As the snow piles up and little red hearts pop up in windows across Portland, the 2026 season grows ever closer. Am I the only one who can’t help but smile at the thought that we get to do it all over again?
There’s new faces in the locker room, American soccer’s best fans itching to get back into the stands, and a whole year of experience under our belts. I’m willing to bet that season two is going to be even more special than the first.
That said, I’m not one to rush all of the Maine winter magic between now and March 14th. If you’re like me, you’re playing pond hockey and taking your pup for some wicked cold walks. Some say it’s the price we pay for Maine summer, but I’ll always argue that Maine’s winters are just as special, they just take a little extra effort!
Speaking of effort, Bobby and the boys are hard at work preparing for year two. But don’t let the warm weather preseason travel fool you, they’re as ready to be back at Fitzy as anyone else. Pretty sure I even saw Ollie out there making snow angels… Anyways, let’s jump into what’s happening here at Hearts!
We said it from the start. We’re the soccer club for all of Maine, and these town halls are the next step towards realizing that dream.
This March, we’re starting the conversation around bringing a USL W team to Portland. We’ll be hosting three town halls to listen, collaborate, and lay the foundation for a women’s team that reflects Maine’s values and ambition. Join us for the conversations as we come together to shape the mission, the culture, the way we play, the partnerships we build, and the community we champion.
True to form, the Fan and Supporters session on March 7th has already sold out! There’s still spots available to join for the Business & Community Partnerships session on March 12th, and a Youth Soccer & Grassroots session on March 22nd. We encourage you to come out and make your voice heard. You can RSVP to attend one of the town halls here!
Can’t make it or RSVPs for the Town Hall you’re interested in sold out? Stay tuned for live stream info as well as virtual town halls to come.
It’s a myth known well to the people of Portland by now… on the eve of February 14th, valentines bandits brave the depths of Maine’s winter to hang hundreds of red hearts under the cover of darkness, spreading symbols of love throughout the city.
There’s something about seeing those paper hearts scattered around town and in neighbors’ windows, a beautifully anonymous gesture, a small act of kindness meant for no one and everyone all at once. It’s a tradition that asks for nothing in return, just a shared understanding that even in the coldest, darkest days, we’re all connected. Driving around town on the morning of Valentine’s Day and seeing all those hearts, it’s got to be one of my favorite days of the year.
While the mystery is part of the magic, so too is the participation of anyone who cares to hang a heart themselves. We put hearts up year round at Hearts HQ, and for anyone who wants to spread the love, I encourage you to be a bandit in your own community. You can print out your own bandit heart, and help spread the love wherever you are from this link right here ♥️
About a year ago, we introduced our own love letter to Portland’s most endearing tradition to the world. The Bandit Kit has been a pillar of the club’s inaugural season, worn in massive moments on and off the pitch, spreading the message of Leading with Your Heart wherever it’s been worn. While the Bandit Kit won’t be featuring on the field this season, you can still grab a piece of Hearts history before it’s gone for good. And in case you need another reason to spread the love, Bandit kits are 14% off through this Sunday. Check out the Bandit Kit Collection here!
While our returning players are enjoying their first full Maine winter, most of the new faces arrived just in time for the biggest snowstorm of the year! Bean boots and oversized hummel jackets aside, the talent is no joke. With new faces like Lagos Kunga, Konstantinos Georgallides, and Emiliano Terzaghi joining the likes of JayTee, Titus and Ollie, I get the feeling there’s plenty of goal celebrations on the horizon. Even after saying goodbye and good luck to Nathan Messer last week, the back line is looking solid with Esteban Espinosa, Serigne Mbacke Faye, and Brecc Evans joining the ranks.
Despite the boys arriving in Maine during the harshest winter months, there was a recurring theme last year around how welcomed our players felt from the moment they arrived. 2026 has already seen more of that welcoming spirit. Can’t say that comes as any surprise of course, that’s kinda just who Mainers are, but thank you all for playing a part in making Portland the welcoming home it is for these guys. And if you see the players out and about, know how much it means to them just to hear a kind hello. Click here to check out the full roster!
One of the most important focuses for us this offseason has been expanding access to Hearts home matches in 2026. How do we get there? More readily available tickets at affordable prices. While our Community Ticketing Program and Youth Soccer Group ticketing efforts saw thousands of community members attend games through donated or discounted tickets, stadium capacity remains our biggest hurdle. We want to improve this reality in season two, even if it’s only by a few hundred seats per match. With the expanded home schedule of 20 matches, our hope is that all adds up to be a few thousand extra Hearts fans experiencing more home matches in 2026.
In the coming week, we will be announcing the on-sale dates and all associated details pertaining to single match tickets, additional standing room only tickets, plus a last-chance ticket application for anyone who couldn’t snag a ticket in either of the other opportunities.
While the reality is we can’t accommodate every Hearts fan at every matchday in Fitzy’s current state, we’re excited to keep evolving our ticketing to hopefully accommodate as many fans as possible, while maintaining the same magical matchday experience we all came to love so much last year.
In the meantime, for those who are looking for a more premium experience, one of the areas where we have been able to add seating is in the much celebrated Highroller Field Club. Where else in the soccer world can you sit pitchside with a lobster roll in one hand and a whoopie pie in the other? Going into year two, we’ve added High Tops to the Highroller area, offering a four-seat setup with complimentary meals and bar access — right in the heart of the action. Click here to take a look and see if it’s your kind of matchday!
Closing Thoughts
It’s an audacious adventure we’ve set out on. Building a soccer club rooted in values, belonging, and community. Year one brought a lot of joy. And I don’t take that lightly, especially knowing that the start of this year has been heavy for many across Maine.
When I was growing up, every day on my way out the door, my mom would say, “Let your light shine.”
I come back to that often. One of my favorite quotes of all time from Marianne Williamson puts it this way: shrinking, or not “playing big,” does not serve the world. “As we let our own light shine, we give others permission to do the same. As we move through fear, our presence helps others move through theirs too.”
That’s what we see every year with the Bandit, and that’s what we’ve seen across this state over the past month. I think that’s what this club is really about. Not just ninety minutes on a Saturday night, but a shared belief that how we show up for one another matters. That leading with your heart isn’t soft, it’s strong. That community is built through small, repeated acts of kindness and courage.
So as we head toward year two, five weekends out(!), I’ll leave you with the same words I grew up hearing each and every day: Let your light shine.
Be a Bandit. Spread love. And as always, Up the friggin’ Hearts.
Yours in building community through the beautiful game,
Gabe
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