang out on-line? I don't see a forum here, so I'm betting there's a forum elsewhere.

    The City Islanders say that they strive to present a professional atmosphere at their games. So how is the stadium? Is it professional enough? The stadium looks a whole lot less than professional on Google Maps, but that might be an older picture? Do they plan any upgrades to the stadium?

    I know that USLPro teams run on a shoestring. So I'm not trying to give anyone a bad time about this. I'm just asking.

    - Mark
     
  10. bullsear

    bullsear Member

    Feb 17, 2009
    Club:
    Newcastle United FC
    Oh, I'm sure that's what they'll do, but from a design perspective it just doesn't make any sense. It's still the same logo, but now it's just inside a guitar pick shaped border--and a redundant one at that. The 'Harissburg City Islanders City Islanders'?

    And what is the purpose of keeping the old "City Islanders" wordmark when it doesn't go with the shield shape or the new design at all?
     
  11. markmcf8

    markmcf8 Member+

    Oct 18, 1999
    Vancouver, WA, USA
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    bullsear, beats me what they were thinking.

    I generally like team names, logos, colors, and wordmarks to stay the same. I guess they thought that they needed a little bit of a make over to celebrate their 10th anniversary, but were affraid to go whole hog.

    Here's a thought. Maybe for next year, they'll keep the guitar-pick shaped shield (as a guitar player, I dig it) and go with a completely new wordmark/logo in the middle? So this is just a transition away from their old (and comical looking) wordmark? Maybe? If you don't like your corporate logo, you tend to introduce a new one gradually, because sudden change doesn't always work out. Maybe? Just a guess.

    I'd really like to hear that they are improving the seating at the stadium, maybe the concessions too, oh, and signing three or four much better players. Yeah. "It's our tenth anniversary, so we're signing a couple of much better players to try to make a run at the championship." That's what fans want to hear, I'm sure.

    - Mark
     
  12. markmcf8

    markmcf8 Member+

    Oct 18, 1999
    Vancouver, WA, USA
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Ah ha!

    More stuff! That's the spirit guys!
    http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/682370.html

    OK, so not earth shaking, but hey, this is a step in the right direction. We were just discussing that the City Islanders need more sponsorships, more cash, and more advertising, and it looks like they might get that, or at least some of that.

    - Mark
     
  13. kenntomasch

    kenntomasch Member+

    Sep 2, 1999
    Out West
    Club:
    FC Tampa Bay Rowdies
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    You know they were a couple penalty kicks away from winning the championship two seasons ago, right? And that they usually make a run at the championship most years?

    Skyline Sports Complex is a city facility. There's a limit to what a team - even a well-intentioned one - can do with a facility they don't own, especially when that team has very limited financial resources.

    You just....stun me.
     
    Zamphyr repped this.
  14. markmcf8

    markmcf8 Member+

    Oct 18, 1999
    Vancouver, WA, USA
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    You're easily stunned. :rolleyes:

    Yes I know that City Islanders are a good team and usually do well on the pitch. Even so, fans always want to hear what their club are doing to improve their performance on the field, even in years immediately following a championship. "How do we improve so we can repeat?!" That's the cry of the fan, always.

    Yes, I know that City Islanders are on a limited budget, as are all D2 and D3 teams. But, as I also pointed out above, they have a new agreement with a new marketing agency to help them drum up more sponsors. Plus they have an arrangement with the Union, which might result in some Union players (reserve-types, guys deeper than the 18) getting some minutes with the City Islanders.

    These are all good signs Kenn, don't be so negative. You don't need to be overly optimistic, as I'm sure you think that I am. Still, how much would it take to improve the stadium where City Islanders play? They have several separate sections of bleachers now. How about putting in one large chunk of bleachers on the Northwest or Southwest side? (That's northwest-ish and southwestish.) Can they attract some better food vendors to the games? (I don't know if they have good food vendors now?) Can they improve the concessions area? I don't know, but I'm sure there are lots of areas where they can improve the game day experience.

    And the City is likely to allow the team to make some modest improvements to the "stadium" as long as the team pays for these. I would think that $50K would go a fair way toward improving that stadium. Perhaps if they make a few improvements every off-season?

    What I'm getting at, is that soccer is starting to generate more interest, more support, more sponsorships, and more money all around our country. I'm not expecting to see D3 team building "Live Strong Park-type" stadia, or even Highmark-type stadia all over the country. But it is possible for many of these teams to make improvements to their existing stadia, if they can raise some cash. Which goes back to my sponsorship point. If Market Street Sports Group can help them raise more cash, making improvements - even modest improvements - to their stadium is not out of the question.

    We'll see what happens, and you might be right. City Islanders might not make any improvements to their stadium, team, or marketing. Phoenix might average less than 2K fans a game. The el-lay Blues might fold. Sacramento might never get off the ground. But it could be that we will see some improvements this coming season.

    - Mark
     
  15. Zamphyr

    Zamphyr Member

    Mar 31, 2003
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Are you trolling Kenn ?
    Your post doesn't come across as being overly positive, it comes across as a guy 2000+ miles away complaining that the minor leagues aren't good enough.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrisburg_City_Islanders#Stadium
    You're suggesting that a team that doesn't own it's stadium and doesn't even fill the stadium half way on game day spend money they may not have on a property they rent to expand their seating ?

    Member since '99 ? I guess I'm easily stunned as well.
     
  16. Hax

    Hax BigSoccer Supporter

    Feb 1, 2000
    There really isn't a strong online venue for City Islanders fans. There was a separate forum a while back but only a handful of us did much with it. There is some chatter on PennLive through a fan blog, but really, there isn't much of an online presence. Harrisburg fans are a small but dedicated lot, comprised of the Hecklers who like to hang out in the party deck behind one goal, as well as many families who sit in the bleachers or berm. The team has averaged about 1,400 the past few seasons although attendance has waned somewhat. I've said this over and over again, and the team is certainly aware of this, but Skyline Sports Complex needs a major upgrade. There is no better setting for a game than on an island with a view of the city, but the bleachers, concessions, and so forth all need renovations. But, as others pointed out, it's not owned by the team and the city/state is bankrupt. It's quite a feat to have survived, and been competitive, this long, but the facility could be better.
     
  17. Hax

    Hax BigSoccer Supporter

    Feb 1, 2000
    Another thing, the team emailed us ticket holders last year saying they are working on stadium upgrades. It likely will happen slowly over several years because they don't have one large enough source of revenue to invest in the stadium, either through government or private funds. City Islander fans know that roster announcements are always late arriving. At this level, scouting and tryouts are crucial, so the rosters are always late developments, plus it's not unusual to have them add a couple of players once MLS cuts are made, for example, Lucky Mkosana was signed after being released by the Chicago Fire. It's a good sign that several City Islanders, such as Yann Ekra, Brian Ombiji, and Tom Mellor are playing indoor for the Harrisburg Heat in the PASL, perhaps it means they plan on being with the City Islanders come April.
     
    markmcf8 repped this.
  18. markmcf8

    markmcf8 Member+

    Oct 18, 1999
    Vancouver, WA, USA
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Not sure how you managed that interpretation, so let's try this again.

    For the past few weeks, I've been arguing here and in a couple of other thread that soccer is growing all around the country. I've been looking for, and occasionally posting positive signs. The post that you quoted is part of that discussion. I said a couple of weeks back that it looked like the City Islanders wanted to do something biggish to celebrate their 10th anniversary. This was when they announced the new logo. I said that I hoped we'd see more announcements, and maybe new sponsors, or that they could somehow get more money out of existing sponsors. So then they announced the new marketing agreement and I said: "Oh look! How cool."

    Naturally, Kenn gave me a bad time about it, because he thinks that all minor league teams are struggling financially (no doubt true), and that whatever progress we see will be temporary at best. And Kenn also pointed out (again rightly) that City Islanders are on a very strict budget.

    So I was suggesting that it wouldn't take a lot to upgrade the stadium, or concession areas. I'm not thinking huge, but rather incremental improvements. And lo! Hax, an actual City Islanders fan more or less agrees with me.

    City, or government owned facilities are a bit funny. The tenants pay rent of course, but upgrades are generally on the city (county, or other entity). But, I'm pretty sure that most cities will allow the tenants to pay for upgrades if they want to, as long as the upgrades fit with the city's overall plans for the facility. I'm willing to bet that City Islanders can think up improvements that the City will OK, and that can be achieved with a modest investment. (Again, because I'm trying to be realistic, but certainly not insulting.)

    What I'm hoping for, is that City Islanders find a way to get more fans out to the stadium and that they manage to make some improvements. They hint at this here. Specifically:

    There are a couple of other places in that article where they say that they have plans, but aren't specific about what they mean. Then, a couple of weeks later they announced the partnership with Market Street Sports Group, which again, can only be good.

    So, I'm not being negative at all, and I am not suggesting that somehow City Islanders are not good enough. I've been trying to point out positive signs of growth in the lower divisions. I'm also suggesting small improvements, incremental steps in the right direction, both because I'm trying to be realistic, and because I'm responding to Kenn's very negative view. I'm sure Kenn thinks he's a realist, and that's OK. We've seen lots of lower division teams come and go, we've seen plenty of teams launch to lots of fanfare, only to crash to Earth later. But right now, it looks like soccer is growing, about which, I am totally pumped.

    Hey, MLS just announced a sort of partnership with USLPro sides. So the Union may well send five of their players to the City Islanders this season or next, with the Union paying those players wages. (At least, I think that's how it's going to work.) Again, that's a good sign.

    I hope that makes a bit more sense. I'm actually very optimistic about the lower divisions. I see them growing, and I think that's very good for soccer.

    - Mark
     
  19. markmcf8

    markmcf8 Member+

    Oct 18, 1999
    Vancouver, WA, USA
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Ah ha! Thanks for that tid bit. And good luck to you and your team.

    Look, I live near Portland, Oregon. I spent some years going to Timbers games when they were a USL side. I get the second division deal. I've been to a couple of PDL games too, and a couple of matches for my local community college (who play a very stylish game and have a great program).

    So I know that USLPro rosters get built late, that it's hard to retain a lot of players from one season to the next, and that many teams do pick up players after MLS roster cuts.

    It's good to hear that they mean to improve the stadium, and while it would be killer to see it happen all at once, a step by step five or six year plan isn't bad either.

    When I saw the new logo announcement from your City Islanders, I thought that it meant that they had plans to really promote the team and try to get more fans out to the stadium. It looks like I was right. So even if those plans are modest, that's cool. This is still progress. It's still movement in the right direction. Good work.

    - Mark
     
  20. Hax

    Hax BigSoccer Supporter

    Feb 1, 2000
  21. rhrh

    rhrh Member

    Mar 5, 2010
    Club:
    AC Milan
    Question: there is a USL Pro combine coming up in March, and Harrisburg is listed as a team looking for players (along with Wilmington). Any knowledge on what positions they are looking for, or if they only are looking for one or two, or more?
     
  22. Hax

    Hax BigSoccer Supporter

    Feb 1, 2000
    This roster isn't completely accurate, I believe Jason Pelletier retired and Lucky Mkosana was on trial with the Crew, but the USL website lists these players as under contract:


    # POS PLAYER NAME HEIGHT WEIGHT BIRTHDATE LAST CLUB
    Brandt, Tom 2/23/1990 University of Pennsylvania
    Ekra, Yann 10/12/1990
    Holt, Brian 11/14/1988
    Langley, Morgan 150 6/9/1989 Harrisburg City Islanders
    Mellor, Tom 5' 11" 8/13/1990 Notre Dame College
    Mkosana, Luckymore 9/30/1987 Chicago Fire
    Noble, Nicholas 9/1/1984 Chicago Fire
    Pelletier, Jason 5' 10" 180 4/24/1985 Harrisburg City Islanders
    Touray, Sainey 2/8/1990 Carolina RailHawks
    Welker, Andrew 7/31/1989 Harrisburg City Islanders

    If this is accurate, the City Islanders would return many of their attacking players and have many holes in the backline. Dustin Bixler retired, and Bilal Duckett is on trial with the Revs, but it's nice to see Noble and Holt possibly returning to man goal. The City Islanders always release their roster late, they have a good corps of players and will supplement through the combine and their relationship with the Union. So to answer your question, they could probably use one or two players across every position and even more on the backline.
     
  23. Hax

    Hax BigSoccer Supporter

    Feb 1, 2000
    Finally some roster news: Drew Yates has signed with Charlotte, and Damanai Richards and Eric Schoenle likely seem headed to Harrisburg. Richards apparently has talent but is woefully inexperienced, however with Bilal Duckett back in MLS, the team needs a right back and he fits that bill. Schoenle will help provide coverage in central defense. Alex Mendoza is also on the team's radar but his status is less certain. Here's where the new USL-MLS relationship becomes complicated for USL fans: teams receive potentially more talented yet younger players. Can the talent compensate for inexperience? Where teams like Orlando sign seasoned veterans, Harrisburg is looking at rookies. These rookies will be integrated into a veteran core, but it will be interesting to see if the team performs differently as the roster gets a bit younger...

    http://blog.pennlive.com/patriotnewssports/2013/02/city_islanders_defensive_help.html
     
  24. ButlerBob

    ButlerBob Moderator
    Staff Member

    Nov 13, 2001
    Evanston, IL
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    But really isn't that what Becher does every season. Takes some experienced players and mixes in some new players. If anything those newer players will be better then they usually get. They seem to have to re-tool to a certain extent every season and is pretty much par for this level.
     
  25. Hax

    Hax BigSoccer Supporter

    Feb 1, 2000
    True, true, that has been the City Islanders' modus operandi over the years, but I wonder if there is a new wrinkle: how much autonomy does Becher have in selecting these youngsters? In the past two years, there was a dialog with Philly, but perhaps this becomes more of a mandate now. The Union will send four players down to Harrisburg, and it will certainly help with depth and talent, but at the same time, does Becher lose a little of that autonomy? Will he have to field these players? Do they assume a roster slot where he might've favored someone else? I get the sense that Becher works well with Hackworth and Burke, but I think this new setup will be different for some teams across the league, and not just in Harrisburg.
     

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