Orlando Group Proposes $1.7B Stadium to Lure MLB Franchise

Author:
Nick Selbe
Publish date:
May 9, 2023

In this story:

As part of a plan to attract the Rays or a possible MLB expansion franchise to Orlando, a group led by Magic co-founder Pat Williams unveiled artist renderings on Tuesday for a proposed new baseball stadium, which would cost an estimated $1.7 billion to construct.

In a press release, the group—known as Orlando City Baseball Dreamers—called for $700 million in private funding, which would be the biggest private investment for a publicly owned MLB stadium.

Orlando is located about 100 miles from St. Petersburg, the home of Tropicana Field, where the Rays currently play. The franchise has called “the Trop” home since its inaugural season in 1998.

The Orlando Dreamers’ proposal also calls for nearly $1 billion in public funding for the 45,000-seat domed stadium. Williams called out the Rays for having an out-of-date ballpark, and he pushed for a quick decision on the matter.

“Orlando is ready for baseball, and this is our best and maybe our last chance,” Williams told the Orlando Sentinel. “Time is running out on Tampa Bay, and the question is: Can they get a ballpark built? More importantly, can we get a ballpark built?”

For a look at what Orlando’s proposed new ballpark would look like, check out the renderings presented by the group below.