Orlando City Soccer Club Inflating Their Attendance Numbers
Orlando City Soccer Club, the USL Pro franchise that plays its home games at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, appears to be inflating their attendance numbers at the gate.
On August 11, the club announced a record 10,697 fans. However, according to turnstile counts tallied by the city, which owns and operates the venue, just 4,004 people had their tickets scanned as they passed through the gates.
Inflating numbers is not unusual in the world of professional sports (especially in the minor-league soccer circuit, or if you are the Miami Marlins) where the announced attendance has little to do with how many fans actually attend a game. But when you are lobbying city officials to fund a soccer-specific stadium that will seat 18,000 and will cost around $85 Million and your average attendance is only 3,987 that can be a cause for caution for the City of Orlando.
Don’t get me wrong, an average of 3,987 fans is s a HUGE number for a 3rd division team, and there is no doubt Orlando City is USL Pro’s marquee franchise, but when when you boast an average of 8,053 fans but in reality you are drawing only 3,987 your integrity begins to be questioned.
According to Orlando City, the turnstile numbers do not include the most “dedicated fans” — the one seated in the Fan Zone; members of the team’s youth soccer league who arrive pregame; and those in premium seats, who use a different entrance. Together, says the team, that can amount to more than 1,000 people.
“We have tried to be as accurate and honest as we can,” team executive Brett Lashbrook told The Orlando Sentinel. “I think it’s in line with the industry practice, and in fact it’s more honest than other leagues.”
According to the Sentinel, Orlando City uses its own formula to calculate attendance at the games, which Lashbrook said is in line with industry practice and “more honest than other leagues.”
Orlando City will host the Charlotte Eagles on Saturday at the Citrus Bowl in the USL Pro Championship Game and the team is hopeful they will attract an attendance of 15,000 fans.
Here is a look at regular season attendance numbers for Orlando City Soccer games in Orlando courtesy of the Orlando Sentinel:
Date | Turnstile | Announced by team |
April 14 | 4,687 | 6,351 |
April 19 | 3,257 | 9,140 |
April 27 | 5,605 | 9,589 |
May 4 | 3,372 | 6,580 |
May 25 | 4,377 | 8,394 |
June 7 | 3,818 | 7,466 |
June 9 | 2,948 | 6,187 |
June 29 | 5,130 | 8,842 |
July 11 | 4,178 | 8,729 |
July 20 | 3,558 | 7,311 |
Aug. 3 | 3,402 | 7,262 |
Aug. 7 | 2,043 | 5,985 |
Aug. 11 | 4,004 | 10,697 |
Aug. 17 | 5,434 | 10,215 |
Average | 3,987 | 8,053 |