USL’s Hearts of Pine eye new soccer stadium in Portland

Image: Portland Hearts of Pine and USL

USL League One soccer club Hearts of Pine have agreed a deal to acquire land at Cassidy Point in Portland, Maine to build a $50 million soccer-specific stadium.

Hearts of Pine said the new 9,000–11,000 seat venue would serve as a permanent home for the club’s men’s and women’s teams.

The project would transform what is currently an industrial coal storage site into a vibrant, community-centered destination including the stadium and new recreational space, while preserving “working waterfront” marine uses at the site’s 600-foot pier.

The Portland Hearts of Pine is an American professional soccer team based in Portland, Maine, that competes in United Soccer League (USL) One, the third tier of the United States soccer league system. Their home field is currently Fitzpatrick Stadium.

Following an extensive period of public engagement to optimize plans for the site, the club aims to begin construction of the Hearts of Pine soccer stadium in 2027, with the goal of opening in early 2029.

Image: Portland Hearts of Pine and USL

The project will be predominantly privately funded, with total costs projected to exceed $50 million.

Club founder Gabe Hoffman-Johnson, said, “From supporters filling Fitzpatrick Stadium to the 8,000 person season ticket waitlist to the excitement surrounding our women’s team, we’ve reached a point where it’s time to start planning for what comes next.

“This is about building a permanent home that allows Hearts of Pine to grow responsibly alongside the community that has embraced us.”

Located along the Fore River, Cassidy Point occupies one of Portland’s most recognizable gateways, whether by air, land, or sea.
 

Community-focused destination

The proposed Hearts of Pine soccer stadium project would transform a fenced-off industrial property, primarily used for coal storage, into a community-centered destination that will improve public access to the waterfront and provide new spaces for residents of all ages to enjoy.

Image: Portland Hearts of Pine and USL

To bring this project to life, Hearts of Pine will benefit from the extensive real estate experience of Jonathan and Catherine Culley, two of the club’s founding partners, who have spent several years helping the club search for land on Portland’s peninsula that could be used for a soccer-specific stadium.

Jonathan Culley said, “Having an in-town stadium is critical for this club, which thrives on the urban energy that makes Portland so special.

“We want as many people as possible to walk, bike, and bus to our matches, and we know how important it is that we build a distinctive stadium that our fans are proud to call home. I think Cassidy Point is the perfect place for us to make that vision a reality,” Culley added.

While planning for the future, the club emphasized that Fitzpatrick Stadium will remain its home as the Cassidy Point project moves through what is expected to be a comprehensive planning, review, and construction process.

Since kicking off in early 2025, Hearts have sold out every home match at Fitzpatrick Stadium. With over 6,000 attendees per game and another 8,000 supporters on the season ticket waitlist, there is clear demand for a larger stadium.

The Hearts of Pine fanbase is one of the most engaged communities in U.S. soccer, and that momentum has continued with the announcement of the club’s USL W team, as 5,000 season ticket deposits were sold out in less than an hour, reinforcing the extraordinary demand for both men’s and women’s soccer in Maine.

Over the next few months, Hearts will engage fans and other community stakeholders to refine the Hearts of Pine soccer stadium project vision, while also conducting environmental reviews and other due diligence on the site.

The club aims to retain as much of the festival-like atmosphere at Fitzpatrick as possible, while expanding capacity and improving overall fan comfort. If all goes according to plan, the club plans to begin construction in 2027, with the goal of opening the stadium in early 2029.

“This announcement is just the beginning of a conversation,” said Hoffman-Johnson.

“Cassidy Point presents us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build something lasting for the city of Portland, and for the future of the sport here in Maine. There’s a lot of work ahead for every member of this club and this community to bring this dream to life. We can’t wait to get started.”

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