The Howler

Date changed for Hounds match in Oakland

PITTSBURGH and OAKLAND, Calif. (May 13, 2025) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC’s USL Championship match against Oakland Roots SC has been rescheduled to Sunday, Sept. 7 at 4 p.m. at the Oakland Coliseum, the teams announced today.

The move was made to accommodate the addition of an international friendly to the schedule at Oakland Coliseum, where the Mexican National Team will play host to Japan in a high-profile friendly on Sept. 6 during that month’s international window.

All tickets for the Hounds match in Oakland, originally scheduled for Sept. 6, will automatically transfer to the new, Sept. 7. date. The match will air live in the Pittsburgh market on SportsNet Pittsburgh+ with re-airings to be announced.

Date, time announced for Hounds-Union Cup match

PITTSBURGH (May 8, 2025) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC’s match against the Philadelphia Union in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 will be played at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 21 at Subaru Park in Chester, Pa., the U.S. Soccer Federation announced this afternoon.

The live broadcast of the match will be streamed on Paramount+, while whip-around coverage of all six Wednesday night Open Cup matches will be live on CBS Sports Golazo Network.

It will be the first-ever meeting between the Hounds and the Union, pitting Pennsylvania’s oldest professional soccer club against the cross-state MLS club and three-time Open Cup finalists. The Hounds advanced to the Round of 16 with a 1-0 win over New York City FC of MLS, while the Union progressed by topping USL Championship club Indy Eleven on penalties, 5-4, after playing to a 1-1 draw.

This is the Hounds’ third overall trip to the Round of 16, and on both prior occasions, they advanced to the quarterfinals. In 2001, they defeated the A-League’s El Paso Patriots, 2-1; and in 2023, the Hounds topped eventual MLS champion Columbus Crew, 1-0.

To see the complete Open Cup Round of 16 schedule, visit ussoccer.com.

All about the Jägermeister Cup

The Riverhounds have a new trophy to set their sights on, and the first step toward it comes this week.

In a sport where clubs contesting multiple competitions at once is commonplace, from domestic leagues to Club World Cups to something called the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup — it was real, look it up! — USL Championship clubs this year get to add the USL Jägermeister Cup to their dance card with very real prizes to the winning side.

This is the second year of the competition, which last year was limited to USL League One teams and won by the Northern Colorado Hailstorm. This year, all professional teams in USL will take part, bringing the total number of entrants to 38 teams who will try to claim the title.

The new competition begins this weekend when the Hounds travel to face Detroit City FC at 4 p.m. Saturday, April 26. With that in mind, here’s a rundown of some questions fans might have:

• What is the USL Jägermeister Cup’s format?

While it is called a “Cup,” the competition isn’t a knockout tournament like the U.S. Open Cup or FA Cup, but rather a tournament with group play like the World Cup. In fact, the most similar competition domestically is played in another sport, basketball’s recently launched NBA Cup, which also occurs concurrently with the NBA regular season.

Teams were divided geographically into six groups of either six or seven teams, with each group assured of having at least two League One teams alongside the more numerous Championship sides. In the Hounds’ case, that put them in Group Four with Detroit City FC, Hartford Athletic, Portland Hearts of Pine, Rhode Island FC and Westchester FC.

Each team will play four matches against teams in their group — two home and two away — and the six group winners, along with the best two second-place finishers, will advance to the knockout rounds.

• Do the Cup matches count in the league standings?

No. Jägermeister Cup matches will not count toward the overall USL Championship standings, effectively shortening the league season to 30 matches.

The four group stage matches were built into the regular-season schedule, keeping it at 34 matches for Championship teams, with one Jägermeister Cup match each month from April to July. Reaching the knockout rounds will add additional matches for the clubs who qualify.

• Are there any special rules for Cup matches?

The biggest difference from a normal regular-season match is that no contests will end in draws; matches tied after 90 minutes will go to a penalty kick shootout.

For the purposes of the standings in the group stage, that means a win in 90 minutes earns the usual three points, a win by penalty kicks earns two, a loss by penalty kicks earns one, and a regulation loss still earns nothing.

• Where can people watch Cup matches?

The Jägermeister Cup matches are part of the USL’s and the Hounds’ regular television deals. That means local TV coverage will be seen on KDKA+ and SportsNet Pittsburgh — Saturday’s game, specifically, will air on SNP — and streaming will still be carried by ESPN+ and CBS Sports Golazo Network.

• What is the prize for the winning team?

The Hounds would love to bring home their second official USL trophy, after the 2023 Players’ Shield, and the Jägermeister Cup is a great chance to do that. In addition, there is a cash prize for the winning side, further adding to the motivation for teams and players alike to triumph in the final on Oct. 4.

Hounds to host NYCFC in Open Cup Round of 32

(Updated 4/17 at 5 p.m. with match date, time & TV info)
(Updated 5/1 at 1 p.m. to add updated Ticketmaster link)

PITTSBURGH (April 17, 2025) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC will once again welcome MLS opposition to Highmark Stadium after being drawn to host New York City FC in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 on Wednesday, May 7.

The match will be a 7 p.m. kickoff broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network and streamed live on Paramount+.

It will be the first-ever matchup between the Hounds, Open Cup quarterfinalists in 2001 and 2023, and NYCFC, which began play in 2015 and has also reached the quarterfinals twice, in 2019 and 2022. The Hounds have hosted MLS teams at Highmark Stadium two times previously — in 2023 when they defeated the Columbus Crew, 1-0, and in 2015, when they lost in extra time to D.C. United, 3-1.

Tickets for the match can be purchased through Ticketmaster and by contacting the Highmark Stadium Box Office at ticketing@riverhounds.com or 412-865-GOAL.

The Hounds reached the Round of 32 by winning its Third Round match Tuesday, 1-0 over Columbus Crew 2 of MLS Next Pro, while MLS teams are entering the competition this round.

The winner of the Round of 32 match will advance to face the winner between the Philadelphia Union and Indy Eleven. The Union would host that match, while the Hounds would host if they advanced to face Indy.

To see the complete schedule for the Round of 32, visit ussoccer.com.

Hounds to visit Crew 2 in Open Cup

(Updated with match details, 4/3 at 5 p.m.)

PITTSBURGH (April 3, 2025) — The Pittsburgh Riverhounds will be on the road to face Columbus Crew 2 out of MLS Next Pro in the Third Round of the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, a matchup revealed this afternoon during U.S. Soccer’s televised draw on CBS Sports Golazo Network.

The match will be the first of the Third Round to kick off with a 6 p.m. start Tuesday, April 15 at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio. The match will be shown live on Paramount+.

This will be the first-ever competitive matchup for the Hounds against a team from MLS Next Pro, the third-division league that launched in 2022. The Hounds did face Crew 2 in this year’s preseason, taking a 1-0 win at a snow-covered Highmark Stadium on Feb. 16 behind a goal by Jorge Garcia.

The Hounds have faced Crew 2’s parent club, MLS’s Columbus Crew, twice previously in the Open Cup. The Crew came out on top 1-0 in Columbus in 2019, but the Hounds turned the tables to win 1-0 in Pittsburgh in 2023 to advance to the quarterfinals for only the second time in club history.

Winners from the Third Round will advance to the Round of 32, where the advancing teams will be joined by 16 MLS clubs entering the competition. The Round of 32 draw will be held Thursday, April 17.

To see the complete Third Round pairings, visit ussoccer.com/us-open-cup.

Las Palmas, Hounds connect in exciting partnership

PITTSBURGH (March 14, 2025) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC and Las Palmas Pittsburgh are excited to announce a robust new partnership connecting the popular Hispanic supermarket with Pittsburgh’s professional soccer club beginning in the 2025 season.

Highlighting the new partnership, Las Palmas will be featured on the jersey sleeve of the Hounds’ kits — home, away and alternate — putting them in the spotlight throughout the USL Championship season. They also will feature prominently on match days at Highmark Stadium in other ways, including:

• Las Palmas tacos available in the Tailgate Zone every match day.
• A DJ from Radio Las Palmas, 92.9 FM HD2, providing music and entertainment at select matches
• Tickets to Hounds matches on sale at Las Palmas locations
• Las Palmas will be the presenting sponsor of Hispanic Heritage Night, Sept. 27 vs. Las Vegas

In addition, Radio Las Palmas will enhance the partnership and bring the Hounds closer than ever to Pittsburgh’s Hispanic community with Spanish-language radio broadcasts of the team’s home matches, marking the first such deal with a Spanish outlet in the team’s history.

“We are very proud that Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC and Las Palmas are part of this mutually beneficial partnership,” Las Palmas owner Gabriel Berumen Cruz said. “On behalf of the Las Palmas team, we welcome this collaboration that will help the growth and development of soccer and unite our Latino and American communities into one team in our wonderful City of Pittsburgh. The Berumen family and the Las Palmas group are truly excited to begin working together with the Riverhounds organization.”

“We are excited to announce our new partnership with Las Palmas, recognizing the significant opportunities it presents for both Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC and our community,” said Zack Kaminski, Riverhounds Director of Corporate Partnerships. “This partnership underscores our vision of enhancing the soccer experience in our region, leveraging our unique strengths to foster growth and engagement in the sport. Partnering with Las Palmas allows us to amplify our efforts and broaden our reach within the local soccer community, and specifically with the Hispanic community, in Pittsburgh.”

Las Palmas and the Riverhounds are eager to welcome fans to Highmark Stadium when the Hounds play their home opener on Saturday, March 22 at 7 p.m. against Hartford Athletic. Tickets are on sale through Riverhounds.com and at Las Palmas’ four area locations in Brookline, Beechview, Oakland and Washington, Pa.

About Las Palmas Pittsburgh

Las Palmas Pittsburgh is a Hispanic grocery store and supermarket located in the heart of Pittsburgh. For many years, Las Palmas Supermercado has been dedicated to serving the local Hispanic community by offering a diverse array of authentic Latin American products and fresh groceries. They provide a wide selection of fresh produce, pantry staples, meats and specialty items from countries across Latin America. Las Palmas is pleased to serve customers from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at any of their four locations. In 2023, they launched Radio Las Palmas, playing music from Central America, South America and the Caribbean and providing Spanish-language news and sports over the 92.9 FM HD2 frequency, radiolaspalmaspgh.com and the Radio Las Palmas mobile app.

About Pittsburgh Riverhounds Soccer Club

Established in 1999, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC is Pennsylvania’s oldest professional soccer team and one of the longest-operating pro soccer teams in the United States. The team plays its home games at Highmark Stadium, which opened in 2013 as a team-owned, soccer-specific stadium in Pittsburgh’s South Shore neighborhood. The team is an original member of the USL Championship, which began play in 2011 and has grown to become one of the largest second-division pro soccer leagues in the world.

Kenardo Forbes announces retirement

PITTSBURGH (March 13, 2025) — Kenardo Forbes, the most decorated player in Pittsburgh Riverhounds history and holder of multiple USL Championship and club records, has announced his retirement from playing and will move into a coaching role with the Riverhounds.

Forbes, 36, completes a professional career spanning nearly two decades, beginning as a teenager in his native Jamaica and appearing three times for the Jamaican National Team. He then came to the United States, originally to play indoor soccer, before eventually becoming one of the most recognizable players in the USL Championship.

He made his announcement official with a statement posted today to social media:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by kenardo forbes (@kenardoforbes_11)

Forbes retires as the all-time record holder in the USL Championship for regular-season assists (66), matches played (295) and minutes played (22,224), accomplishing those feats in 10 seasons with the Rochester Rhinos (2015-17) and Riverhounds (2018-24). He was also named either First Team or Second Team All-League seven times in his career, more than any other player. With the Rhinos, Forbes won the league title in 2015 on an extra time goal in the final that, fittingly, was assisted by Forbes.

With the Riverhounds, he steps away as the team’s all-time leader in assists (55) and matches played (226). In 2019, Forbes was one of the three finalists for USL Championship Most Valuable Player after leading the team to the best record in the Eastern Conference. And in his final season as the team’s captain, 2023, he became the first player to post consecutive double-digit assist seasons in league history while guiding the Hounds to their first official trophy, the USL Championship Players’ Shield.

Forbes’ tenure in Pittsburgh coincides with the Riverhounds’ most successful run in team history. The club amassed a record of 118-54-67 with Forbes on the roster, putting together a club-best run of seven consecutive seasons both reaching the playoffs and having a winning record.

“For all of his accomplishments, and they’re too many to count, Kenny has always put others first. For 10 years, and the last seven in Pittsburgh, he has championed his teammates, entertained the fans and cherished the club and people associated with Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC,” Riverhounds head coach Bob Lilley said.

“He has been loyal, but more importantly, invested; consistent, but more importantly constant; and of service to all those around him in an effortless and humble manner. We have all been blessed to share our journeys with King Kenny, and I can assure you the bar has risen because of him.”

Forbes’ unmatched playing career will be honored with a special pre-match ceremony before the Riverhounds home opener at Highmark Stadium on Saturday, March 22 at 7 p.m. against Hartford Athletic.

Hounds announce 2025 TV schedule

PITTSBURGH (March 4, 2025) — Fans will have plenty of ways to watch all the action of the 2025 Pittsburgh Riverhounds season, as renewed partnerships with KDKA+ and SportsNet Pittsburgh — coupled with the Hounds’ national TV matches — will have all 34 regular-season matches airing live locally.

KDKA+ will enter its third season as the over-the-air home of the Hounds’ by showing 18 matches, including marquee home meetings with Eastern Conference champ Rhode Island (May 31) and Detroit (June 7). Their coverage will stretch all the way to the team’s season finale on Oct. 26 against Phoenix, and Hounds coverage and interviews will be carried on KDKA newscasts throughout the season.

SportsNet Pittsburgh is on board for a second year of Hounds action, starting with the season opener at 7 p.m. this Saturday at North Carolina FC. Also the cable home of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Pittsburgh Pirates, SportsNet Pittsburgh will carry 13 Hounds matches on its channels, utilizing their SNP+ alternate channel to ensure every minute is carried live where overlap could occur with Pirates baseball coverage.

“We are proud to announce the return of KDKA+ for a third season and SportsNet Pittsburgh for a second season as our official broadcast partners for the 2025 Riverhounds season. These partnerships are instrumental in expanding our reach and making Riverhounds soccer more readily available to fans across the region,” Riverhounds Director of Corporate Partnerships Zack Kaminski said.

“Both KDKA+ and SportsNet Pittsburgh share our vision of fostering a vibrant soccer culture in our community. Their commitment to quality coverage not only brings our matches into the living rooms of dedicated fans but also introduces new audiences to the excitement and passion of Riverhounds soccer. We are excited to continue working together to enhance the experience for our supporters and to build a strong connection with the Pittsburgh community as we embark on another thrilling season.”

In addition, three Hounds matches have already been selected for national TV broadcasts as part of the USL Championship’s league-wide deal, starting with a home match against Loudoun on July 13 at 5 p.m. on CBS Sports Network. After being picked up by ESPN2, the Hounds’ road match at Detroit was moved a day earlier to July 18 at 7 p.m., and ESPN2 also will have the broadcast when the Hounds host Miami on July 29 at 7 p.m.

Fans will also be able to catch matches on the go, with ESPN+ and CBS Sports Golazo streaming all 34 matches throughout the season, in addition to a stream on the KDKA website for in-market fans during KDKA+ telecasts.

The Hounds will be in the national focus even more for their home opener against Hartford Athletic on March 22 with the 7 p.m. match being broadcast nationally on the Spanish-language TUDN network in addition to the local SportsNet Pittsburgh coverage.

Two Hounds matches also have been picked up for national radio broadcasts on SiriusXM FC, Channel 157 — March 29 vs. Birmingham and May 10 at Louisville.

Broadcast schedules and match times are subject to change. For the latest information, visit Riverhounds.com or follow the team @RiverhoundsSC on Facebook, Instagram and X/Twitter.

Downloadable 2025 TV schedule Download

2025 Hounds kits unveiled & on sale

PITTSBURGH (Feb. 27, 2025) — Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, in collaboration with their exclusive kit provider, CHARLY USA, is excited today to introduce brand new home, away and goalkeeper kits for the 2025 USL Championship season.

Keeping the resilience and toughness that are identified with the City of Pittsburgh front of mind, the Hounds enlisted help from some of the city’s brave first responders — the firefighters of Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire’s Station #4 in Uptown — to unveil new kits that are both traditional while having bold, new flair to create uniforms that are undoubtedly Made for Pittsburgh.

Joining the Hounds players and firefighters in the special launch video were children who represent the next generation of fans and the connections that have grown between the city and its professional club in more than a quarter-century of Hounds soccer.

Fans will see some familiar design elements when they see the 2025 kits, as well as some new additions. Among those are the distinctive “412” and “PGH” markings on the back collar, and a visual nod the checkered pattern in the municipal coat of arms featured on the city’s flag, which served as a launching point for this year’s designs.

About the kits

The team’s home Hounds Heritage jersey is a throwback to the black-and-yellow hoops worn by the team during some of their most successful seasons, most recently their 2023 Players’ Shield-winning campaign. But more than simple stripes, the jerseys carry a subtle checkered pattern on both the front and back, with two tones of yellow and black meshing to form a uniquely Pittsburgh look.

The away kit maintains the yellow and gray coloring of recent seasons, but now those shades are incorporated into a full-jersey checked pattern that is unique to any kit of the Hounds’ previous 25 seasons.

The goalkeeper kits boast the most Pittsburgh-exclusive element — actually picturing the city itself in the form of an aerial map that provides the decorative lines on the front. The Hounds’ goalkeepers will sport the map designs on red, blue and green kits during the 2025 season.

All of the kits are made with CHARLY’s DRYFACTOR technology with micro-vent side panes for breathability and ease of movement. They feature the Hounds logo on a raised, full-color silicone badge on the chest, a “1999” pawprint silhouette on the bottom right side, and the authentic, licensed product verification with QR code on the bottom left.

On-sale now

To celebrate the release of the 2025 kits, the Highmark Stadium Team Store will be open for special 12-8 p.m. hours on Thursday with the home, away and red goalkeeper jerseys available. Along with the chance to purchase the new kits, fans in attendance with have the opportunity to register for giveaways, receive discounts on tickets for the upcoming season and enjoy a Pop-Up Happy Hour in the Corona Cantina from 5-7 p.m.

The 2025 kits will also be available for purchase online through the team store starting at noon Thursday; visit Riverhounds.com and click “SHOP” at the top of the page.

The Hounds will kick off the 2025 season in their new kits next Saturday, March 8, when they travel to face North Carolina FC in a 7 p.m. match.

Time, venue change for Pitt preseason match

(Updated 4:05 p.m. — As a result of the venue change, fans will not be able to attend the match)

PITTSBURGH (Feb. 20, 2025) — Due to expected wintry weather and below-freezing temperatures, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds’ preseason match tomorrow against the University of Pittsburgh has been moved to a 9:30 a.m. kickoff at the Pitt Sports Dome on the school’s Oakland campus.

As a result of the venue change, fans will not be able to attend.

Updates and a recap of the preseason match will be provided though the Riverhounds’ social media channels, the Riverhounds app and on Riverhounds.com, as the Hounds and Panthers play an exhibition match for the fourth straight year and the eighth time in the past nine years.

For further media inquiries, please email media@riverhounds.com.

Charly

The Howler

About the kits

On-sale now

Presented By