A Historic Shift In Pennsylvania High School Soccer: Why The State Finals Are Heading West For The First Time

The PIAA released its database of nan sites that will big nan autumn authorities championships for nan adjacent 4 schoolhouse years starting for nan 2026-27 schoolhouse year. For nan first time, Highmark Stadium successful Pittsburgh will beryllium nan big of nan authorities soccer championships.

It is uncommon for nan southwestern portion of Pennsylvania to big immoderate of nan authorities championships. Since nan PIAA started hosting a shot title successful 1973, nan big tract bounced astir until 1998.

The last was played successful Hersheypark Stadium from 1998 to 2021. The title games were past moved to Cumberland Valley. However, stadium issues astatine Cumberland Valley this past play forced nan games to beryllium moved to Northeastern High School successful York County.

Highmark Stadium is nan location of nan Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Riveters. The Riverhounds won nan USL title this past season. Highmark Stadium presently has a seating capacity of 5,000, but will turn complete nan adjacent fewer years.

The Riverhounds announced successful August 2025 that they would summation its capacity to 15,000 to suffice for Division One sanctioning. The USL is readying to motorboat a Division One men's convention by 2025.

Located connected nan Monongahela River successful nan city’s Station Square district, Highmark Stadium opened successful 2013 and has go portion of nan city's modern sports landscape. Built to beryllium a soccer-specific facility, it offers 1 of nan astir scenic backdrops successful American soccer, arsenic Pittsburgh's downtown skyline is visible beyond nan acold touchline. In summation to nan city's 2 master teams, nan installation has hosted world shot exhibitions, assemblage matches, precocious schoolhouse matches and organization events, helping cement Pittsburgh’s estimation arsenic a passionate and evolving shot city.

Of course, these will not beryllium nan first precocious schoolhouse shot titles decided astatine Highmark Stadium. It has been nan agelong been nan location of nan Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic League (WPIAL) championships, which represents District 7.

Where are nan different authorities championships?

The Pennsylvania precocious schoolhouse shot authorities title games will stay astatine Cumberland Valley High School successful Mechanicsburg successful 2026. Here is simply a database of nan different sports and wherever their title events will beryllium played.

Golf - Penn State Golf Courses

Team tennis - Hershey Racquet Club

Tennis - singles and doubles - Hershey Racquet Club

Cross Country - Big Spring School District

Field Hockey - Cumberland Valley School District

Volleyball - Saint Francis University

--Josh Rizzo |rizzo42789@gmail.com| @J_oshrizzo