Bringing Major League Baseball to Orlando
Bringing Major League Baseball to Orlando
ABOUT
ORLANDO STEPS UP TO THE PLATE
With great excitement and anticipation, Pat Williams, the man who brought NBA basketball to Orlando, announced in November 2019, a renewed effort to make the City Beautiful a Major League Baseball town.
Williams revealed that the group heading up the Orlando MLB effort will be called the Dreamers, “a nod to Walt Disney and Arnold Palmer and the many other visionaries who helped develop this area into the special place it has become,” said Williams.
Seizing on news that Major League Baseball plans to expand by two cities in the near future, Williams enacted a plan to get community support from Central Florida baseball fans, a plan similar to the one he successfully implemented in order to land NBA basketball here in the late 1980s. Less than a month later, over 12,000 people requested information about purchasing season tickets.
“Orlando has proven in the years since the Magic began playing in 1989 that it is every bit a big league sports town,” said Williams. “The Orlando Magic is as popular as ever, soccer fans have embraced the Orlando City Lions, and now it’s time to step up to the plate and make baseball happen, too." Though Pat passed away in July 2024, he was instrumental in helping the Dreamer's leadership team advance the initiative to its final phase.
“Orlando has proven in the years since the Magic began playing in 1989 that it is every bit a big league sports town.”
ORLANDO
WHERE ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE
Orlando is the country’s 17th largest media market, the largest market without a Major League Baseball team. In fact, it is larger than nine other markets that already have an MLB team.
With an annual growth rate of 2.3 percent, the Orlando population is one of the nation’s fastest-growing. The average resident in Orlando is 33 years old which is the youngest of all major cities in Florida.
Orlando is the most popular U.S. travel destination with over 75 million tourists in 2022. People from all over the world come to experience the innovation, inclusiveness and fun of Orlando. With the opening of the new Universal Studios theme park in addition to high speed rail coming to Orlando, domestic and international visitor trends estimate that Orlando could reach 100 million tourists per year by 2030.
As Orlando continues to experience record tourism growth, the majority of tourists visiting Orlando coincides with the Major League Baseball season. If only 4% of Orlando tourists attended just one game, that alone would be enough to result in the #6 ranking for MLB attendance for the season.
STADIUM
A WORLD-CLASS FACILITY
The vision for the stadium is to provide a unique experience for all types of fans, an experience unlike any other in Major League Baseball. Using innovative architectural design, the stadium will have a roof but still provide the feel of natural sunlight. Games will start on time, never rain out and comfort levels will be at all-time highs inside the building.
While stadium capacity is expected to be approximately 45,000 fans, we have continuously strived to create an intimate atmosphere. There will be many different aspects of the stadium to explore, and the venue is being designed to maximize the fan experience. This will be a place where people come for memorable, unifying entertainment.
The preferred location for the stadium is in the heart of the tourist district on I-Drive. As it will compete with other local attractions, this venue will meet the standards expected of an Orlando tourist destination. Baseball will be the main anchor in the district, but it will be a space where locals and tourists alike can gather, celebrate and enjoy life in Orlando.
TIMELINE
Bringing Major League Baseball To Orlando
LEADERSHIP
Orlando City Baseball Dreamers, LLC
PAT WILLIAMS - Founder & President (1940-2024)
Basketball Hall-of-Farner Pat Williams was a leader in professional sports for over 50 years. He co-founded the Orlando Magic through the NBA's expansion process. Additionally, he spent time as the General Manager for NBA teams in Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Orlando, as well as baseball teams in the Phillies' and Twins' organizations. Many of his NBA teams made playoff appearances, including the 1983 76er's who won the NBA title. After retiring from the Orlando Magic in 2019, Pat launched the Orlando Dreamers' MLB initiative and was instrumental in getting the process to the final stages before passing away in July, 2024.
JIM SCHNORF - Co-Founder, CFO, & Chief Administrative Officer
Jim Schnorf is the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer for the Orlando Dreamers. He has coordinated all the formational documents and financial arrangements for the organization, including team ownership structuring and financial strategies for stadium financing, as well as negotiations with prospective investors. Jim is the Founder and President of Wall Street Strategic Capital, Inc., a firm that specializes in institutional investor relationships, and structuring large, complex financial transactions, among other services. He is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Management Accountant.
DICK BATCHELOR - Director of Government Affairs
Dick Batchelor is the president of Dick Batchelor Management Group, Inc. A former member of the Florida House of Representatives, Dick was voted Orlando’s Most Influential Businessman by the Orlando Business Journal. Having served on multiple presidential-appointed commissions, he is a significant force and strategic advisor in the politics of Orlando and Orange County.
ANDREW HERDLISKA - Chief Marketing Officer
Andrew Herdliska has been a sports executive for over 19 years, specializing in sales, publicity, development, and special projects. Andrew brings expertise in strategic partnerships, sales and marketing, and innovative solutions to project management, and will be a key leader promoting and selling Orlando’s MLB initiative.
Local Business Leader Board
Cari Coats
Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Accendo Leadership Advisory Group
C.T. Hsu
President and Managing Principle at C.T. Hsu + Associates
Ralph Veerman
President at Veerman & Associates
Joanie Schirm
Chairman Bid and Host Committees for World Cup Orlando 1994
Latria Graham
President & CEO at GLB Marketing and Public Relations
John Evans
Vice Chairman of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority
Sports Advisory Board
Oscar Robertson
NBA Hall-of-Famer
AJ Pierzynski
Two-Time MLB All-Star and World Series Champion
Clint Hurdle
Former Manager of the Colorado Rockies and Pittsburgh Pirates
Jim Kaat
National Baseball Hall-of-Famer
Johnny Damon
Two-time MLB All-Star and Two-Time World Series Champion
John Hart
Former President of Baseball Operations for the Atlanta Braves and General Manager for the Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers
Murray Cook
Former General Manager of the New York Yankees, Montreal Expos and Cincinnati Reds
Brook Lopez
Center for the Milwaukee Bucks
IN THE NEWS
Latest Press Release
Orlando Dreamers' Push to Bring MLB to Central Florida Continues After Founder Pat Williams' Passing
The Orlando City Baseball Dreamers, LLC (Orlando Dreamers) announced that the effort to bring Major League Baseball to Orlando will continue, despite the passing of Founder Pat Williams on July 17 at the age of 84, following a short illness.
Orlando Ranked First in Most Categories Critical to the Success of an MLB Team
The Orlando City Baseball Dreamers, LLC (Orlando Dreamers) recently commissioned RedChip Companies to validate a comparative analysis of the cities that have been identified as potential candidates pursuing a Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise.
Orlando Voted The No. 1 Sports Business City in America by the Prestigious Sports Business Journal
The Orlando City Baseball Dreamers, LLC (Orlando Dreamers) highlighted the recent proclamation by the prestigious Sports Business Journal publication naming Orlando as the No. 1 sports business city in America.
Orlando Dreamers Release Initial Renderings of Planned Youth Ball Fields
The Orlando City Baseball Dreamers, LLC (Orlando Dreamers) today announced they have received the initial proposed renderings of the youth baseball and softball fields the team plans to construct in each Orange County district.
Orlando Dreamers Announce MLB Presence Projected To Generate Significant Tourist Development Tax (TDT) Revenues
The Orlando City Baseball Dreamers, LLC (Orlando Dreamers) today announced they have received back the conclusions from the additional economic impact study work they recently commissioned.
Orlando Dreamers Win Landslide Victory in Orlando Business Journal Poll
The Orlando City Baseball Dreamers, LLC's (Orlando Dreamers) plans for a MLB stadium in Orange County, Florida, emerged as the top pick for future allocation of Orange County Tourist Development Tax (TDT) funds, according to a recent poll by the Orlando Business Journal poll (OBJ).
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Where will Orlando Dreamers play games?
We have identified a 35.5-acre parcel located near International Drive attractions for a state-of-the-art domed facility.
Where will the team come from?
There are several possibilities, including Orlando acquiring a team from another city or Major League Baseball selecting Orlando as a destination for an expansion team.
Will the baseball team be called the Dreamers?
No, not necessarily. We have named our group that is bringing Major League Baseball to Orlando the Orlando Dreamers. But the baseball team is going to be the community's team, and when the time is right we want the community to be involved in choosing the baseball team's name and colors.
Are the Dreamers continuing their pursuit of Major League Baseball in Orlando without Pat Williams?
We are absolutely devastated and heartbroken by the loss of our friend and mentor, Pat Williams, at the age of 84. Pat understood this would be a long process, and, although he wanted to see it to the end, his foremost intention was to have Major League Baseball in the City Beautiful. With the Williams Family's blessing, we continue our pursuit to make Pat's dream a reality.
How does this impact Orange County?
According to independent analysis by a national firm, bringing Major League Baseball will create nearly 25,000 new, permanent jobs as well as over $40 billion of economic impact over a 30-year period.
Where can we see updates?
OrlandoDreamers.com will record updates on a regular basis. You can also stay updated on our journey to bring Major League Baseball to Orlando by following us on social media:
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