Orlando ramps up MLB push as Rays' future in St. Petersburg remains uncertain
ORLANDO, Fla. - Momentum is building for a potential Major League Baseball team in Orlando, as uncertainty grows over the Tampa Bay Rays’ future in St. Petersburg.
Is Orlando ready for a MLB team?
What we know:
St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch signaled Tuesday that the city will not commit to keeping the Rays "at any cost," raising questions about whether the franchise could relocate.
Orlando’s push for a team is led by the Orlando Dreamers, a group actively preparing for either an expansion team or the relocation of an existing one. The Dreamers have already secured a 35-acre site near I-4 and State Road 528 for a stadium, unveiled design plans last year, and cite Orlando’s strong tourism industry and growing metro population as reasons it could sustain an MLB franchise.
What we don't know:
It remains unclear whether the Rays will actually leave St. Petersburg or if the MLB will grant Orlando an expansion team. While the Dreamers are positioning Orlando as a prime market, other cities—including Nashville, Charlotte, and Montreal—are also in contention for an expansion franchise. Additionally, the timeline for MLB’s decision on expansion or relocation remains uncertain.
The backstory:
The Rays’ need for a new stadium has been a long-running issue, exacerbated by Hurricane Milton, which damaged Tropicana Field. The team has insisted on a new stadium as a condition for staying in St. Pete, but negotiations have stalled. Meanwhile, Orlando has long been considered a potential MLB market but has yet to secure a team despite its status as the largest U.S. media market without one.
The Orlando Dreamers have been actively working to change that. Led by former MLB star Barry Larkin, the group has been making the case that Orlando’s tourism industry, population growth, and strong sports attendance record make it a viable home for a professional baseball team.
Big picture view:
The push for baseball in Orlando highlights the city’s evolution as a sports hub. While it already boasts the NBA’s Orlando Magic and MLS’s Orlando City SC, adding an MLB team would further solidify its status as a major league city.
St. Petersburg’s hesitation to invest in a new stadium for the Rays has fueled speculation that the team could be looking for other options, but relocation remains a complicated process. At the same time, MLB has hinted at expansion in the coming years, which could open another pathway for Orlando to secure a team.
What they're saying:
St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch clarified that city's position on Tuesday.
"We will not pursue a deal at any cost. The greatness and future of St. Pete does not depend solely on this deal. And I am confident that we have given this endeavor our very best effort," he said.
Dreamers President Jim Schnorf said they would not interfere with ongoing discussions taking place in other cities.
"But we are going to be prepared for an expansion team or the relocation of an existing team," he explained. "That's why we are taking the steps we are taking right now."
The interest in an MLB team in Orlando is there, and the numbers seem to show that the city is ready. Barry Larkin should know. In 2012, the former Cincinnati Reds shortstop was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
"Orlando deserves a Major League team because Orlando is a Major League city," he said.
Larkin worked as a sports ambassador under the Obama and Bush administrations. The Orlando resident is now part of the Dreamers' leadership team, and he's singing the City Beautiful's praises.
"Well, it’s the top media market in the U.S. without a Major League Baseball team. There are quite a few cities in contention, but Orlando is the largest metro population among those cities."
And Orlando is a tourist destination.
"The amount of tourism that happens in Orlando is that Orlando would be an absolute great spot for a Major League Baseball franchise," Larkin added. "The Orlando Magic are consistently in the top one-third of attendance, regardless of how well or poorly they do every year. And it’s because of tourism — it’s an event, it’s an experience. That’s what Major League Baseball games are."
What's next:
The Orlando Dreamers have already unveiled stadium designs, and they have the land — a 35-acre plot near the intersection of Interstate 4 and the Beach Line Expressway, right next to Aquatica.
Now, we wait to see if major league baseball will give Orlando an expansion team or if another one decides to move here.
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The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the Orlando Dreamers, the City of St. Petersburg and the MLB.