Maine’s Portland Hearts of Pine’s 2026 Attendance Numbers Are Stunning
Sadly, the season is over for the Portland Hearts of Pine, as the team played its final game this past weekend. And while there is no playoff run this year, we can still look back and see once again just how remarkable the team's attendance figures were.
Just like the inaugural season, Portland sold out every game this year, even after adding more capacity for the 2026 season. It just shows you how much the soccer movement continues to grow here in Southern Maine.
How Many Games did the Portland Hearts of Pine Sell Out in 2026?
The Hearts played a total of 16 league games at their home stadium, more affectionately known as Fort Fitzy (non-league games were also played but were not counted toward this total). And, surprise, surprise, the entire season was a ticket-selling success.
The Hearts averaged 6,245 fans per game in USL League One. That is an increase of 7.1% from last year, thanks to the club adding those additional seats and sections.
The only team to finish ahead of Portland in attendance was expansion side Athletic Club Boise, which averaged a solid 7,216 fans per game. It was such a great year that the team decided to move up to the league above, the USL Championship.
Speaking of the UCL Championship, did you know Portland averages more fans than the majority of that league, too?
Did Portland Hearts of Pine Have Better Attendance Than Bigger Clubs?
The Hearts of Pine’s attendance was better than that of 18 teams in the USL Championship. That includes clubs in Phoenix, Tampa, Miami, Hartford, and El Paso—just to name a few.
That is simply stunning. I'm not suggesting Portland should move up to the Championship just yet, but they certainly can hang in the attendance department.
So, how does Portland top this in year three? I guess just keep playing games, because the people will come! The season ticket waitlist is huge, there's hopefully a new stadium in the future, and soccer is only becoming more popular.
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Congrats to everyone involved in bringing this team to Portland. What a wildly successful run it continues to be. Let's hope year three brings the same vibes and maybe a few more wins!
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