RENDERING VIA ORLANDO DREAMERS
The Orlando Dreamers (Website) are now taking their Major League Baseball pitch directly to the Orange County TDT Citizen Advisory Task Force this week ahead of the task force’s first meeting on July 21.
The Dreamers are proposing a $1.7 billion domed stadium on a 35.5-acre parcel on International Drive between SR 528 and Aquatica Orlando, near the Orange County Convention Center and Epic Universe. The plan calls for the county to issue roughly $975 million in TDT-backed bonds, with the Dreamers and their partners providing more than $700 million in private financing. The stadium would be owned by Orange County.
A new study from JLL (the same firm that completed the Dreamers’ initial analysis in 2023) is claiming that bringing MLB to Orlando and playing in the proposed fancy domed stadium would generate more than 38,000 jobs during construction, and more than 52,000 permanent jobs, with a total economic impact to Orange County projected to exceed $72 billion over 30 years. That’s way above the 2023 projections of 25,000 permanent jobs and $40 billion in economic impact, reflecting updated market conditions and the region’s continued growth.
As Orlando Shine previously reported, the Dreamers took a blow earlier this year when high-profile attorney John Morgan withdrew from the investment group. But the organization has continued to build public support. Visit Orlando officially endorsed the Dreamers’ mission in May, with the tourism association saying it “supports the Orlando Dreamers’ efforts to bring Major League Baseball to Orange County.” Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings has also expressed support for bringing professional baseball to the county.
The Dreamers say they have in excess of $2 billion combined for team acquisition and stadium financing in place. Updated stadium renderings are expected to be shared this summer.
“Orange County has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to step up to the plate and attract an MLB franchise,” said Baseball Hall-of-Famer and Dreamers ambassador Barry Larkin. “Now we need our local elected officials to make a statement to Major League Baseball that Orlando is ready to be a Major League city.”
