Orlando Dreamers Request $975M for New MLB Stadium in Orange County
What Is the Orlando Dreamers’ New Proposal?
The Orlando Dreamers, the investment group working to bring Major League Baseball to Central Florida, formally presented updated stadium renderings and a funding request to the Orange County Tourist Development Tax (TDT) Task Force on August 5, 2026. The group is asking the county for $975 million in TDT funding to help finance a project now estimated at roughly $2 billion overall.
Where Would the Stadium Be Built?
The proposed site sits on about 35.5 acres along the International Drive tourism corridor, near SeaWorld and State Road 528 — an area already dense with hotels, convention traffic, and major attractions. The plan includes a domed stadium designed to seat approximately 45,000 fans, with a pedestrian walkway connecting the venue to a planned SunRail station for easier regional access.
What Else Is Included in the Development Plan?
This isn’t just a ballpark. The mixed-use master plan surrounding the stadium includes three hotel towers totaling 1,000 keys, Class-A office space, a museum attraction, a multipurpose special events center, and destination retail and dining. The Dreamers describe the site as designed to draw visitors 365 days a year, not just on game days.
How Would the Project Be Funded?
The group says private financing would cover a significant share of the roughly $2 billion project, with more than $2 billion already lined up toward the combined cost of acquiring an MLB franchise and building the stadium. The $975 million request would come from TDT revenue — the tax collected on hotel stays and short-term rentals — rather than general county funds. The Dreamers are asking the county to issue municipal bonds to help structure the public portion of the financing.
What Economic Impact Do the Dreamers Project?
An independent analysis by JLL, a third-party consulting firm, estimates the project would generate more than 38,000 construction jobs, over 52,000 permanent jobs, and $72 billion in economic impact over 30 years. The Dreamers also project an additional $31.7 million in annual TDT revenue once the venue is operational.
What Are the Sticking Points?
Not everyone on the task force is convinced the math works in the county’s favor. At the August 5 meeting, Winter Park’s task force representative raised concerns about the return on investment, noting that a $975 million outlay against roughly $32 million in projected annual TDT revenue looks like a loss on paper unless the broader economic impact is factored in. The task force doesn’t have final approval authority — it reviews requests and makes recommendations to the Tourist Development Council and Orange County commissioners, who will ultimately decide.
What Happens Next?
The task force is reviewing nearly $3 billion in total funding requests against a limited pool of available TDT dollars, with a final session scheduled for August 11 before recommendations move to county commissioners. Nothing is decided yet — the renderings and the funding request are steps in a much longer approval process.
Why Does This Matter for Central Florida?
A project of this scale, if approved, would reshape a significant stretch of Orange County’s tourism corridor — bringing new hospitality jobs, added visitor traffic, and long-term pressure on nearby infrastructure and housing. Whether or not the stadium ultimately gets built, it’s a sign of how aggressively Central Florida continues to position itself for major growth.
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