The Portland Hearts of Pine men’s professional soccer team recently announced their 2026 season-ticket prices for a 20-game home schedule at 5,500-seat Fitzpatrick Stadium.

Current season-ticket holders — called Forest City Originals (FCOG) by the club — had first crack at renewing their tickets at a per-game price increase between $1 and $3. This season, in the USL League One team’s inaugural season, there are 18 home games. Season tickets sold out before the first game. Renewal commitments needed to be made by July 15. Payments will begin Aug. 15, said Hearts of Pine President Kevin Schohl.

“We’ve had great reactions. People are surprised we didn’t increase the prices more,” Schohl said, adding that current “$18 seats are going for $80 to $90 on (secondary ticket markets) and next year they can still transfer tickets to friends or sell them on the secondary market.”

Kristin Peterson of Freeport is a true FCOG. She put down $25 for a place in the ticket line and a Forest City scarf five years ago. That was long before the USL granted Portland an expansion franchise in 2023, before the team had a name, before the team and the city agreed to a rent-free 10-year lease to use Fitzy. Her midfield seatback season-ticket was $38 per game this season and will increase to $40 for renewing season ticket holders. Peterson has renewed her seat.

“Whatever it is, it’s worth it. We’re major soccer fans. The atmosphere is electric and it’s such a positive vibe,” Peterson said.

The average attendance at the first seven games at Fitzy has been 5,711. That leads USL League One by nearly 1,400 fans per game, with the Richmond Kickers next at 4,343 per match.

Schohl said the club has 2,200 seats that have been placed on a waitlist, with a non-refundable $25 per seat deposit.

“My guess is we probably could have doubled ticket prices and still sold out, but that was never really remotely in consideration,” Schohl said. “We’re trying to show loyalty back to all these fans that are going to show loyalty to us.

“We’ve had very, very few indications of people that want to opt out of renewing, and many who were relieved and many who would like to add seats, and I’m not sure how many can.”

The high demand for tickets made renewing their sideline reserved bench seats an easy decision for friends Tim Martone of Portland, Jess Mayhew of Saco and Dan Alderfer of Lisbon Falls. Their tickets are increasing from $18 to $19 per game.

“There’s a super-high demand. We definitely feel the club gave us everything we wanted. And more,” Martone said.

Mayhew added, “Honestly, if we can, we’re trying to get some more season tickets.”

First-time season-ticket buyers will pay more than those renewing their seats for 2026.

For instance, in the Supporters’ General Admission area, the per-game price goes from $11.50 to $12 if it’s a renewal, or $15 for new season ticket holders. Other seating options, with current prices and 2026 prices for current and new season ticket holders, are: sideline bench, $18 to $19, or $22 for new ticket holders; center bench, $25 to $27, or $30; and midfield seat back, $38 to $40, or $43. The on-field Highrollers will remain at either $150 or $140 per seat for renewals and go up to $155 or $145 for new season-ticket holders.

One significant change is the reduction of general admission options. In its letter to fans, the club said this was based on fan feedback requesting more reserved seating. Sections currently designated as General Admission bench seating at $12 per seat will become designated seating at $15 per seat ($18 for new holders), while some of the Supporters’ section will become reserved seating at $19 per game ($22 for new holders).

Portland is the first team in USL League One to announce its 2026 season-ticket price structure. Single-game pricing has not been set and probably won’t be until the 2026 schedule is set by the league.

With seven new teams scheduled to join in 2026, USL League One would expand to 21 teams, barring no team folds. USL has not announced its plans for League One scheduling in 2026.

This season has a 30-game regular season. Portland plays each team home-and-away, plus a third game against four clubs — FC Naples, AV Alta, One Knoxville and Union Omaha. That created 15 USL1 matches at Fitzy, with the 2025 18-match package also including two Jagermeister Cup games against USL Championship squads Detroit City FC (a rousing 4-2 win on May 31) and Friday night’s tilt with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, plus a recently-announced Aug. 6 international friendly with Halifax Wanderers, a pro club from Nova Scotia.

If USL League One stays with the full-league home-and-away schedule, that would create a 40-game schedule and would account for all 20 home matches. More likely is a regionalized schedule with between 34-36 regular-season games, to allow for home matches in the Jaegermeister Cup, an in-season tournament that USL leadership considers important to promoting its overall product.

USL has announced its plan to adopt a promotion-relegation system in 2028, a year after its planned 2027 launch of a Division 1 league to rival MLS. Currenlty, USL League One is considered a Division Three league, and USL Championship is the country’s lone Division Two league.