It seems that Pat Williams, the co-founder of Orlando Magic, has got the big-league itch.
He’s looking to build a new Major League Baseball stadium in Orlando, as first reported by the Orlando Sentinel And as it turns out, he’s got his eyes on rehoming our (29-7) Tampa Bay Rays.
The Magic Man’s proposal includes a $1.7 billion ballpark with a seating capacity of 45,000 (around 2,000 more than the Trop). The project would also include retail stores, eateries, office space, 1,000 hotel rooms, and a convention center.
The stadium would be built in Orlando’s tourism district, sitting opposite SeaWorld — around six miles from Disney World and Universal Studios.
Construction for the stadium could begin as soon as 2025, according to the Tampa Bay Business Journal.
Don’t worry, Rays fans, the team is still calling TBAY home for now. This is just a pitch (we think it’s way outside the strike zone.) Also, the team is still working with local officials on a new stadium in this neck of the woods.
The Rays’ current lease at the Trop will expire after the 2027 season.
