Orlando City SC is turning its downtown pitch into something out of a fantasy novel on September 5, when the club hosts its first-ever crossover match tied to the bestselling Dungeon Crawler Carl book series. The 7:30 p.m. matchup against San Diego FC at Inter&Co Stadium will feature themed ticket packages modeled on the series' loot box mechanics, with proceeds from sales benefiting a Tavares animal rescue.
The event marks the first time Orlando City has partnered with the Dungeon Crawler Carl franchise, according to WESH, whose digital producer Luis Xavier De Peña reported on the announcement. Ticket packages start at $60 and scale up through several tiers, according to Orlando City SC's official ticketing page, including Gold Boss and Silver Adventurer Boxes as well as a $230 Desperado Club package that bundles food, drinks, access to a private fan space, and a bookplate signed by author Matt Dinniman. Some of the themed sets also include an Orlando City x Dungeon Crawler Carl-inspired hat or scarf.
A portion of every ticket sold will go to Hoffmeyer Animal Rescue, a Lake County nonprofit based in Tavares. The shelter is a 501(c)(3) Fear Free facility on Silverado Street that specializes in caring for senior, disabled, and hospice animals and assists low-income pet owners across Central Florida, according to Hoffmeyer Animal Rescue. The charity tie-in isn't random: Dungeon Crawler Carl's feline co-star, Princess Donut, is a fan-favorite character in the series, and pairing the theme night with an animal rescue gives the crossover a built-in local storyline, as Orlando outlet OrlandoShine has noted.
A Book Series Riding a Wave of Mainstream Momentum
Dungeon Crawler Carl started as a self-published web novel on Royal Road back in 2020 before signing a traditional print deal with Penguin Random House's Ace Books imprint in 2024, a move that let author Matt Dinniman keep control of the digital and audiobook rights, per the Seattle Met. That online-to-mainstream trajectory has only accelerated. As of July 2026, the eight-book series has sold more than 14 million copies across print, ebook, and audiobook formats, making it a commercial leader in the LitRPG genre, according to Wikipedia's entry on the franchise.
The momentum extends beyond bookstores. In June 2026, Peacock gave a straight-to-series order for a live-action television adaptation produced by Seth MacFarlane's Fuzzy Door and Universal Global Television, with Chris Yost, known for his work on The Mandalorian, writing the series and Dinniman serving as co-executive producer, TVLine reported. Voice actor Jeff Hays, whose full-cast narration for Soundbooth Theater helped turn the audiobooks into a viral hit, regularly appears alongside Dinniman at conventions and fan panels, according to a recording distributed by Penguin Random House.
Sports Teams Are Catching On to the Fandom
Orlando City isn't the first professional sports franchise to tap into the Dungeon Crawler Carl fanbase. The NHL's Colorado Avalanche hosted a similar theme night at Ball Arena earlier this year after goaltender Scott Wedgewood and former teammate Alexandar Georgiev publicly praised the books, an event that reportedly included a goalie-stick-for-book exchange with Dinniman, as detailed by AP News. That crossover offers a preview of how enthusiastically literary fandoms can show up for live sports events when a team leans into the connection.
San Diego FC, Orlando's opponent for the September 5 match, joined MLS in 2025 as the league's 30th expansion club and set an MLS expansion-season record by earning 63 points in its inaugural campaign, according to the league. The club began play under an ownership group that includes Manny Machado and the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation.
Orlando City's Bigger Picture This Season
The theme night arrives during a season in which Orlando City has made notable moves on the field, including the high-profile signing of World Cup winner Antoine Griezmann in March, part of a run that has included six straight playoff appearances through last season. The club has also leaned into specialty promotions before, having previously unveiled a Sunken Treasure Kit inspired by Florida's famed 1715 treasure fleet.
Inter&Co Stadium, where the September 5 match will be played, is a privately financed, 25,500-capacity soccer-specific venue that opened in 2017 in downtown Orlando. It features The Wall, North America's first safe-standing supporters' section, and serves as the home venue for both Orlando City SC in MLS and the Orlando Pride in NWSL, according to Major League Soccer.
Whether Dinniman or narrator Jeff Hays will appear at the match for a ceremonial kickoff, and what designs will appear on the limited-edition hats and scarves sold exclusively at the stadium, remain open questions ahead of matchday, per OrlandoShine's reporting on the crossover.
