Tentative return-to-play date for Riverhounds, USL Championship set for July 11

The Pittsburgh Riverhounds are now one step closer to returning to competitive play in 2020.

On Thursday, the USL Championship Board of Governors voted in favor of a provisional start date of July 11. Plans for competition format, scheduling, broadcast and other information has yet to be decided upon, but that information will be released in upcoming weeks. USL Championship’s return to play will also strictly follow local and state public health guidelines.

We're BACK!@uslchampionship announced provisional start date of July 11.#USL | https://t.co/iFGsO3t9s1 pic.twitter.com/awkuKSRZhN

— United Soccer League (@USL_HQ) June 4, 2020

As the Riverhounds move closer to an official return, they announced that they will work with local and state government officials to determine what requirements are needed in order to play home games in 2020.

Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, the USL Championship has been delayed three times and it was first delayed just 48 hours before the Riverhounds were set to play their season opener. After the original postponement of 30 days, the USL Championship extended it through May 10. Toward the end of April, the USL Championship extended the postponement indefinitely.

In the middle of May, the Riverhounds and the rest of the USL Championship got their first positive sign when they were permitted to return to team facilities for small group training, which they have been conducting since.