Maine's Hearts of Pine Continue Attendance Surge in 2026

It's still early days in the 2026 Portland Hearts of Pine season, but I think it's already safe to say it's another successful one.

While the team is still finding its footing on the field, the fanbase hasn't missed a beat. In fact, a seat is still harder to find than a four-leaf clover.

Through the first two months of the season, Portland is up in attendance from last year and ranks second in the entire league in average attendance.

What are the Portland Hearts of Pine Attendance Figures?

The Hearts are currently averaging 6,190 fans per game in USL League One. That is an increase of 6% from last year, thanks to the club adding additional seating and sections for the 2026 season. Just like last year, every game is expected to sell out.

The only team ahead of Portland is expansion side Athletic Club Boise, which is averaging 7,213 fans per game.

There's no question that Maine was hungry for professional soccer, and these numbers clearly back that up, especially considering this is only year two.

And really, it shouldn't be surprising. Portland is a fantastic minor league sports town, with successful franchises like the Portland Sea Dogs, Maine Celtics, and Maine Mariners. The Hearts of Pine have seamlessly fit right in.

While Portland is dominating its own league in attendance, the team is actually outperforming the majority of clubs in the league above, USL Championship.

How Does Portland Hearts of Pine's Attendance Figures Compare to USL Championship Figures?

As of the time of publishing this article, Hearts of Pine’s attendance is better than that of 20 teams in the USL Championship. That includes clubs in Phoenix, Tampa, Miami, Hartford, Detroit, Oakland and El Paso—just to name a few. In fact, Portland would be the 6th highest attended team in that league. That is simply stunning.

I think it's safe to say that the whole "one-year wonder" argument can be thrown out the window. Attendance has increased in year two, and the team still has a massive waiting list for season tickets.

It also helps that the game-day experience is genuinely impressive, especially with the local food trucks, numerous locally produced craft beverages, and an enormous kids' zone, just to name a few attractions.

While it is still early in the season, it certainly appears that this is going to be yet another tremendously successful year for the club. And just wait until next year, when the men won't be the only game in town. Hearts of Pine is launching a women's team, and its season tickets sold out in just one hour.

Clearly, this state is soccer-crazy, and we are better for it.

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