Historic Low Turnout at Orange Blossom Classic Raises Concerns for Future 🏈

The latest edition of the Orange Blossom Classic may have featured two top teams vying for a Black College National Championship, but the turnout for the game was surprisingly low. With only 10,026 fans in attendance at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, the 2024 game marked one of the lowest attendance figures in the history of the event.

This year’s game, which saw North Carolina Central defeat Alabama State 31-24, was missing the presence of Florida A&M, a team that had participated in every Orange Blossom Classic since its inception in 1933. FAMU’s decision to opt out of the OBC in favor of an extra home game left many fans disappointed and may have contributed to the lackluster turnout.

Online reactions to the official attendance number were mixed, with some fans expressing surprise and disappointment at the low numbers. Suggestions were made that the game should have been hosted by one of the participating teams or that the Orange Blossom Classic should have been put on hold until Florida A&M returned.

With event organizers likely reevaluating their approach for 2025, changes may be on the horizon to ensure a more successful and engaging Orange Blossom Classic in the future. Stay tuned for updates on how the OBC plans to bounce back from this year’s attendance dip.