Orlando Dreamers argue tourism and market size make city ripe for MLB franchise

Jim Schnorf, co-founder and COO of the Orlando Dreamers, argues that Orlando’s absence of any professional baseball—from MLB to Triple-A—makes it an attractive expansion market. He stresses that the city draws over 80 million tourists each year, a factor he likens to the Las Vegas model that successfully secured teams across the major leagues. The Dreamers have released renderings for a modern ballpark near SeaWorld along I-4 and say they have letters of intent covering well over $2 billion for stadium construction and team acquisition, despite receiving only a 15-minute slot from a task force reviewing the $975 million request.

Schnorf references the historical precedent of California supporting five teams in 1969 to argue that Florida could sustain a third franchise alongside the Tampa Bay Rays and Miami Marlins. He concludes that Orlando’s rapid growth and status as the fastest-growing metro in the fastest-growing state make a compelling case for MLB expansion.