Maine’s Hearts of Pine (Part I): How a Vision Became a Professional Soccer Club

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In this episode of Elegant Maine Living, I sit down with Gabe Hoffman-Johnson, founder of Hearts of Pine, Maine’s first professional soccer club. Gabe shares the remarkable five-year journey—part vision, part endurance, and part community movement—that brought professional soccer to Portland.

From a childhood shaped by both the game of soccer and a deep commitment to social impact, Gabe describes how his upbringing, professional experience, and connection to Maine converged to create the conditions for Hearts of Pine. He reflects on the spark that came in 2018 when the United Soccer League announced plans for a new professional division and how he realized that Portland was, in his view, “the best untapped market for pro soccer in the country.”

Gabe walks through the entrepreneurial path: capitalizing the company, navigating franchise negotiations, securing stadium agreements, raising capital, and building a grassroots community long before a single match was played. He also shares candid insight into the most challenging moments, the personal toll of the work, and the moments of encouragement that kept the project alive.

We discuss how Hearts of Pine has become much more than a sports team—it is a cultural connector, a place where Mainers of every age and background see themselves reflected on and off the field. And we explore why players from around the world now view Portland as a top destination within the league and what this means for the future of the club and the state.

💬 Key Themes

• The origins of Hearts of Pine: how soccer and social impact shaped Gabe’s worldview and guided the creation of the club
• Portland as a soccer market: why Maine’s identity, culture, and community pride made Portland the ideal city for a professional team
• The five-year startup journey: raising capital, working with city officials, negotiating with the League, and engaging thousands of supporters
• Building community from the inside out: the watch parties, youth programs, and public events that formed the club’s early foundation
• Team recruitment: how the club attracted top coaching and global players—and why Maine is now one of the most desirable markets in USL1
• What this means for Maine: the cultural, social, and economic ripple effects of a professional sports franchise in our state

If You’re New to Hearts of Pine

The club will continue its home matches at Fitzpatrick Stadium in 2026. If you haven’t yet attended a game, add it to your calendar—you will feel the energy, connection, and community that Gabe and his team have built.

🔗 Episode Links

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