Orlando Dreamers Push To Join MLB As Rays Reject New Stadium

ORLANDO, FL — The Orlando Dreamers have secured a new investor and stadium funding in its continued effort to bring Major League Baseball to the booming central Florida city.

The Dreamers announced the news Friday via social media. Also known as the Orlando City Baseball Dreamers, an anchor investor has been obtained for control ownership of the group, according to a news release.

Not only would stamping the Dreamers as a MLB team benefit Orlando, it would serve central Florida as a whole, according to the group's website.

"We are thrilled with the commitment made by our investor partner, which accomplishes a key remaining step in our initiative to bring a Major League Baseball franchise to the Orlando area," MLB Ambassador Barry Larkin said in the release. "Our process all along has been to identify and bring on board 'best of class' partners in every aspect of our process."

Additionally, Larkin has received a letter of intent for a significant amount of funding to go toward a stadium in Orange County, according to the release.

This all comes after the Tampa Bay Rays declined to build a new stadium and redevelop 86 acres in the Historic Gas Plant District.

The $1.3 billion redevelopment deal has been in limbo since the fall, after Hurricane Milton tore the roof off Tropicana Field, the team’s home.

The Rays stated the team plans to return to Tropicana Field in 2026, following repairs.

The Dreamers are requesting a 45,000-capacity team stadium to be constructed on land spanning 35.5 acres near SeaWorld and the Orange County Convention Center. The group stated the site is near where the new Universal Studios theme park is located.

The Dreamers organization noted that Orlando is the country’s 15th largest media market, the largest market without a Major League Baseball team. Orlando is larger than 12 other markets that have an MLB team.

Dreamers' co-founder Jim Schnorf said about $80 million tourists is estimated to visit the stadium annually. Additionally, he said no less than $1 billion would benefit construction costs.

The group surmised about establishing the Dreamers as a MLB team will create about 25,000 jobs and rake in more than $40 billion for the economy in 30 years.

Tourist development taxes would total $26 million, the group stated.

"Barry has been instrumental in getting our initiative to the next phase," Schnorf said in the release. "His credibility and connectivity, as well as his shrewd analysis of the continuous activities and news in baseball, have been instrumental to the recent success of Orlando's candidacy to become an MLB location."