Maine's first professional soccer team has an official name. The club announced Saturday that the team will be called the “Portland Hearts of Pine.” The club's brand is inspired by Maine's pride and symbols. The club's crest includes a Maine pine tree, deep blue water, and a heart representing Portland's Valentine's Day bandit spirit. The club's motto is “Leading with Heart,” which is inspired by the state's motto, “Dirigo.” Saturday's event was filled with dozens of soccer fans. Gov. Janet Mills commemorated the announcement by declaring the day “Football Main Day,” but the brand wasn't born overnight. A focus he spent years creating, from groups to town halls to community input. ” said club founder Gabe Hoffman Johnson. “How do you distill that down to something that appropriately represents the club for all of us?'' Almost five years later, Maine soccer fans now have a club name to unite with. “I was really looking forward to soccer.'' I've been coming to Portland for years,'' said soccer fan Sharon Granville. “I've been a fan ever since I heard the first conversation that Portland, Maine was going to have a team here from the USL.” It was first announced in September 2019. 2023. Although the Hearts of Pines, or Hearts for short, won't begin competition until next year, the Miners are excited to see football coming to their state and have already purchased season tickets. “It means having a community, an opportunity for the diverse city of Portland to come together and enjoy the sport so many of us love,” Granville said.
Maine's first professional soccer team has an official name. The club announced Saturday that the team will be named the Portland Hearts of Pine.
The club's brand was inspired by Maine's pride and symbols. The club's crest includes a Maine pine tree, deep blue water, and a heart representing Portland's Valentine's Day bandit spirit. The club's motto is “Leading with Heart,” which is inspired by the state's motto, “Dirigo.”
Saturday's event was filled with dozens of soccer fans. Governor Janet Mills commemorated the announcement by declaring the day “Football Main Day.”
However, the brand didn't emerge overnight. It took years to develop, from focus groups to city halls to community input.
“You're essentially taking everything that we love about Portland, everything that we love about the state of Maine, which is huge in and of itself,” club founder Gabe Hoffman-Johnson said. he said. “How do you narrow it down to something that is an appropriate representation of the club for all of us?”
Nearly five years later, Maine soccer fans now have a club name to root for.
“I've been looking forward to soccer coming to Portland for years,” said soccer fan Sharon Granville. “I've been a fan ever since I heard the first conversation about having a USL vs. Portland team here.”
The United Soccer League first announced that Portland, Maine, will form a team to play in USL League 1 in September 2023.
Although the Hearts of Pines, or Hearts for short, won't begin competition until next year, the Miners are looking forward to football coming to their state and have already purchased season tickets.
“This means community, and it means the diverse city of Portland has the opportunity to come together and enjoy the sport so many of us love,” Granville said.
