In a major development for professional sports in Central Florida, the Orlando Dreamers group is reporting that it has secured a $1.5 billion financial commitment aimed at landing a Major League Baseball (MLB) expansion franchise in Orlando. The funding, announced earlier this week, represents a significant milestone in the city’s long-running efforts to become home to a big-league baseball team.
The investment, which comes from a mix of private equity firms, real estate partners, and local business leaders, would support the construction of a state-of-the-art ballpark, infrastructure, and operational costs tied to launching a new MLB team. With that bucket of money, The Dreamers, which was assembled by entrepreneur and former professional baseball player Pat Williams (he passed in July 2024), now presents a compelling case (because money) to MLB officials who are weighing cities for potential league expansion.
Orlando is not alone in its quest for MLB expansion. Other cities reportedly under consideration include Nashville, Charlotte, Portland, and Salt Lake City. With MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred reiterating the league’s interest in eventual expansion to 32 teams, once the stadium situations in Oakland and Tampa Bay are resolved. Competition among prospective cities is heating up.