MLB expansion team faces stiff pushback from local residents over new $2bn stadium

The Orlando Dreamers’ hopes of establishing an MLB expansion team have taken a significant blow.

Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred has said he would like to have two cities picked for expansion before he retires in 2029.

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Several bidders have emerged alongside Orlando, including: Sacramento, Salt Lake City, Portland and Nashville, as well others north and south of the border.

Orlando released renderings of a 45,000 capacity domed stadium with three hotels surrounding it.

If successful in their bid, the Dreamers would join the Miami Marlins as the two MLB franchises in Florida.

However, it appears Orange County residents aren’t too keen on the idea.

A poll conducted by Kaplan Strategies, and shared with Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics, showed that residents want hotel tax (TDT) to fund transportation, not an MLB stadium.

“About 76% favored using the TDT for roads and transportation projects. Seventeen percent were undecided, and just 7% opposed the idea,” Russon wrote.

“The poll found that 42% of residents opposed spending hotel tax revenue on a stadium, while 35% supported the idea. Another 24% said they were unsure.”

The Dreamers have asked for $975 million in funds to ‘partially finance the construction’ of the stadium if successful in their bid.

A site north of the Aquatica waterpark, and south of State Road 528, has been named as the preffered destination.

Premium office space, a museum attraction, a multipurpose special events center and space for restaurants, retail and hospitality would also feature in the district.

Instagram / orlandodreamers

Instagram / orlandodreamers

Despite the disappointing results of the poll, the Dreamers Group are not giving up on their ambitions just yet.

“Our mission has not changed. Our commitment has never been stronger,” the Orlando Dreamers said in a statement afterward.

“We have the private investment. We have the transformational plan. We have growing community support.

“We have the opportunity. Orlando is ready for Major League Baseball. We are not done dreaming. We are just getting started.”

The league last expanded in 1998 with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Devil Rays (now the Rays), who are in the process of building their own new ballpark.

Before that, it was 1993 with the Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins (now Miami) joining MLB.

Instagram / orlandodreamers

Orange County commissioners hold the final authority on hotel tax allocations, and with rival bids from Nashville, Salt Lake City, and Portland gaining momentum, the clock is ticking.