The event was highlighted by appearances from Governor Ron DeSantis, Barry Larkin, Johnny Bench, Ozzie Smith, Roger Clemens and Johnny Damon

Celebrating the game of baseball and highlighting the unparalleled growth across the state of Florida, Dreamers' ambassadors and advisers were front and center representing the fastest growing metro in the nation's fastest growing state

WEST PALM BEACH, FL / ACCESS Newswire / February 17, 2026 / The Orlando City Baseball Dreamers ("Orlando Dreamers" or the "Dreamers") proudly served as the Presenting Sponsor of the 2026 Governor's Baseball Dinner, an unforgettable evening celebrating the opening of the Florida Grapefruit League season at CACTI Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.

During the evening, Orlando Dreamers MLB Ambassador and MLB Hall of Famer Barry Larkin held a meaningful conversation with Governor Ron DeSantis regarding Orlando's ongoing efforts to acquire a Major League Baseball expansion franchise. The discussion highlighted the Orlando Dreamers' vision, the region's rapid growth, and the strong community and economic case for bringing MLB to Orlando.

"The Governor's Baseball Dinner is more than a celebration of a new season," said Orlando Dreamers MLB Ambassador Barry Larkin. "It is a celebration of opportunity, community, and the future of baseball in Florida. The Orlando Dreamers are honored to support this event and to continue advancing the vision of bringing Major League Baseball to Orlando."

The 2026 Governor's Baseball Dinner brought together leaders from sports, business, government, and tourism to celebrate Florida's deep baseball roots and its growing impact on the national sports landscape. It was an evening that honored the game at every level, from youth leagues to Major League legends.

In addition to Larkin, those representing the Orlando Dreamers were Dreamers MLB Strategic Advisor and World Series Champion Johnny Damon, Dreamers Strategic Advisor Jesse Eisner, and Dreamers Co-Founder Jim Schnorf. They were joined by an extraordinary lineup of baseball icons, including Hall of Famers Johnny Bench and Ozzie Smith, and legendary pitcher Roger Clemens.

Johnny Damon further amplified the excitement of the Orlando Dreamers' efforts with an appearance on ESPN Radio, underscoring the Orlando Dreamers' commitment to elevating Florida's baseball future. "Baseball has an unbelievably rich history in the state of Florida and in the Orlando region," said Damon. "Nothing would underscore the engrained passion and recent explosive growth in Florida more than bringing a Major League team to Orlando."

The Dinner and its festivities also recognized the tremendous impact of sports tourism in Florida alongside many statewide industry partners in attendance. As the nation's premier Spring Training destination, Florida continues to demonstrate how baseball drives economic development, tourism, and community engagement across the state.

Orlando is experiencing a surge in tourism, including meaningfully increased travel resulting from the recent opening of the Epic Universe theme park located a short distance from the Dreamers' proposed stadium site. The Orlando metro area is the most-visited destination in North America and is the #15 media market in the country, having passed Miami, Denver, and Minneapolis-St. Paul in recent years. It is anticipated that Orlando will pass Detroit in the near future to become the #14 media market, the largest without an MLB team. Orlando welcomed almost 80 million tourists in 2025, and revenues from the Tourist Development Tax again set an all-time record for the most recent fiscal year at approximately $384.6 million dollars.

The Orlando Dreamers previously reported that based on an independent study completed in 2023, bringing Major League Baseball to Orlando and playing in the planned domed stadium located on the 35.5 acre parcel adjacent to SeaWorld and the Orange County Convention Center will yield approximately 25,000 permanent jobs and create in excess of $40 billion dollars in economic impact to Orange County over 30 years. In addition, the study concluded that the MLB initiative would generate an additional $26 million annually in Tourist Development Taxes.

To celebrate the official opening of the Florida Grapefruit League season, the Governor's Baseball Dinner featured on-field action by the Miracle League of Palm Beach County and the Okeeheelee Baseball League, along with appearances by more than a dozen Major League alumni, League MVPs, and Hall of Famers. Similarly, the Orlando Dreamers recently participated in the new field dedication for the Central Florida Miracle League, made possible by a donation from Jesse Eisner and with an appearance from Johnny Damon. The event showcased baseball's ability to unite communities across generations and abilities which the Dreamers seek to accomplish for Central Florida.

About Orlando City Baseball Dreamers, LLC

Orlando City Baseball Dreamers, LLC was established to bring Major League Baseball to Orlando and Central Florida. Updates can be found at www.orlandodreamers.com.

Contact:

Dave Gentry
RedChip Companies
1-800-733-2447
dreamers@redchip.com

SOURCE: Orlando City Baseball Dreamers, LLC