Hannah Sirios, the Vice President of Fan Experience for Portland Hearts of Pine, remembers the nerves surrounding opening day at Fitzpatrick Stadium.
The soccer game pitting Hearts against One Knoxville was the centerpiece, but everything around it–including the local food and drink, alluring merchandise, and energetic kids’ zone–was designed to give fans a fun and authentic experience.
“Can we do this? Can we actually pull this off?” Sirios remembers thinking. “I don't want to say everything was hard, but, like, everything was hard.”
While each detail was carefully planned, the real test came on May 4. There were even questions about whether they had enough electricity to run essentials like the locker rooms, lights, and Wi-Fi. An electrician was on site in case of an emergency, but thankfully, he wasn’t needed.
When the gates opened, fans grabbed their commemorative flags and prepared for the first-ever professional soccer game in Portland, ME.
Rainy conditions and an early goal by Knoxville–Hearts equalized just before halftime–did little to alter the mood. The crowd of nearly 6,000 fans left eager to return 17 more times.
“Fort Fitzy” became a gathering spot for friends–new and old–to create memories and traditions. The brief hiatus has made the heart grow fonder, and all are ready for year two.
Many of the same food trucks will return, along with the Apres Lounge and Bissell Brothers Beer Garden. The Fitzy Fair will also have a sequel.
Overall, fans can expect small tweaks rather than large-scale changes.
“I think our major goal is improving upon what we did last year,” Sirios said. “No huge changes, because I think the feedback was that people were able to enter and feel like they're in their living room or at their wedding with some of their closest friends, even though maybe they didn't know them until the season started. That's what we're trying to capture.”
One incoming shift is the addition of a standing-room-only area in front of the kids' zone. What this location looks like is still being discussed. They will also be adding a new hospitality ticket to the High Roller Field Club.
These moves are being made in part due to rising ticket demand. The club had a 98% renewal rate among season ticket holders, an impressive figure that unfortunately limits opportunities for newcomers.
But listening is a core belief for Hearts, as evidenced by their post-game surveys, so they’re looking at responsible ways to welcome new fans.
“There's a desire for everyone at the club and around Maine to make more tickets available to the public, and we have a lot of little things we're doing this year to improve that access. But there's also a real recognition that this is only season two, we're still learning a lot about what Fitzpatrick Stadium can accommodate. It's about ensuring any addition to the experience of year one is truly additive,” Sirios explained.
From being awarded an expansion team in 2023 to unveiling a name in 2024, and then fielding a playoff-caliber team in 2025, Hearts' growth has been swift yet calculated.
Sirios, employee number one for Hearts, knew the club was special after early conversations with founder Gabe Hoffman-Johnson.
“I remember going around being like, ‘You guys, I promise you, I didn't just drink the Kool-Aid here, we are different,’” Sirios recalls. “Everyone now sees the community we’ve helped cultivate, but it's really been there for the past five years, and it was built through Gabe.
“The intentional thinking and pausing before every small to big decision has always been there, and that's what's sometimes wildly frustrating because you just want to run. But you need to crawl before you can walk, and I think that's what's been really amazing.”
Hearts have big plans, including possibly launching a women’s team in 2027, but they want to grow in a sustainable way that’s aligned with their core values.
“Are we getting goosebumps? Do we love it? Does it represent who we're trying to be? Does it represent the community we're trying to reach?” Sirios asked.
