Maine’s Portland Hearts of Pine Aim to Build a New Waterfront Soccer Stadium
Could Portland soon be home to a brand-new stadium? Well, if everything works out with Portland Hearts of Pine's latest proposal, the answer is a very emphatic yes.
Just take a look at this potential beauty.
Could Portland Hearts of Pine Be Getting a New Stadium?
This could become the future home of Portland's professional soccer team. According to a press release, Hearts of Pine is proposing a brand-new stadium at Portland's Cassidy Point, right on the waterfront. The site is currently used for industrial coal storage.
The club is targeting an ambitious capacity of between 9,000 and 11,000 fans. That may sound like a lot, but we're talking about a team that has sold out every home match so far. (The current capacity at Fitzpatrick Stadium is just over 6,000.) The club also has a season-ticket waiting list, so the demand is clearly there.
Another factor to consider is the future implementation of promotion and relegation in the USL. If Hearts of Pine earns promotion to a higher division, the club would likely face larger opponents and attract even bigger crowds, making a larger stadium an even greater asset.
As a season-ticket holder, I can't tell you how exciting this news is. As much fun as "Fitzy" is on match days, it definitely has its limitations. The field is narrow, there are far too many lines from other sports painted on the playing surface, the bleachers are showing their age, and the concourses can get pretty congested. The idea of a brand-new soccer-specific stadium—especially one right on the waterfront—is incredibly exciting for both the club and its fans.
How Much will it Cost to Build Portland Hearts of Pine's New Stadium?
According to the release, the project is expected to cost around $50 million, with the majority of the funding coming from private sources. If everything goes smoothly through the planning process, construction could begin as early as 2027, with the goal of opening in time for the 2029 season.
READ MORE: Maine’s New Women’s Soccer Team Sells Out Season Ticket Deposits in Under an Hour
Best of luck to Hearts of Pine as the project moves forward. Here's hoping this is the next major step for professional soccer in Maine.
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