Orlando Dreamers Take Bold Step Toward Acquiring MLB Franchise with Key Investor, Domed Stadium Plan
By Space Coast Daily // March 15, 2025
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – The Orlando Dreamers, a group led by Hall of Fame shortstop Barry Larkin, are making significant strides in their quest to bring Major League Baseball to Orlando. With the Tampa Bay Rays stepping away from their stadium deal, the Dreamers have seized the opportunity to position the city as a prime candidate for an MLB franchise.
On Friday, the Dreamers announced they had secured a crucial anchor investor for their control ownership group, a milestone in their efforts to establish a team in Central Florida.
A Vision for Orlando’s Baseball Future
“We are thrilled with the commitment made by our investor partner, which accomplishes a key remaining step in our initiative to bring a Major League Baseball franchise to the Orlando area,” Larkin said in a statement. “Our process all along has been to identify and bring on board ‘best of class’ partners in every aspect of our process.”
The momentum for Orlando’s MLB aspirations intensified after Hurricane Milton caused severe damage to Tropicana Field, rendering it unplayable for the 2025 season. With their home stadium out of commission, the Rays were forced to relocate their games to Steinbrenner Field, the spring training home of the New York Yankees.
A State-of-the-Art Stadium in the Heart of Orlando
The next step for the Dreamers is securing funding for a new baseball stadium. According to Dreamers co-founder Jim Schnorf, a letter of intent has already been signed to finance the construction of a 45,000-seat domed stadium in Orlando’s bustling tourist corridor.
“We now have a letter of intent towards financing our state-of-the-art, 45,000 capacity domed stadium right in the middle of the tourist corridor, where we will welcome approximately 80 million tourists this year,” Schnorf stated. “The financing structure will provide a minimum of approximately $1 billion towards stadium construction costs, under an arrangement that is highly attractive to Orange County government and citizens, team ownership, and Major League Baseball.”
With Orlando’s position as a top-tier tourist destination, the Dreamers believe an MLB team in the city would not only attract local fans but also tap into the massive influx of visitors who travel to the region each year.
Orlando’s Baseball History: A Second Attempt
This isn’t the first time Orlando has attempted to land an MLB franchise. In the 1990s, the city backed a bid for expansion with the “Orlando Rays,” but ultimately lost out to Miami and Tampa, who were awarded the Marlins and Rays, respectively.
Now, with a high-profile leader like Barry Larkin, a strong investment partner, and a stadium plan in motion, Orlando appears to be making its most serious push yet to join the ranks of Major League Baseball cities.
While MLB expansion or relocation decisions remain uncertain, the Dreamers’ progress signals that Orlando is positioning itself as a viable and attractive market for professional baseball. Whether or not the league grants the city a franchise remains to be seen, but one thing is clear—Orlando is ready to play ball.
