Counting 'em Down: For better or for worse, this is the Headline Surfer countdown of 2021's Top 100 biggest news stories of Central Florida along the tourism-driven stretch of Interstate 4 (Orlando Attractions and east to I-95 & the World's Most Famous Beach in Daytona). Each recap segment is posted with its own headline, culminating with the unveiling of No. 1, before switching to the Top 5 storylines -- the good, the bad & the ugly on the horizon in "2022: The Year That Lies Ahead."
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Donald Trump-Bill O'Reilly “History Tour” was far from a sellout at the Amway Arena back in Mid-December.
The event only sold 5,406 tickets at the Amway Center, home of the NBA's Orlando Magic in downtown Orlando.
Trump has launched a speaking tour, with five separate stops, appearing alongside ex-Fox News anchor Bill O'Reilly.
Only 5,406 tickets were sold for the Sunday, Dec. 16 event at the Amway Center, though 6,201 people ended up attending, the rest coming from reduced tickets at the door, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
Ticket prices started at $100, ranging up to several thousand dollars for VIP packages, though the Orlando Sentinel reported resale tickets were going for as little as $40 the day of the event. The event organizers had projected a maximum of 8,700 tickets to be purchased for the event.
Ticket prices started at $100, ranging up to several thousand dollars for VIP packages, though the Orlando Sentinel reported resale tickets were going for as little as $40 the day of the event. The event organizers had projected a maximum of 8,700 tickets to be purchased for the event.
The “History Tour” was announced in June, featuring onstage conversations in five cities in Florida and Texas between Trump and O'Reilly, the former host of Fox News’ O'Reilly Factor who was fired by the network in 2017 after a series of sexual harassment allegations.
Trump has often bragged about the large crowd sizes at his campaign rallies, but they were free while this tour with O'Reilly was not.
Back in July, O’Reilly predicted the “History Tour” would be “one of the most lucrative of all time.” It was not.
The Amway Center, home of the NBA's Orlando Magic, has a seating capacity of 20,000.
About the Byline Writer: Henry Frederick is a member of the working press and publisher of Headline Surfer, the award-winning 24/7 internet news outlet launched in 2008, that serves greater Daytona Beach, Sanford & Orlando from Lake Mary, Florida via HeadlineSurfer.com. Frederick has amassed close to 150 award-winning bylines in print & online. He earned his Master of Arts in New Media Journalism from Full Sail University in 2019. He was a breaking news reporter (metro cops & courts beat) for the Daytona Beach News-Journal for nearly a decade. And Before that worked the same beat for The Journal-News/Gannett Suburban Newspapers in Rockland/Westchester counties, NY, dating back to 1989. Having witnessed the execution of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Florida's death chamber and covering other high profile cases, Frederick has appeared on national crime documentary shows on Discovery ID, Reelz, and the Oxygen Network series "Snapped" for his analysis. • Award-Winning Journalism: Florida Press Club recognizes Headline Surfer for nine stories in 2020 statewide competition. • Award-Winning Journalism of Henry Frederick.