Lacrosse team’s demise leaves ticketholders, employees out thousands

A local sports franchise folds, leaving season ticket holders and former employees out thousands of dollars.

In their inaugural season, the Orlando Titans professional indoor lacrosse team won a spot in the Eastern Conference Championship and in the hearts of several fans like Erika Benkovich.

The team asked fans to reserve season tickets for next year for $1,000.

“It’s one of those prepay deals,” Benkovich said. “They say you get a discount if you go ahead and order them now, so we went ahead and did that."

Not long after, Titans officials announced the team was for sale and they wouldn't play next season.

Benkovich tried to call for answers.

The team website where Benkovich originally found the number is no longer in service.

"We are all dumbfounded,” Benkovich said. “We just don't know who to go to."

During News 13’s investigation, we found season ticket holders aren't the only ones the Titans owe money.

In e-mails to News 13, some former employees said they are "equally disgusted" and claim they are owed several thousand dollars in back wages and expenses.

Gary Rosenbach, the team's principal owner, brought it from New York where he worked on Wall Street.

Team President Steve Donner has had financial troubles with a soccer franchise he helped run in Rochester, N.Y.

He’s now the owner of another Orlando Titans, the soccer team he announced would play its first games next spring.

With his voicemail box full for weeks, Donner couldn't be reached for comment on that franchise's future.

The lacrosse team's public relations firm said it would resolve lacrosse season ticket holders' debts as soon as the team is sold.

Benkovich said she'll do her best not to let the whole experience sour her on the sport.

“It’s a very exciting sport,” Benkovich said. “We would be very happy if they were to come back. But at least let your season ticket holders know so we are there to support you."

The asking price for the Titans is $1.4 million.

They previously played at Amway Arena. It would be up to the new owners to try to work out a deal to play at the Amway Center if they chose.