PORTLAND, Maine — Jeff Haines sat on the wooden bench Thursday night at Three Dollar Deweys.
A plate of half-eaten scallops waited in front of him on the barroom table. Haines was among the first to arrive and he had picked out the perfect spot for the Portland Hearts of Pine’s Pitch to Pub event, an ongoing series that enables fans to listen to and then mingle with some of their favorite players.
All Haines had to do was swivel and face backward and players Titus Washington, Kemali Green, and Diego Gonzalez, would be so close he could poke them to ask a question. On this day, there would be no need for it though, because only about one-third of the RSVPs had come. There had been a threat of a thunderstorm, so perhaps some fans stayed home.
“I really like the local feel of this team,” Haines said. “I came today because I wanted to get some signatures and I wanted to see Titus. We miss him.”
Those who did attend clearly didn’t mind the added intimacy that the smaller turnout provided. Fans asked questions and later got to chat with the players, shake their hands, or take a photo with some of their local heroes.
The players seemed to enjoy themselves too. All three told stories when handed a microphone while answering questions from the audience. Later, they took time to meet with many of the attendees, including several children. There wasn’t anyone there without some sort of Hearts’ gear on.
“Wherever you go, whether it’s game day, or just driving around downtown, all you see is people wearing Hearts’ stuff,” Gonzalez said. “To me, it’s just a good thing. It motivates me as a player. And when you have people watching, all this noise going on, you feel the support is here.”
Washington had the line of the night when asked about the most memorable time he got chirped during a match. He recalled earlier in his career playing out west. It was a cold day and Washington was wearing white tights for the extra warmth.
“I scored and talked a little crap,” Washington said, adding that one of the opponents said, “Man, shut up. You’re wearing white tights!”
With a chuckle, Washington said, “He was right.”
Ryan Thompson and Lisa Quinones, both of Scarborough, have become enormous fans of the team, with each having different stories about their fandom.
Quinones grew up playing soccer in Puerto Rico having learned the game from an uncle.
“Soccer is big for my family,” she said, “We follow Latin teams, and it’s just so nice to have a team here in Portland.”
Thompson said he has never been a big sports fan but there was just something about the Hearts that made him fall in love with the game and the team. His favorite aspect of the Hearts is what it has meant for the region.
“I love what it has done to our community,” Thompson said. “They are what Portland is about.”
In many ways, Haines had a glimmer in his eye that harkened back to a different time, when he and his family traversed the state for their kids’ soccer games.
“We needed this as a family,” Haines said, explaining that “this” was a professional soccer team. “In many ways, it’s brought us back closer together.”
Haines had come after a busy day of 15 client meetings as a pesticide salesman. His four family members who had planned to come got busy with life and couldn’t make the start, although one showed up shortly before the end of the event. The family was early supporters of Portland, securing six season tickets. Now the family has already requested 12 season tickets for the women’s team that starts in 2027.
“The games are such a great family experience,” Haines said. “Everyone is loud and having fun. You never eat the same food. They really just do the games right.”
More fan friendly events are planned with Deweys, who has partnered with the team for home games by hosting the Three Dollar Deweys’ suites at Fitzpatrick Stadium, providing food and drink right behind the goal.
For his part, Haines made sure to get in a question before the event even began. Washington, who has been out with a knee injury for much of the season, had just strode through the bar without any noticeable limp.
“When are you coming back?” Haines asked Washington. “We need you!”
The Hearts’ forward smiled and said, “I don’t know. We will see.”
