A proposed college baseball tournament at ESPN Wide World of Sports could receive public tourism funding as organizers look to launch a new annual event in Orlando beginning in 2027.According to an application submitted to Orange County’s Tourist Development Tax Sports Incentive Fund Committee, the Greater Orlando Sports Commission is requesting $15,000 to support marketing and promotion for the inaugural Orlando Baseball Classic. The proposed event would take place Feb. 26-28, 2027, at ESPN Wide World of Sports and feature six Division I college baseball teams playing nine games over three days. The application describes the tournament as an annual early-season college baseball showcase intended to attract traveling fans and position Orlando as a destination for premier college sporting events. Organizers said the Orlando Baseball Classic is intended to mirror the success of other early-season college baseball events, including the Bruce Bolt College Classic in Houston and the Shriners Children’s College Showdown in Texas. The proposal states both events attract thousands of fans annually while showcasing top college baseball programs at major venues. BDG Sports, an event management company focused on college sports and professional golf, would operate the event. The company says it also manages college basketball events and recently launched the Atlantis Collegiate Baseball Classic in the Bahamas. Organizers project the event would attract approximately 8,500 attendees in Orange County, including about 180 non-local participants and coaches. The application estimates the tournament would generate roughly 1,500 hotel room nights and produce an estimated $2.5 million economic impact locally. The proposed tournament field currently includes UCF, Pitt, West Virginia and Indiana State, with two additional teams still to be determined. The application also states organizers are in discussions with ESPN regarding potential broadcasts on ESPN+, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network or ACC Network. According to the filing, organizers plan to market the event through participating schools’ social media channels, donor and season ticket holder email lists, targeted advertising campaigns and VIP travel packages. The funding request is scheduled to go before Orange County tourism officials for consideration during its Sports Incentive Committee meeting on May 18. The application states a decision is requested by July 1.

A proposed college baseball tournament at ESPN Wide World of Sports could receive public tourism funding as organizers look to launch a new annual event in Orlando beginning in 2027.

According to an application submitted to Orange County’s Tourist Development Tax Sports Incentive Fund Committee, the Greater Orlando Sports Commission is requesting $15,000 to support marketing and promotion for the inaugural Orlando Baseball Classic.

The proposed event would take place Feb. 26-28, 2027, at ESPN Wide World of Sports and feature six Division I college baseball teams playing nine games over three days.

The application describes the tournament as an annual early-season college baseball showcase intended to attract traveling fans and position Orlando as a destination for premier college sporting events.

Organizers said the Orlando Baseball Classic is intended to mirror the success of other early-season college baseball events, including the Bruce Bolt College Classic in Houston and the Shriners Children’s College Showdown in Texas.

The proposal states both events attract thousands of fans annually while showcasing top college baseball programs at major venues.

BDG Sports, an event management company focused on college sports and professional golf, would operate the event. The company says it also manages college basketball events and recently launched the Atlantis Collegiate Baseball Classic in the Bahamas.

Organizers project the event would attract approximately 8,500 attendees in Orange County, including about 180 non-local participants and coaches. The application estimates the tournament would generate roughly 1,500 hotel room nights and produce an estimated $2.5 million economic impact locally.

The proposed tournament field currently includes UCF, Pitt, West Virginia and Indiana State, with two additional teams still to be determined.

The application also states organizers are in discussions with ESPN regarding potential broadcasts on ESPN+, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network or ACC Network.

According to the filing, organizers plan to market the event through participating schools’ social media channels, donor and season ticket holder email lists, targeted advertising campaigns and VIP travel packages.

The funding request is scheduled to go before Orange County tourism officials for consideration during its Sports Incentive Committee meeting on May 18.

The application states a decision is requested by July 1.