[Editor’s Note: Our own Anthony Emerson has been monitoring all the kit news for the Hearts of Pine, Maine’s first professional soccer club, from the club’s naming and up through their inaugural kit launch. He’s back again today to review their latest jersey. Enjoy! — PH]
The Portland Hearts of Pine, the upstart USL League One club out of Portland, Maine, that’s become the darling of the American soccer community for its branding, launched their inaugural away kit earlier this week. Like their home kit, the Hearts are keeping it authentically Maine.
Lots of love for the Bandit Kit today ♥️ pic.twitter.com/ai51yYPGMt
— Portland Hearts of Pine (@hearts_sc) February 12, 2025
The name “Hearts of Pine” was partially inspired by Portland’s “Valentine’s Day Bandit” tradition. It’s only natural to take this little-known aspect of our community and bring it on the road. To that effect, in steps the Bandit Kit.
The Bandit Kit is composed of dozens of tiny red hearts on a snow white base with a navy blue collar and sleeve cuffs. Such a scene is quite common for Februaries in Portland — it is typically our snowiest month (there have been three snowstorms in the past ten days, not including the one that hit today, and there’s another one coming this weekend), which makes the bandit’s cherry red Valentine’s Day hearts stand out even more. Hearts of Pine founder Gabe Hoffman-Johnson expressed as much on Twitter shortly before the kit’s launch.
The back collar features the club’s secondary mark, the dirigo heart.
The kit has a celebrity twist, too — the sleeve ad promotes The Dempsey Center, actor Patrick Dempsey’s support service for cancer patients. Dempsey, a native of Lewiston, Maine, lost his mother to cancer in 2008.
Proud to announce a partnership that represents the love and kindness inherent to Mainers. On the sleeve of the Bandit Kit, The Dempsey Center, founded by Maine native and actor, Patrick Dempsey, in 2008 after his mother’s experience with cancer and as a way to give back to his… pic.twitter.com/aQdQ56LkOk
— Portland Hearts of Pine (@hearts_sc) February 12, 2025
While most of the reactions to the Bandit Kit have been positive, there’s been more variance this time around, as opposed to the universal acclaim the home kit and crest received. One Hearts fan on the USL subreddit described the kit as “the bedsheets in my grandma’s guest room.” And yeah, I see it. But part of what’s so endearing about this club and this city — hell, minor league sports in general — is in not taking yourself too seriously. In having fun. The Bandit Kit is fun and off the wall and a little goofy — a perfect contrast to the classy, august home kit. To wit, the Hearts held the Bandit Kit’s photoshoot at Bubba’s Sulky Lounge, a legendary Portland dive bar-cum-nightclub.
The Bandit Kit, a tribute to the recurring tradition of communal love and kindness by the Valentine Bandit. If there’s one place that embodies the shared spirit of togetherness, it’s Bubba’s Sulky Lounge 🫶🪩 pic.twitter.com/3RGCI2nuTX
— Portland Hearts of Pine (@hearts_sc) February 11, 2025
And in case you’re wondering: yes, I ordered one the second they went on sale. It’s my club’s first season, I’m allowed to splurge a little. It won’t have the staying power of the home kit (which is among the best looking kits in at least recent American soccer history), but it’s a secondary kit. It doesn’t have to be as iconic as a primary.
More photos are below.
Bubba’s has changed since I was last there, which was sometime in the 90s.
Mark me down as someone who doesn’t care for this kit. Looks like the measles to me. Perhaps appropriate for the RFK Jr. era.
I can get behind it.
Do we know what color shorts the team will wear with either the home or away jerseys?
I hope dark/navy blue for both.
I’m here for all the Hearts of Pine content you can provide.
Thank you.
I got a home jersey for Christmas, but there’s a better than even chance I’ll splurge for one of these as well. It’s so cool!
I like it. Regional yet universially appealing.