Orlando Dreamers respond to potential Tampa Bay Rays purchase

The Tampa Bay Rays may have announced on Wednesday that they were in talks to sell the team to a Jacksonville developer, but that’s not deterring Orlando’s MLB efforts. The Orlando Dreamers group, which are leading the charge in bringing Major League Baseball to Central Florida, said on Thursday that its was not surprised by the Rays announcement and nothing changes in the group’s initiative. “We have been aware of various groups indicating interest in potentially acquiring the franchise,” said Barry Lark, MLB ambassador for the Dreamers group. “Multiple prospective groups have reached out to more than one of the key people affiliated with the Dreamers over recent months. This does not complicate our mission, nor does it change our plans for aggressively moving forward to the next phase of our initiative.” “We plan to open our downtown office in the very near future and we are laser-focused on finalizing the public side of the public/private partnership,” Larkin added. “We continue to see Orange County and the greater Orlando area as an unsurpassed market for the next MLB location.” The Dreamers made their first public appearance earlier this week at the International Drive Chamber of Commerce Luncheon, where they delivered a presentation on their progress. The Orlando Dreamers have their majority control owner, and they say they have more than a billion dollars in private financing to build a domed stadium.Now, they say they just need an indication from Orange County leaders that they’re ready to play ball.An Orange County spokesperson told WESH 2 earlier this week, responding to the Tampa Bay Rays announcement: “At this time, the Mayor has not met with any groups regarding the potential relocation or establishment of MLB baseball teams in Central Florida. Until there is a more sustained and substantive plan in place, it would be premature to offer additional comments.”But that statement is a contrast to what Orange County mayor Jerry Demings said during this month’s State of the County. “In terms of the prospects of having a Major League Baseball team in our area is something that is worth having a conversation about,” Demings told reporters on June 6. “Yes, I have been approached by different ownership groups. It’s really more than one. So that at this point, all of those conversations at a high level but in order to get down to any seriousness, there has to be some very specific plans.” WESH 2 reached out for clarification, but is waiting to hear back. Dreamers co-founder Jim Schnorf told WESH 2 in May that if Orlando were to get a Major League Baseball team, it would be through an expansion slot or relocation of another team.MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred hopes to select two cities for expansion teams before he retires from the job in 2029, Schnorf told WESH 2 in March.Schnorf said Major League Baseball insists on a public-private partnership to build a new ballpark.The Dreamers have identified 35.5 acres of parcel adjacent to SeaWorld Orlando and the Orange County Convention Center for its planned domed stadium.According to the organization, the stadium project would yield 25,000 permanent jobs and create $40 billion in economic impact to Orange County over 30 years.The team also says its MLB initiative would generate an additional $26 billion annually in tourist development taxes.”We believe it is unlikely that a sale of the Rays can consummate without an affirmative stadium site and stadium financing solution in place, steps which are very challenging and time-consuming, but that we are fortunate to have under control,” Schnorf said on Thursday. “Regardless of the circumstances with the Rays and their discussions with any prospective buyer group, the Dreamers are continuing to move forward in concluding the final aspects of our initiative,” he added. “With all the recent progress over the past 90 days, we have demonstrated that we are fully prepared for any opportunity to bring Major League Baseball to Orange County.”

The Tampa Bay Rays may have announced on Wednesday that they were in talks to sell the team to a Jacksonville developer, but that’s not deterring Orlando’s MLB efforts.

The Orlando Dreamers group, which are leading the charge in bringing Major League Baseball to Central Florida, said on Thursday that its was not surprised by the Rays announcement and nothing changes in the group’s initiative.

“We have been aware of various groups indicating interest in potentially acquiring the franchise,” said Barry Lark, MLB ambassador for the Dreamers group. “Multiple prospective groups have reached out to more than one of the key people affiliated with the Dreamers over recent months. This does not complicate our mission, nor does it change our plans for aggressively moving forward to the next phase of our initiative.”

“We plan to open our downtown office in the very near future and we are laser-focused on finalizing the public side of the public/private partnership,” Larkin added. “We continue to see Orange County and the greater Orlando area as an unsurpassed market for the next MLB location.”

The Dreamers made their first public appearance earlier this week at the International Drive Chamber of Commerce Luncheon, where they delivered a presentation on their progress.

The Orlando Dreamers have their majority control owner, and they say they have more than a billion dollars in private financing to build a domed stadium.

Now, they say they just need an indication from Orange County leaders that they’re ready to play ball.

An Orange County spokesperson told WESH 2 earlier this week, responding to the Tampa Bay Rays announcement: “At this time, the Mayor has not met with any groups regarding the potential relocation or establishment of MLB baseball teams in Central Florida. Until there is a more sustained and substantive plan in place, it would be premature to offer additional comments.”

But that statement is a contrast to what Orange County mayor Jerry Demings said during this month’s State of the County.

“In terms of the prospects of having a Major League Baseball team in our area is something that is worth having a conversation about,” Demings told reporters on June 6. “Yes, I have been approached by different ownership groups. It’s really more than one. So that at this point, all of those conversations at a high level but in order to get down to any seriousness, there has to be some very specific plans.”

WESH 2 reached out for clarification, but is waiting to hear back.

Dreamers co-founder Jim Schnorf told WESH 2 in May that if Orlando were to get a Major League Baseball team, it would be through an expansion slot or relocation of another team.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred hopes to select two cities for expansion teams before he retires from the job in 2029, Schnorf told WESH 2 in March.

Schnorf said Major League Baseball insists on a public-private partnership to build a new ballpark.

The Dreamers have identified 35.5 acres of parcel adjacent to SeaWorld Orlando and the Orange County Convention Center for its planned domed stadium.

According to the organization, the stadium project would yield 25,000 permanent jobs and create $40 billion in economic impact to Orange County over 30 years.

The team also says its MLB initiative would generate an additional $26 billion annually in tourist development taxes.

“We believe it is unlikely that a sale of the Rays can consummate without an affirmative stadium site and stadium financing solution in place, steps which are very challenging and time-consuming, but that we are fortunate to have under control,” Schnorf said on Thursday.

“Regardless of the circumstances with the Rays and their discussions with any prospective buyer group, the Dreamers are continuing to move forward in concluding the final aspects of our initiative,” he added. “With all the recent progress over the past 90 days, we have demonstrated that we are fully prepared for any opportunity to bring Major League Baseball to Orange County.”