Should Orlando just BUILD an MLB stadium like Tampa did?

12 comments

1. Could they do it? Sure. Should they do it? Probably not.

2. Quebec did the same thing with a new hockey arena. Still Vegas, Seattle, and Utah all got the new teams since then.

3. 3 things in life are certain Brodie. Death, Taxes and MLB will not put a third team in Florida. They can't support two!

4. Dreamers?

5. Yes they should. Anything to get the rays out of Tampa bay. I’m sick of 27 years of drama, and lame excuses for weak attendance, especially those wild card games in 2023. If you had a 27.year old underachieving kid who still lived with you, smoked weed and played video games all day, they’d be like the Rays

6. There’s no reason Tampa and Orlando can’t both have teams. The city of Chicago has two teams within an arms reach. Orlando shouldn’t be punished because Tampa had a team first (that has never done well with attendance). These areas have grown into two completely separate media markets and are relatively insulated from one another. Why should Orlando have to miss out on this economic stimulus and other potential development projects that come with a pro team. If the money is there and people want it why should Orlando have to handicap its growth and development based on whatever it is that Tampa has going on.

7. As much as I want to see Orlando get an MLB team, sadly, the answer is no. Don't build it until you have a team

   It took Tampa/St. Pete eight years to get a team after they built The Trop. They can't put the cart before the horse.

   Their only way is to bring the Rays. There will not be three Florida teams. Unless the Rays are moving, Orlando would be throwing away money.

   If anything, Orlando could have the Rays play at Wide World of Sports until a new stadium is ready.

8. With the Orlando Magic already on-site, the city should just focus on renovating their arena and acquiring an NHL team to capitalize on the league's desire to solidify their Florida presence in the wake of the Stanley Cup wins from the Panthers and Lightning. Otherwise, it's possible that they may lose out to a hypothetical push from Jacksonville.

9. Please, explain to me how Oakland and San Fran, Baltimore and DC can both have MLB teams but Orlando and Tampa cannot both coexist? I’m not driving 2 hours to see the Rays in St Pete, especially not on a weekday. Orlando has 3 million people and 70 million tourists. It’s only growing larger in population in every direction, faster than Nashville, Charlotte and SLC.

   It needs its own MLB team. And NFL, but that’s another story.

10. Nope, no one wants a team in Orlando except three Californians

11. Lakeland SHOULD BUILD A BASEBALL STAIUM AND GUARANTEE BOTH THE TAMPA AND ORLANDO MARKETS!

12. Nobody wants a league with 5 California teams, 3 Texas and 3 Florida teams. I’m glad states like Utah, Oregon, North Carolina, Nevada, Tennessee, and Washington are stepping up to prevent this.