Orlando’s Bid for a Major League Baseball Team

Orlando’s Association with Theme Parks

Orlando, Florida is synonymous with theme parks, attracting tens of millions of tourists annually. These attractions have helped make Orlando one of the world’s most-visited cities. The Orlando Dreamers believe this makes Orlando an ideal location for a Major League Baseball (MLB) team.

Orlando Dreamers’ Vision

The MLB is considering expansion, and the Orlando Dreamers aim for this tourist haven to house a new team. Although cities like Nashville and Charlotte are popular choices for expansion, Dreamers co-founder and COO Jim Schnorf argues that Orlando offers unique advantages.

“We have no Major League Baseball here. We don’t have minor league, and we don’t have spring training,” Schnorf stated. “Every other competing city except one has Triple-A, and the one without Triple-A has Double-A. Orlando lacks professional baseball.”

Orlando ranks as the largest media market in the U.S. without an MLB team.

Tourism: A Key Factor

Orlando attracts over 80 million tourists yearly, a crucial factor according to Schnorf. He cites Las Vegas, which leveraged tourism to support Big 4 league teams, as a model. The success of the Vegas Golden Knights and Las Vegas Raiders supports his point.

The Dreamers generated stadium renderings near SeaWorld, off I-4, hoping to use local tourism resort tax funds for development. Orlando leads in tourism resort tax generation, usable for sports and convention facilities.

Funding and Challenges

A task force reviewed stadium proposals but didn’t recommend proceeding, largely due to timing and a brief presentation window during an election cycle. Despite this, Schnorf noted a commitment exceeding $2 billion for stadium and team financing.

Persuading MLB to expand to Orlando is crucial. While Florida hosts the Tampa Bay Rays and Miami Marlins, neither draws large crowds. Yet, Schnorf referenced California’s 1969 feat of supporting five teams with a smaller population than today’s Florida.

“Orlando is the fastest-growing metro area in the fastest-growing state,” Schnorf asserted. “We can definitely support Major League Baseball here.”

Matthew Reigle contributed reporting for OutKick.