The Women of Maine Are Coming: Hearts of Pine Launch Town Halls for New Women’s Team

After what can only be described as an immensely successful franchise creation with the Portland Hearts of Pine soccer team, the organization is about to do it all again.

As if one team wasn’t enough, the Hearts of Pine men’s team will soon be sharing Fort Fitzy, because the women of Maine are coming.

Portland Hearts of Pine Has Officially Begun Preparations to Create a Women's Pro Soccer Team

Hearts have officially begun the planning stages for the creation of a Hearts women’s team that will play future games in the USL W League.

The organization has announced its first steps, which will include three town hall meetings covering a wide variety of topics. These town halls will be geared toward Fans & Supporters, Business & Community, and Youth & Grassroots.

The Fans & Supporters town hall will be held on Saturday, March 7, at Allagash Brewing in Portland. The event begins at 1 p.m. and will also include a watch party for the SheBelieves Cup match at 3:30 p.m., featuring the U.S. Women’s National Team against the Colombian Women’s National Team.

This town hall will focus on the fan experience at future matches, including atmosphere, culture, and what matters most to those attending games.

The Business & Community town hall will be held on Thursday, March 12, at 5:30 p.m. This session is intended for members of the business community to discuss the value of partnerships, what works best, and how the team can most effectively connect with the broader community.

The final town hall will focus on Youth & Grassroots and will take place on Sunday, March 22, at the Portland Sports Complex. This meeting will center on how the team can best connect with youth players and leagues, and how it can support the growth of the local game.

All three town halls present a valuable opportunity for community members to get involved. Not every organization is as open as Hearts have been, and it’s clear they believe community support at all levels is essential to building a successful franchise. Considering the incredible popularity of the men’s team, it’s no surprise to see a similar approach being used to launch the women’s side.

How to Sign Up to Attend One of Portland Hearts of Pine Town Halls

All attendees must RSVP to attend the meetings, which can be done through the Hearts of Pine website.

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Here’s hoping these town halls go well and that the future of women’s professional soccer in Maine gets off on the right foot.