Mike Bianchi: Dreamers strike out again, but November election could put Orlando back in the ballgame
ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Dreamers insist the dream is not dead. Maybe it’s just waiting for our politicians to wake up. For the second time in three years, Orange County’s Tourist Development Tax Citizen Advisory Task Force has declined to endorse the Dreamers’ ambitious request to reserve $975 million in tourist-tax money toward construction of a Major League Baseball stadium. Twice up. ...
Orlando's Dreamers aim to build a Major League Baseball stadium, but recent efforts have met with rejection from the Tourist Development Tax Citizen Advisory Task Force. Despite two declines in three years, Dreamers co-founder Jim Schnorf remains optimistic, citing upcoming elections and a critical property tax amendment as reasons to hold off on final approval.
Dreamers have secured over $2 billion in private financing for a $2.1 billion to $2.3 billion ballpark on county-owned land. They also have support from Visit Orlando, local business leaders, and potential mayoral candidate Anna Eskamani. However, the Dreamers' progress has been hindered by the task force's time constraints and lack of resources.
While local officials like Mayor Jerry Demings haven't openly endorsed the baseball plan, they haven't actively opposed it either. The article argues that Orange County's political leadership should explicitly express enthusiasm for the Dreamers' proposal, signaling their support and willingness to engage in the process.
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