{"id":6605,"date":"2015-06-16T19:04:42","date_gmt":"2015-06-16T19:04:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/?p=6605&post_type=story"},"modified":"2020-06-29T13:49:04","modified_gmt":"2020-06-29T13:49:04","slug":"fever-pitch","status":"publish","type":"story","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/fever-pitch\/","title":{"rendered":"Fever Pitch"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summer 2015\u00a0| By Eric Michael, ’96<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

[photo id=”6919″ title=”030815-Orl-SC-vs-NYC-FC-6388_web” alt=”030815-Orl-SC-vs-NYC-FC-6388_web” position=”center” width=”768px”][\/photo]<\/p>\n

On March 8, the Orlando Citrus Bowl became a sea of purple.<\/p>\n

The inaugural home match of the Orlando City Soccer Club attracted a sold-out crowd of 62,510 fans outfitted in the team\u2019s signature color to cheer on their Major League Soccer debut. In MLS history, the attendance feat was second only to the 1996 league opener of the LA Galaxy, which drew 69,255 spectators to the Rose Bowl. For the rising Central Florida franchise, which launched in the third-tier USL Pro league in 2010, the landmark match versus the New York City Football Club represented an ascension into the big leagues of professional soccer.<\/p>\n

For longtime supporters, the traditional international term for soccer fans, the game was a coming-out party \u2014 especially to the many involved in Orlando City\u2019s two organized supporter clubs, the Ruckus and Iron Lion Firm.<\/p>\n

[divider][\/divider]<\/p>\n

[blockquote source=”” cite=”” color=”#000000″]\u201cThe whole experience was surreal. The visual spectacle alone gave me goose bumps, knowing the humble beginnings from which we came.\u201d<\/p>\n

[\/blockquote]<\/p>\n

[divider][\/divider]<\/p>\n

[photo id=”6965″ title=”Fanshot6_2015-03-21_MarkThorlh_web” alt=”Fanshot6_2015-03-21_MarkThorlh_web” position=”center” width=”768px”][\/photo]<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything that we had done in the past was magnified tenfold at that game,\u201d Iron Lion Firm co-founder Jared Ambrose, \u201915<\/strong>, remembers. \u201cHearing more than 60,000 people singing a chant that I started was overwhelming.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Orlando City vice president of marketing Teresa Tatlonghari, \u201995<\/strong>, the sight was a satisfying confirmation that the three years of work she\u2019d invested in building a community around the club was paying off \u2014 big time.<\/p>\n

\u201cI broke down in tears,\u201d she acknowledges. \u201cThe sense that everyone was here for the same purpose \u2014 and being a part of it personally \u2014 was a very emotional moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Driven by a media campaign dubbed \u201cFill the Bowl,\u201d the massive show of support for the team was the result of Orlando City\u2019s grassroots strategy for growing its fan base. With the assistance of Julio Lima, \u201983<\/strong>, of Orlando\u2019s Say It Loud! advertising agency, Tatlonghari and her marketing team have helped nurture the growth of the club\u2019s passionate supporter community organically, because in the world of soccer, the traditions, rituals and spirit of the supporter clubs create the culture of the team. \u201cSoccer fans are more passionate than many other sports fans,\u201d says Lima. \u201cThere\u2019s no fooling them, so we have to understand their wants and needs and give them something real.\u201d<\/p>\n

But what have been the keys to this success? Here are three ways they\u2019ve built an army of support:<\/p>\n

Preserve the Flavor of \u201cFootball\u201d<\/span><\/h2>\n

Instead of trying to Americanize the fan experience by interrupting the action on the field with halftime shows, cheerleaders and T-shirt cannons, the City club has been careful to preserve what has made soccer one of the most popular sports globally. \u201cWe have to be aware of other clubs from around the world in order to stay relevant to the game and to our audience,\u201d says Lima. From the group chants that engage entire sections to the drum corps that play in the stands, they encourage the established rituals and customs from Europe, South America, the Caribbean and other international hubs of the sport\u2019s culture. \u201cWe have fans from all over the world here in Central Florida, so we pay respect to their rich traditions,\u201d says Tatlonghari. \u201cThere is one American part of our experience \u2014 tailgating.\u201d<\/p>\n

Give the Fans What They Want<\/span><\/h2>\n

According to Tatlonghari, giving the supporters a voice \u2014 and listening to it \u2014 has been instrumental in the growth of the City supporter community. The club\u2019s fan advisory council, which offers direct feedback to the team, is made up of volunteer season ticket holders from every section of the stadium and age segment. And to allow the fans to create their own traditions organically, her team closely monitors social media, blogs and the reactions of gameday crowds to tweak their strategies. \u201cWe\u2019re very in tune with how our fans are engaging with us,\u201d Tatlonghari says. \u201cIt\u2019s part of our culture as a club.\u201d<\/p>\n

Keep it Local and Give Back<\/span><\/h2>\n

Keeping the supporters at the center of their focus, Tatlonghari says the club creates opportunities to interact with \u2014 and benefit \u2014 the Central Florida community. It\u2019s not uncommon to see Orlando City president Phil Rawlins mingling with supporters during the pregame tailgate scene. The club\u2019s street team attends multiple events weekly, from farmers markets to outdoor festivals. They recruit new fans and pass out the purple lion logo magnets that have helped spread awareness of their brand via automobiles throughout the region. And the club\u2019s nonprofit, the Orlando City Foundation, develops youth soccer programs in underserved areas and supports children\u2019s initiatives combating childhood obesity, abuse and homelessness. \u201cCommunity service has always been ingrained in the club\u2019s culture,\u201d Tatlonghari says. \u201cIt\u2019s a huge part of what we do.\u201d<\/p>\n

[callout background=”#f3e4fb”]
\n[photo id=”6971″ title=”Fanshot6_2015-03-08_MarkThor-2_web” alt=”Fanshot6_2015-03-08_MarkThor-2_web” position=”center” width=”768px”][\/photo]<\/p>\n

How to Man the Wall<\/h2>\n

What to expect in the loud and rowdy supporter section of an Orlando City Soccer Club match.<\/em><\/p>\n

The supporter section of an Orlando City Soccer Club match, aka \u201cThe Wall,\u201d might be unlike any American sporting event you\u2019ve ever experienced. \u201cIf you [go] there expect your view to be obstructed because of flags or people jumping and chanting,\u201d says Ruckus president Jerry Updike, \u201901<\/strong>. \u201cSinging and chants all game long \u2014 90 minutes, no sitting.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Blending international traditions from around the globe with a burgeoning American enthusiasm for the game, the Ruckus and Iron Lion Firm supporter clubs incite fan fervor in the south end zone of the stadium to inspire the team to victory. \u201cIt\u2019s a unique experience unlike any other sporting event in the U.S.,\u201d explains Iron Lion Firm co-founder Jared Ambrose, \u201915<\/strong>. \u201cWe\u2019re all here to support and push the team, and with every race, creed and orientation singing together as one \u2014 it\u2019s a really beautiful thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The March<\/h3>\n

Escorted by a corps of drummers, the supporter clubs gather in the tailgate area before kickoff and march into the stadium in a raucous display of solidarity.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Chants<\/h3>\n

Led by supporter group leaders called \u201ccapos,\u201d spirited songs and chants are choreographed to the action on the field. And it\u2019s an all-hands-on-deck endeavor in the supporter section.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Drums<\/h3>\n

To add a heart-pounding cadence to the chants, drummers keep time for the supporters and increase their amplitude in hopes of bringing the rest of the stadium onto their bandwagon.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Smoke<\/h3>\n

A special privilege afforded to the supporter clubs is the use of smoke from designated (and safety-conscious) positions at strategic points in the game.<\/p>\n

[\/callout]<\/p>\n

Photos courtesy of Orlando City Soccer Club<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":6721,"template":"","categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6605","story","type-story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","issues-520","issues-summer-2015"],"yoast_head":"\nSupporting Orlando City Soccer<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"How alumni are building a community of passionate football culture around the MLS team with the Ruckus, Iron Lion Firm and Orlando City Foundation.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/fever-pitch\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Fever Pitch\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"How alumni are building a community of passionate football culture around the MLS team with the Ruckus, Iron Lion Firm and Orlando City Foundation.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/fever-pitch\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Pegasus Magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2020-06-29T13:49:04+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/4\/files\/2015\/06\/THUMBNAIL_Summer2015_FeverPitch-2.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"220\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"230\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ucf.edu\\\/pegasus\\\/fever-pitch\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ucf.edu\\\/pegasus\\\/fever-pitch\\\/\",\"name\":\"Supporting Orlando City Soccer\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ucf.edu\\\/pegasus\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ucf.edu\\\/pegasus\\\/fever-pitch\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ucf.edu\\\/pegasus\\\/fever-pitch\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ucf.edu\\\/wp-content\\\/blogs.dir\\\/4\\\/files\\\/2015\\\/06\\\/THUMBNAIL_Summer2015_FeverPitch-2.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2015-06-16T19:04:42+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2020-06-29T13:49:04+00:00\",\"description\":\"How alumni are building a community of passionate football culture around the MLS team with the Ruckus, Iron Lion Firm and Orlando City Foundation.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ucf.edu\\\/pegasus\\\/fever-pitch\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ucf.edu\\\/pegasus\\\/fever-pitch\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ucf.edu\\\/pegasus\\\/fever-pitch\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ucf.edu\\\/wp-content\\\/blogs.dir\\\/4\\\/files\\\/2015\\\/06\\\/THUMBNAIL_Summer2015_FeverPitch-2.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ucf.edu\\\/wp-content\\\/blogs.dir\\\/4\\\/files\\\/2015\\\/06\\\/THUMBNAIL_Summer2015_FeverPitch-2.jpg\",\"width\":220,\"height\":230},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ucf.edu\\\/pegasus\\\/fever-pitch\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ucf.edu\\\/pegasus\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Fever Pitch\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ucf.edu\\\/pegasus\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ucf.edu\\\/pegasus\\\/\",\"name\":\"Pegasus Magazine\",\"description\":\"The Magazine of Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ucf.edu\\\/pegasus\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ucf.edu\\\/pegasus\\\/fever-pitch\\\/#local-main-organization-logo\",\"url\":\"\",\"contentUrl\":\"\",\"caption\":\"Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Supporting Orlando City Soccer","description":"How alumni are building a community of passionate football culture around the MLS team with the Ruckus, Iron Lion Firm and Orlando City Foundation.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/fever-pitch\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Fever Pitch","og_description":"How alumni are building a community of passionate football culture around the MLS team with the Ruckus, Iron Lion Firm and Orlando City Foundation.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/fever-pitch\/","og_site_name":"Pegasus Magazine","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½","article_modified_time":"2020-06-29T13:49:04+00:00","og_image":[{"width":220,"height":230,"url":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/4\/files\/2015\/06\/THUMBNAIL_Summer2015_FeverPitch-2.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_site":"@Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/fever-pitch\/","url":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/fever-pitch\/","name":"Supporting Orlando City Soccer","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/fever-pitch\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/fever-pitch\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/4\/files\/2015\/06\/THUMBNAIL_Summer2015_FeverPitch-2.jpg","datePublished":"2015-06-16T19:04:42+00:00","dateModified":"2020-06-29T13:49:04+00:00","description":"How alumni are building a community of passionate football culture around the MLS team with the Ruckus, Iron Lion Firm and Orlando City Foundation.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/fever-pitch\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/fever-pitch\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/fever-pitch\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/4\/files\/2015\/06\/THUMBNAIL_Summer2015_FeverPitch-2.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/4\/files\/2015\/06\/THUMBNAIL_Summer2015_FeverPitch-2.jpg","width":220,"height":230},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/fever-pitch\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Fever Pitch"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/","name":"Pegasus Magazine","description":"The Magazine of Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/fever-pitch\/#local-main-organization-logo","url":"","contentUrl":"","caption":"Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½"}]}},"acf":[],"story_subtitle":"Alumni are building a passionate football culture around the MLS team","story_description":"Â鶹ӳ»­´«Ã½ alumni are building a community of passionate\r\nsoccer supporters in Orlando.<br>","story_thumbnail":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/story\/6605","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/story"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/story"}],"version-history":[{"count":44,"href":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/story\/6605\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20207,"href":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/story\/6605\/revisions\/20207"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6721"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6605"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6605"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/pegasus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6605"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}