While the Tampa Bay Rays‘ leadership attempts to re-negotiate new stadium funding with Pinellas County, Orlando has three distinct advantages over the vast majority of other cities where the Rays could relocate if discussions with city and county leaders end in a stalemate.
Reason #1: Attendance Insurance via Tourists:
Unlike every other MLB team except Anaheim, Orlando has the ultimate family tourism draw: Disney World, and Orlando tops Anaheim for visitors. Last year, Orlando welcomed 74 million visitors, making it the most visited destination in the United States, and thanks to its theme parks, Orlando consistently ranks among the top three to five cities in the nation for out-of-state visitors. If the Rays suffer through a losing streak, the potential for a drop in local fan attendance could be easily remedied via tickets purchased by opponents’ fans who are coincidentally in Orlando during a vacation.
Reason #2: No In-City Competition for Attention
Unlike many 28 of 30 MLB teams, when autumn arrives, the Rays wouldn’t compete with an in-city NFL team. Currently, only the St. Louis Cardinals and Toronto Blue Jays don’t have an NFL team in their metro media market. (Green Bay is part of the Milwaukee metro media market). Orlando does have the Orlando Magic, but the the NBA regular season begins in mid October and ends in mid April.
Reason #3: Orlando Leaders Already Took the First Step
Orlando launched a major push for MLB expansion push right before COVID. A key figure in this effort was local businessman Pat Williams, a sports executive who persuaded the NBA to award Orlando with an expansion team back in the mid 1980’s. In 2019, only a few months before the COVID outbreak, Williams launched an ambitious campaign for the “Orlando Dreamers,” an MLB franchise. Williams died in July of 2024, but his proposal included a plan for constructing a state-of-the-art stadium, envisioned not just as the team’s home but also as a premier venue for major events.
Orlando’s love for professional sports, along with its smart planning and economic growth, keeps it in the running for a potential MLB market. One fact is clear: “The City Beautiful” is serious about adding to its beauty by expanding its sports legacy.
