Fecteau: Heart Palpitations
Portland city council votes 6-2 to amend the Stadium Agreement with Hearts of Pine to lay down a new green turf field at Fitzpatrick Stadium
On Monday evening, an anxiety-filled room at Portland City Hall saw many Portland High School students, alumni, and staff speak on a Bulldog emblem at the center of the field at Fitzpatrick Stadium.
Students and parents from Portland High School spoke at length during a Portland City Council meeting to plead with city councilors to not allow the city to amend its contract with the Portland Hearts of Pine that would allow the team to make changes to Fitzpatrick Stadium. The main crux of their concern was that these changes included the removal of the painted bulldog logo from the turf field to satisfy USL League One standards. This logo, albeit on the field for nine years, is heaped with over 100 years of high school tradition, pride, and identity.
The Portland City Council would indeed pass the motion 6-2 to amend its contract with the Hearts of Pine.
Portland Hearts of Pine founder Gabe Hoffman-Johnson mentioned at the podium that there are plans to display the Bulldog logo in several places around the stadium. He went on to mention that the logo will appear on the back of the press box, so when friends, family, and opponents enter Fitzpatrick Stadium that will be the first thing they see.
Hoffman-Johnson mentioned that he’s known the field has needed to be replaced since May due to failed safety tests conducted for USL League play field certification. The new turf field will have a safety pad under the turf which hasn’t been there before to help prevent concussion injuries and will also have a life span of approximately 10 years.
Tyrone Daniels track and field coach at Portland High School stated that the kids need these upgrades. He wants to talk with Hearts of Pine on all options going forward concerning the track and field. Daniels also mentioned that he had confidence that Hoffman-Johnson and his team will work with the school.
For further clarification on the track, there is no language under the current lease agreement or the amendment to the agreement that allows the club to remove or alter the track.
A decision on relocation or altering the track will need to be made in about 5-7 years time. Any future plans concerning the track will have to be brought back to the Portland City Council for approval.
Portland Stadium was originally built in 1930 and was re-named in 1989 after James J Fitzpatrick otherwise referred to as “Fitzy”. It’s a storied community stadium that’s seen plenty of wear and tear over the years.
It’s in great need of repair and The Hearts of Pine will fund the repairs, upgrades, and now a new green turf field for all of the Portland community to feel at home at.