Construction kicked off again the week of Dec. 2 at historic Fitzpatrick Stadium, according to an announcement from Portland Hearts of Pine (“Hearts”), the new professional USL soccer club that will begin play in March 2025. Hearts said in a press release that it is coordinating with the Portland Public Schools and the City of Portland’s Parks, Recreation, and Facilities Department to ensure that the construction goes smoothly and with minimal disruption.

The soccer club conveyed the following information in its release:

To minimize disruption, the work has been planned for the December-to-February time frame, when the highly-utilized stadium sees its lowest usage. During this phase, upgrades will be made to the stadium’s playing surface and lighting system, maintenance will be conducted on the press box, and new modular locker rooms will be installed.This work builds upon infrastructure work that was completed earlier this year to improve drainage and utility connections at the site.

The new high-performance multi-sport playing surface is replacing a 10-year-old field that was
nearing the end of its useful life. It will be installed on top of a new safety pad layer that is
designed to reduce injury risk, and it will feature upgraded field goal posts for football. The
stadium lights will be upgraded to a brighter, more energy-efficient LED system.
All of these stadium upgrades, which total more than $2.5 million, are being funded by Hearts. 

“Our priority is to ensure this work can be completed during our low season as we want to
minimize any disruptions to the groups that rely on this space for their recreational activities,”
said Ethan Hipple, Director of Portland’s Parks, Recreation and Facilities Department. “We look forward to the upgrades that the Hearts are bringing to Fitzpatrick Stadium, and to welcoming USL soccer to Portland.”

Hearts of Pine founder Gabe Hoffman-Johnson understands the role that the club plays in the
Portland community, and knows that the value of these investments will extend beyond soccer. “We are excited to show off Portland’s home-field advantage next year in front of over 5,000 fans each game, but we are also mindful of the many others who use this stadium, from school-aged athletes to rec league players. It is a special place and these upgrades will help ensure it remains so, for the whole community, for years to come.” said Hoffman-Johnson.

“Our club is investing over $2.5 million into this publicly-owned stadium, for the benefit of
athletes of all ages who use it,” added Kevin Schohl, the Hearts of Pine club president. “We are committed to being good neighbors and respectful co-tenants of the facility, and as part of that commitment, we are working with city and school leadership to ensure that all Fitzpatrick
Stadium users can enjoy the benefits of these new upgrades,” Schohl said.

“The Portland Public Schools looks forward to continuing to partner with Hearts of Pine,” said Ryan Scallon, Portland Public Schools superintendent. “Before the first kickoff or goal, Hearts of Pine has begun to build a strong partnership with our students. This goes beyond the changes to Fitzpatrick Stadium and includes partnering with the Foundation for Portland Public Schools to use soccer as a vehicle for improving engagement and outcomes for students.”

Check with City of Portland's Parks, Recreation & Facilities Department for updates.