Why Orlando Could Be the Next MLB Expansion City

When people think of Orlando, Florida, theme parks often come to mind. They play a major role in making Orlando one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, attracting tens of millions annually. The Orlando Dreamers believe this is a compelling reason for Major League Baseball to consider Orlando for expansion.

The MLB plans to expand, and the Dreamers are positioning Orlando as a prime candidate for a new team. While cities like Nashville and Charlotte are frequently mentioned, Dreamers co-founder and COO Jim Schnorf sees Orlando’s potential clearly.

“We have no Major League Baseball here. We don’t have minor league, and we don’t have spring training,” Schnorf said. “Every other competing city has some level of professional baseball, except for us.”

Furthermore, Orlando is the largest media market in the country without an MLB team. The city’s tourism industry is another significant factor.

Schnorf stated, “We’re the most visited destination in the Western Hemisphere, with over 80 million tourists this year. Tourism is incredibly important.” He cited Las Vegas as an example, which supports professional teams largely due to its tourism industry.

The Orlando Dreamers envision a stadium near major attractions like SeaWorld and Walt Disney World. New renderings show a state-of-the-art facility just off of I-4, a main route through Orlando. They hope to utilize tourism resort tax funds, which Orange County, Florida, generates, for the stadium’s construction.

“Orlando generates the most tourism resort tax of any metro area in the country, which can fund tourism, sports facilities, convention centers, and more,” Schnorf explained.

A task force reviewed stadium proposals but did not recommend moving forward, largely due to election cycle timing and presentation constraints.

Schnorf added, “We requested $975 million but had only 15 minutes to present this package. Typically, such presentations require extensive time and detailed financial plans.” He noted existing commitments exceeding $2 billion for stadium financing and team acquisition.

The challenge remains convincing MLB. Despite the presence of the Tampa Bay Rays and Miami Marlins, neither team consistently fills their seats. Yet, Schnorf draws parallels to California’s past success.

“In 1969, California supported five teams with a smaller population than Florida has now,” Schnorf highlighted. “Orlando is the fastest-growing metro in the fastest-growing state.”

The Dreamers are committed to making Major League Baseball a reality in Orlando.

Matthew Reigle is an author for OutKick.