New Hampshire is the only New England state without a professional soccer team. A Portsmouth couple hopes to change that.
Caleb and Samantha Ginsberg launched the New Hampshire Soccer Project a year ago to gauge interest. Since then, they’ve been gathering community feedback, hosting events, and building support for the idea.
They hope to bring women’s and men’s professional soccer teams to New Hampshire by 2028 or 2029.
“The response has been amazing—overwhelmingly positive,” Caleb said. “I think the predominant feeling is, ‘Yes, we need something here that’s New Hampshire’s own thing and not a Boston junior.’”
The project is still in its early stages. Before a team can take the field, organizers need to secure a league, a stadium, and investors. The Ginsbergs hope to share more details on that by the fall.
“This is not a big-five sports league like the NBA, MLB, or MLS,” Caleb said. “Those are hundreds of millions of dollars, billion-dollar enterprises. This is smaller community soccer. It’s professional, but it’s lean. It’s important that tickets are affordable, and families can come 20 nights a year and build it into the fabric of their summer.”
The Ginsbergs bring experience from both the sports and soccer industries. Caleb is a lawyer who works in the sports space, while Samantha has worked for Adidas and Reebok in soccer-related roles, including talent acquisition and brand licensing. Both grew up in New Hampshire, moved to New York City, then Oregon, and found their way back to the Granite State.
Caleb became deeply interested in soccer about a decade ago.
“Soccer seems to be one of the best tools for bringing people from very diverse backgrounds and ideologies and politics together,” he said. “It doesn’t matter where you’re from or what you believe in. As long as you’re kind, this is for everyone.”
He points to the success of clubs like Hearts of Pine in Portland, Maine, which has built a passionate fan base around community engagement.
“It feels like New Hampshire’s time to be a part of that global story,” he said.
Community first
Caleb noted New Hampshire is the only state without professional teams, or anything like it. (Vermont Green FC is technically a pre-professional club in the United Soccer League system, on its way to becoming a professional team.)
Rather than announcing a team and hoping fans show up, the Ginsbergs are focused on building a soccer community first.
“I’ve seen a lot of new teams come into a market and say, ‘Here we are, and you should love us,’” Caleb said. “You haven’t really earned anybody’s fandom at that point.”
He believes the lengthy process of launching a team could ultimately be an advantage.
“The fact that it’s probably going to take a really long time is a blessing in disguise because you can start to build that community,” he said. “Then when you do turn the lights on, people show up.”
In the meantime, the New Hampshire Soccer Project is taking advantage of soccer enthusiasm around the World Cup. The couple is organizing two massive watch parties in New Hampshire.
“Regardless of how people feel about soccer generally, it’s one of those unique events, like the Olympics, that people pay attention to and tune into,” Caleb said. “It’s more fun to watch together.”
They expect to see up to 600 people at each event, featuring local businesses like Dover-based vintage clothing company Hello Again, which will sell soccer-themed apparel, and Drift Collective, which will offer custom clothing embellishments, including soccer-themed designs on jerseys, jackets and T-shirts.
“Tickets are so expensive, and that’s been a big part of the story,” Caleb said. “It’s a bummer because you want people to go and see the games live. But if you can’t do that, the next best thing is to watch it in a crowd of 500 or 600 people at a brewery.”
Upcoming New Hampshire Soccer Project World Cup watch parties
Pints and Pints Watch Party
June 12
At Liars Bench Beer Co in Portsmouth
Watch USA v. Paraguay while e. Enjoying local beer, a live DJ, and vintage apparel. Kickoff is at 9 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10, and a portion of proceeds will benefit Prescott Park Arts Festival.
Bethlehem Family Watch Party
June 19
At Rek-Lis Brewing Company in Bethlehem
Bring the whole family for an afternoon of soccer with kids’ activities. Super Secret Ice Cream will be there. The event begins at 2:30 p.m., with the USA v.. Australia match kicking off at 3 p.m. Free event with a portion of proceeds supporting the Boys & Girls Club of the North Country.
Related: Best Seacoast bars to watch the World Cup? Here are 17 favorites for soccer fans
