WHEREAS, soccer is among the most popular sports in the world and has grown rapidly across the United States in recent years; and

WHEREAS, the sport's younger, diverse fan base is fueling the interest of new athletes and fans alike; and

WHEREAS, Maine people of all ages have played soccer for decades in schoolyards, in soccer clubs, and competitively for collegiate and professional teams around the world; and

WHEREAS, Maine has a great history of hosting professional and semi-professional sports teams across our state; and

WHEREAS, we eagerly await the arrival of our new United Soccer League team that will call Portland home and begin play in 2025;

NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved that I, Janet T. Mills, Governor of the State of Maine, do hereby proclaim April 27, 2024 as

Maine Day of Soccer

throughout the State, and I urge all citizens to give a warm welcome to our new soccer franchise in Maine.

In testimony whereof, I have caused the Great Seal of the State to be hereunto affixed GIVEN under my hand at Augusta this twenty second day of April Two Thousand Twenty-Four