ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Dreamers have received nearly $1.5 billion in investor commitments to bring a Major League Baseball franchise to Central Florida.
‘It sends a signal to Major League Baseball’
What We Know:
The Orlando Dreamers, a group working to bring a Major League Baseball (MLB) team to Central Florida, has secured investor commitments totaling nearly $1.5 billion to fund the team’s acquisition. Furthermore, they are attempting to raise $1 billion for a proposed stadium near SeaWorld. While they have not yet secured a team, the group is optimistic about their chances. Jim Schnorf, co-founder of the Dreamers, emphasized that the financing marks a significant milestone.
What We Don’t Know:
The Dreamers are still in the process of bringing a Major League Baseball team to Orlando. The specifics of how they intend to secure an expansion team or whether they will relocate an existing team, such as the Tampa Bay Rays, are unclear. The timeline for stadium construction near SeaWorld is also not fully detailed.
The backstory:
The Orlando Dreamers initiative has been working for quite some time to bring Major League Baseball to Central Florida. The group has received a substantial financial commitment, with $1.5 billion in equity already pledged to secure a team. This is in addition to funding for a new stadium near SeaWorld, which is estimated to cost $1 billion. Jim Schnorf, one of the group’s co-founders, expressed confidence that Orlando will soon have an MLB team, whether through expansion or relocation.
Big picture view:
The effort to bring Major League Baseball to Orlando is part of a larger push to grow the sport in new markets. Central Florida has long been a hub of sports fandom, but it has yet to land a professional baseball franchise. This effort comes as the Tampa Bay Rays face ongoing stadium issues, making them a possible candidate for relocation. The Dreamers’ proposal could alter the sports landscape in Orlando and raise the city’s profile.
What they’re saying:
Jim Schnorf, a co-founder of the Orlando Dreamers, expressed his optimism.
“I think it sends a signal to Major League Baseball, and as well as to the Orlando community, that we have accomplished the really key aspects of financing necessary to bring Major League baseball here to Orange County.”
He also mentioned the stadium situation in Tampa Bay, saying, “We’re watching the situation over there very closely,” referring to the Rays’ difficulties in finding a new stadium in St. Petersburg.
“We are confident Orlando is the best site for a Major League Baseball franchise going forward,” she said.
