Orlando Sharks Fact Sheet

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Fact Sheet:

Orlando Sharks

            Camping World Stadium

1 Citrus Bowl Place

Orlando, Florida 32805

@OrlandoSharks

comitoca@dukes.jmu.edu

Director of Media Relations: Carly Comito

Cell Phone: 201-696-8959

 

Facts from the Incident

  • Home game for Orlando Sharks at Camping World Stadium against Orlando Octopi
  • End of game – Sharks QB Ryan Fitzpatrick on bench watching game – fan from stands provoked him
  • Fitzpatrick exchanged trash talk with fan
  • Fan started to throw objects at Fitzpatrick
  • Fitzpatrick suddenly charged into the stands and attacked the fan that provoked him
  • Fitzpatrick was caught live on camera punching the face of a fan in the audience on FOX television
  • Other Sharks players rushed over to the stands to help stop the fight along with police officers: Running Back Lamar Miller, Wide Receiver Philip Dorsett, Wide Receiver Anthony Millier
  • While trying to help the situation, RB Lamar Miller bled out after getting struck by a bottle thrown from a fan
  • After several minutes of fighting, the Sharks started making their way over to the locker room
  • On their way to the locker room, a man in an Orlando Octopi’s jersey approached Fitzpatrick, shouting at him
  • Fitzpatrick punched the man in the face, knocking him to the ground, before entering the locker room
  • Soon after the game, SCOM F.C, Player Association spokesperson Isaac Lockhart issued a statement of apology to fans for the events Monday, explaining that they intend to “institute measures and safeguards to improve the safety of players and fans alike to ensure that an incident like this never occurs again.”
  • The SCOM F.C. immediately suspended Fitzpatrick for the rest of the regular season, plus any playoff games
  • Earlier this year, Fitzpatrick signed a four-year contract with the Sharks worth $23.35 million
  • Fitzpatrick has been benched for the Sharks this season

 

Facts Figured out from the Incident

  • The Sharks organization recently found out that Ryan Fitzpatrick has been dealing with Anger Management issues, and was seeking help prior to the incident
  • The initial object the fan threw at Fitzpatrick was a beer bottle, which was hazardous and could have caused a potential injury
  • The fan that initially threw the bottle was determined by police to be drunk with a BAC of .15%, and had a warning from security prior to throwing the bottle for acting recklessly in the audience

 

Decisions We Made

  • The Sharks decided to cut Fitzpatrick from the team
  • We’ve decided to compensate the fans involved for any injuries, as well as providing full personal apology letters to each individual
  • We are going to hire more security personnel for both the field and the stands to ensure the safety of both the players and the fans
  • We are going to stop selling drinks in glass bottles, and switch to cans or plastic bottles for all drinks to ensure that hazardous materials such as glass won’t be a potential threat in the future