MLB to Orlando? What to know about the Dreamers and their unlikely pitch to land a baseball team

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https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-to-orlando-what-to-know-about-the-dreamers-and-their-unlikely-pitch-to-land-a-baseball-team/

MLB to Orlando? What to know about the Dreamers and their unlikely pitch to land a baseball team

Former Orlando Magic GM Pat Williams presented his vision for an Orlando MLB team on Wednesday

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https://www.nj.com/sports/2019/11/mlb-rumors-is-baseball-coming-to-orlando.html

MLB rumors: Is baseball coming to Orlando? What it could mean for Rays, Marlins

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https://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2019/11/20/orlando-wants-an-mlb-team-and-we-have-a-history-of-giving-stadiums-to-rich-guys

Orlando wants an MLB team, and we have a history of giving stadiums to rich guys

Pat Williams, Orlando Magic co-founder, held a press conference Wednesday morning discussing the possibility of bringing a baseball team to the city of Orlando. According to Williams, the proposed team would be called the “Orlando Dreamers,” a name he hasn’t given much, if any, background about.

What’s the likelihood that our local Rays will simply move across I-4 and head to the land owned by the rat? Well, it’s a lot better than that Montreal plan, which calls for the Rays to play the first half of their season in Tampa, then move to Montreal for the second half.

The MLB hasn't gotten very deep into the specifics of the plan (like, where the team would play in the postseason? Would the players get paid in Canadian or U.S. currency?), but the Rays are seeking two new, smaller stadiums to be built in both cities (because if Tampa wasn’t eager to pay for a stadium with the team playing all their games here, they’ll definitely go for half a season).

The Orlando Magic averages over 16,000 fans a game, and Orlando City soccer is in the top-ten for attendance in the MLS.

There’s also the problem of getting approval from the players’ union. If players aren’t already tired of being on the road for 81 games out of the year, they’ll be really excited to have an additional 40 road games (making for 121 road games, for those like me that are mathematically challenged). And with the Rays having the lowest payroll for players in all of baseball, clearly owner Stuart Sternberg is great about paying his players. So they’ll be very well compensated.

All of this is to say, Orlando is a much more viable option for the Rays.

For one, O-Town sports teams don’t seem to have the same attendance problems as the Rays. The basketball team, the Orlando Magic, averages over 16,000 fans a game, and the soccer team Orlando City is top 10 in the MLS for attendance, so who’s to say those fans wouldn’t want to watch Kevin Kiermaier go 0-5 with three groundouts to first and two strikeouts?

But arguably the best reason Sternberg might go for Orlando is that he may actually get his stadium. The City of Orlando would probably have to foot most of the bill, but this is something they’ve been more than willing to do in the past. Back in the early 2000s, the city did offer a massive chunk of downtown to convicted fraudster and boy band mogul Lou Pearlman for practically nothing. The City of Orlando also spent $8.2 million on land for their MLS stadium, and even approved another $20 million in tourist development tax funds to be deferred to the project. Plus, Robert DeVos convinced Orlando to spend millions on his new Amway Center back in 2007.

Sure, it’s a little far-fetched, but it is a possibility.

Especially if Tampa and St. Pete continue to shuffle their feet in regards to stadium funding. Plus, it already seems like Sternberg has one foot out the door. When asked at a press conference about the Montreal plan if he thinks a full season could work in either Tampa or St. Pete, he said, "I don't see it. I don't see it happening in St. Petersburg and I would be hard-pressed to see it in Tampa as well, given what I know."

Williams says that he called the MLB commissioner’s office with his proposed plan for having a team in Orlando, but he said he wants to find out how invested the community would be in the team before he does any serious work in planning for the team.

But it sure sounds like Orlando is more than ready for another big investment.

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http://www.orlandorays.com

Orlando Rays Professional Baseball

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https://www.tampabay.com/sports/rays/2019/11/20/no-details-or-plans-lure-rays-just-dreamers-right-now-in-orlando/

No details or plans to lure Rays, just Dreamers right now in Orlando

Longtime sports executive Pat Williams’ pitch to get an MLB team starts with fans showing interest. Stadium, owners ‘"not pertinent right now."

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https://www.tampabay.com/sports/rays/2019/11/21/orlando-baseball-is-not-a-threat-to-tampa-bay-but-apathy-is/

Orlando baseball is not a threat to Tampa Bay, but apathy is

While communities across North America are gearing up for MLB expansion or relocation, Tampa Bay seems to be reacting with indifference to Rays attendance and stadium concerns.

Pat Williams, co-founder of the NBA Orlando Magic basketball team, kisses a baseball at a news conference to announce a campaign to bring a Major League Baseball team to Orlando, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019 in Orlando, Fla. Williams brought good luck to the Orlando Magic by kissing ping pong balls before the NBA draft two years in a row bringing the number one picks twice.

ST. PETERSBURG — It would be easy to poke fun of the Orlando Dreamers today.

To point out this nascent Major League Baseball fantasy lacks a stadium plan, an ownership group or, more importantly, a...

https://www.mcall.com/sns-bc-bbo--orlando-baseball-20191120-story.html

Former NBA executive wants to bring MLB to Orlando

https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnperrotto/2019/11/24/orlando-mlb-team/#733665f13bd0

Another MLB Team In Florida? Orlando Must Be Dreaming

I have covered MLB regularly since 1988.

Orlando Baseball
Pat Williams, co-founder of the NBA Orlando Magic basketball team, kisses a baseball at a news ... [+]ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pat Williams wants to bring Major League Baseball.

Seriously.

The former Orlando Magic executive held a press conference this past week to talk about trying to land a baseball team for the theme park mecca.

Williams’ contention is that Orlando is ready for MLB because it has 2.5 million residents in its metropolitan area. Furthermore, the city attracts 75 million tourists each year.

Williams said he believes Orlando is a better market than those mentioned as possible expansion cities or places where a team with stadium issues like the Oakland Athletics or Tampa Bay Rays could relocate. Among the cities he mentioned where Charlotte, Las Vegas, Montreal, Nashville, Portland and Vancouver.

Not to burst Williams’ bubble but it’s certainly hard to make any kind of case to place a third team in Florida or even move the Rays across I-4 to the land of Mickey Mouse.

The Sunshine State has proven it can’t even support one MLB franchise. The Rays and Marlins are annually among the lowest franchises in attendance.

The Rays drew just 1,178,735 this past season to Tropicana Field. That was pathetic considering Tampa Bay won 96 games, beat the Athletics on the road in the wild card and pushed the Houston Astros – who had the best regular-season record in the major leagues – to the full five games before losing in an American League Division Series.

The Rays drew 2.5 million fans during their expansion season in 1998. They cracked 1.9 million in a season since then.

Beyond being the only stadium in the major leagues with a permanent roof, the complaint about Tropicana Field is its location in south St. Petersburg. That represents nearly an hour’s drive for fans in the northern part of Tampa.

The Rays have also unsuccessful tried to get a new ballpark built in the Tampa/St. Pete area for year. The latest failed attempt came last December when a proposed facility in Tampa’s Ybor City section fell through.

Yet speaking of driving, have you ever tried to navigate I-4 in the Orlando area during tourist season? There are few experiences you can have in a vehicle that are worse.

The Marlins’ situation isn’t any better as fans haven’t exactly flocked to Marlins Park since it opened in 2012. In fact, interest is so low in professional baseball in the city that the Marlins have yet to secure a naming rights’ deal for the 7-year-old facility.

The Marlins haven’t come close to drawing one million fans the last two seasons. This year, the total attendance was 811,302. That was up all of 198 fans from 2018. Of course, Miami lost 98 games last year and 105 this year.

Miami also had the lowest attendance in the major leagues in 2019. Tampa Bay was second.

It is hard to blame the citizens of Miami for not supporting their team. Though the Marlins produced World Series winners in 1997 and 2003, they have usually not been competitive since joining the National League as an expansion franchise in 1993.

Williams, though, is undeterred. He even has a nickname already selected for the Orlando team – the Dreamers.

Quite ironic in a state that has turned out to be a nightmare for MLB.

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https://spotonflorida.com/fl-sports/orlando-magic/1007517/details-on-the-latest-pitch-to-bring.html

Details on the latest pitch to bring an MLB team to Orlando

Will Major League Baseball ever come to Central Florida? Well, that's exactly what Orlando Magic co-founder Pat Williams is pushing for. Williams held a news conference Wednesday to announce the ...

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https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2019/11/23/hyde-house-the-tampa-outpost-of-st-petes-station.html

Hyde House, the Tampa outpost of St. Pete's Station House, opens in Hyde Park Village — and it already has a big expansion in the works (Photos)

Gianco Cos. is growing its footprint within Hyde Park Village — and it's also taken over South Tampa's historic Anderson-Frank House for more events and office space.

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https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2019/11/23/penthouse-in-the-towers-at-channelside-sells-for.html

Penthouse in the Towers at Channelside sells for second-highest price per square foot ever (Photos)

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https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2019/11/22/tampa-opens-bid-for-first-200m-comprehensive.html

Tampa opens bid for $200M comprehensive infrastructure project, including Streetcar extension

New infrastructure projects are slated for Tampa neighborhoods and the city has issued its first advertisement for a design-build firm to work on what it's calling the Comprehensive Infrastructure Project.

This is the first of approximately 10 neighborhood infrastructure projects expected over the next 20 years, the city's release states.

The proposed budget is estimated at $200 million, according to the request for qualifications.

The city has identified East Tampa, Forest Hills, MacFarland Park and Virginia Park as the neighborhoods where the projects will take place. The selection was made based on infrastructure needs for those areas.

The historic effort will coordinate four major programs

PIPES (progressive infrastructure planning to ensure sustainability)

Tampa MO>ES (mobility, opportunity, vision, equity, safety) powered by All for Transportation

Stormwater improvement assessment and later the TECO Line Streetcar extension

The project includes design and construction, performing public relations, improvements for water, wastewater, stormwater and transportation infrastructure, which will all be performed at the same time for the selected locations, the release said.

The projects will also create a large economic impact. The design-build firm selection process will focus heavily on maximizing women and minority businesses and small local business enterprise involvement. The program should include apprenticeship opportunities, mentoring and on-the-job training, according to the release.

The deadline is Jan. 9, 2020 before 2 p.m.

View the full RFQ here.

The announcement takes place after Tampa Mayor Jane Castor recently unveiled her transportation priority list, which included the TAMPA MO>ES program and the Streetcar extension.

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https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2019/06/11/tropicana-field-to-be-transformed-into-world-s.html

Tropicana Field to be transformed into world’s largest Christmas light maze (Video)

St. Petersburg will be home to a winter wonderland full of mazes and light displays.

The event called Enchant Christmas will be at Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays, Nov. 22 through Dec. 29.

The outfield will be transformed into the world's largest maze of light displays and a Christmas market stocked with over 60 local food and artisan merchant vendors. The infield will house an ice skating trail.

“After overwhelmingly popular events in Seattle, Washington, Vancouver, Canada and Dallas, Texas, we are grateful for the opportunity to work with the Rays and to bring Enchant Christmas to the greater St. Petersburg community and beyond,” said Enchant Christmas Founder Kevin Johnston in Enchant's news release.

The festivities include:

Light maze: “The Great Search” is the world’s largest Christmas light maze where guests search for Santa’s missing reindeer

Christmas market: Taste seasonal delights and shop for holiday gifts from dozens of local vendors showcasing home decor, jewelry, gourmet foods and more.

VIP event experiences: Tropicana Field’s private suites and club spaces will be transformed into exclusive rooms for holiday parties and special events.

Food and beverage: Holiday-themed food and drinks that are sure to please everyone throughout the concourse with a special bar experience on the field in the maze.

Ice skating trail: Visitors can rent a pair of skates.

Adult tickets prices start at roughly $20. However, there's an early bird special going on until June 23.

There are also sponsorship and vendor opportunities.

The event is produced by Enchant Christmas LLC, a subsidiary of Enchant Christmas Light Maze and Market Ltd., a Vancouver-based Christmas light company, according to the release.

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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-7717375/Luis-Suarez-open-MLS-Barcelona-career-over.html

'The United States is a nice possibility': Luis Suarez open to MLS move after Barcelona career is over with David Beckham's Inter Miami among options

Luis Suarez's Barca contract is due to expire at the end of the 2020-21 season

The Uruguay international has been continuously linked with Inter Miami

Suarez has hinted he could end his professional career in the United States

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https://upnewsinfo.com/2019/11/23/luis-suarez-barcelona-striker-admits-that-mls-is-an-attractive-leaguequot-soccer-news/

Luis Suarez: Barcelona striker admits that MLS is an "attractive league,quot; | Soccer news

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https://stockdailydish.com/ethics-complaint-about-beckham-soccer-complex-in-miami-spurs-question-who-owns-team/

Ethics complaint about Beckham soccer complex in Miami spurs question: Who owns team?

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https://www.caughtoffside.com/2019/11/23/barcelona-star-open-to-mls-move/

Barcelona star open to MLS move

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https://skystatement.com/luis-suarez-tempted-by-transfer-to-mls-with-david-beckhams-inter-miami-team/

Luis Suarez tempted by transfer to MLS with David Beckham’s Inter Miami team

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https://mlsmultiplex.com/2019/11/23/mls-edinson-cavani-impacts-luis-suarez-inter-miami-move/

MLS: How Edinson Cavani impacts Luis Suarez Inter Miami move

Luis Suarez’s arrival in Major League Soccer may happen sooner rather than later as the Uruguayan star continues to be linked with a move to MLS.

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https://www.caughtoffside.com/2019/11/24/james-rodriguez-inter-miami-transfer-from-real-madrid/

David Beckham’s Inter Miami line up ambitious transfer by preparing huge salary offer to Real Madrid star

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https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/11/24/inter-miami-cf-managing-owner-jorge-mas-we-aspire-bring-best-players-world

Inter Miami CF managing owner Jorge Mas: "We aspire to bring the best players in the world"

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https://www.tampabay.com/news/transportation/2019/11/24/scooters-went-where-they-shouldnt-more-than-1150-times-tampa-report-says/

Scooters went where they shouldn’t more than 1,150 times, Tampa report says

Four companies vying to serve the city logged about 600,000 trips since the test program started Memorial Day weekend.

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https://stockdailydish.com/brightline-to-start-building-rail-from-south-florida-to-orlando-in-march-while-it-rebrands-as-virgin-trains/

Brightline to start building rail from South Florida to Orlando in March while it rebrands as Virgin Trains

Also announced in 2018 is the rail service’s plan to extend operations from Orlando’s airport to Tampa at an undisclosed station location between its downtown and historic community of Ybor City.

Filed in late November, a preliminary prospectus for stock in Virgin Trains USA Inc. predicts that service between Miami and Tampa through Orlando has the potential to carry 9.5 million passengers annually.

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https://www.hospitalitynet.org/announcement/41004093/hotel-haya-ybor-city.html

Hotel Haya Ybor City

Aparium Hotel Group Announces Hotel Haya to Open in Ybor City, Tampa, Florida Spring 2020
Scheduled for Spring 2020 – 91 Rooms