Orlando’s Potential as a Major League Baseball City

When you think of Orlando, Florida, the theme parks likely come to mind first. These attractions have turned Orlando into a top destination, drawing tens of millions of tourists each year. This tourism is one reason the Orlando Dreamers believe the city is an ideal location for a Major League Baseball (MLB) team.

Discussing MLB expansion, cities like Nashville and Charlotte often top the list. However, Jim Schnorf, co-founder and COO of the Dreamers, argues that Orlando has unique advantages that could land it a team.

Baseball’s Absence in Orlando

“We have no Major League Baseball here,” Schnorf stated. Orlando lacks minor league teams and spring training facilities. In contrast, most competing cities have at least Triple-A or Double-A teams. This absence of professional baseball in Orlando is notable.

Furthermore, Orlando stands as the largest media market in the U.S. without an MLB team, adding to its potential appeal.

The Role of Tourism

Schnorf highlights tourism as a critical factor. “We’re the most visited destination in the Western Hemisphere, with over 80 million tourists this year,” he noted. Las Vegas serves as a model, successfully supporting major league teams due in part to tourism.

The Orlando Dreamers hope the city’s bustling tourism and media presence can help secure an MLB franchise.

Plans for a Stadium

The Dreamers aim to build an MLB-caliber stadium south of downtown Orlando, near attractions like SeaWorld and Walt Disney World. They plan to utilize tourism resort tax revenue from Orange County, which leads the country in such tax generation.

Although a task force assessed the stadium proposal, they did not recommend proceeding, partly due to the timing during an election cycle. Schnorf commented on the brief presentation time, stating, “We requested $975 million in just 15 minutes. Normally, this requires much more extensive discussions.”

Funding and Future Prospects

Despite this, Schnorf noted significant financial commitments. “We’ve got over $2 billion for stadium financing and team acquisition under letters of intent,” he said.

However, MLB’s interest remains crucial. Florida already hosts two teams, the Tampa Bay Rays and Miami Marlins, known for low attendance. Schnorf argues that history supports a third team, referencing California in 1969, which housed five teams with a smaller population than Florida today.

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

Matthew Reigle contributes as a writer for OutKick.