Latest news with #RickWorkman
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Cardinals vs. White Sox Game 2 Highlights
Orlando Dreamers president on MLB becoming reality Dr. Rick Workman sat down with FOX 35's Randi Hildreth for an in-depth discussion on his background, growing up as a St. Louis Cardinals fan, where he found his love for baseball and his path to becoming the anchor investor and president of the Orlando Dreamers, the organization working to bring Major League Baseball to Orlando by relocating an existing team or through league expansion. Right now, the Dreamers' chief target appears to be the Tampa Bay Rays after the team and owner Stu Sternberg backed out of their $1.3 billion stadium deal with St. Petersburg and Pinellas County. Dr. Workman speaks on the next steps with the Orange County Commission and City of Orlando to pursue a public-private partnership and the more than $2 billion the Dreamers say they have ready to purchase an MLB franchise and begin work on building a new stadium in the I-Drive area. 12:09 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
Associated Press
a day ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Orlando Dreamers Respond to Announcement that Tampa Bay Rays in Discussions with Potential Buyer
Dreamers' control ownership group was not surprised by announcement. Nothing changes for the Orlando MLB initiative as the Dreamers continue moving forward to the next phase in their process of bringing Major League Baseball to Orange County. ORLANDO, FL / ACCESS Newswire / June 19, 2025 / The Orlando City Baseball Dreamers ('Orlando Dreamers'), fresh off the first public appearance of team leadership on June 16 at the International Drive Chamber of Commerce luncheon with record attendance and media coverage, today responded to an announcement that the Tampa Bay Rays are in discussions with a group interested in potentially buying the team. Barry Larkin, the MLB Ambassador for the Dreamers, confirmed that the media reports indicating the Rays were in discussions with a possible buyer group did not come as a surprise. 'We have been aware of various groups indicating interest in potentially acquiring the franchise. Multiple prospective groups have reached out to more than one of the key people affiliated with the Dreamers over recent months. This does not complicate our mission, nor does it change our plans for aggressively moving forward to the next phase of our initiative. We plan to open our downtown office in the very near future and we are laser-focused on finalizing the public side of the public/private partnership. We continue to see Orange County and the greater Orlando area as an unsurpassed market for the next MLB location,' he said. Rick Workman, the anchor investor in the control ownership group for the Dreamers, further elaborated on Larkin's comments. 'The enthusiasm for bringing MLB to our designated 35.5-acre site in the middle of the tourist corridor in Orange County is clearly at a fever pitch. We have put in place all of the key team-side pillars that Major League Baseball requires for an area to qualify for a franchise. Orlando is undeniably the top market in the country without a franchise. We have an unparalleled site for our venue, right in the middle of 80 million tourists this year, and our stadium design will be the most impressive in all of baseball. With my partner, John Morgan, in the ownership group, we are local owners committed to delivering transformative benefits to Orange County and Central Florida with this initiative. Hall-of-Famer Barry Larkin provides us the baseball intuition and connectivity to round out a highly impressive leadership team,' he said. John Morgan, the other primary investor in the control ownership group, owns many successful businesses across the country, including operations in the International Drive area near the indicated stadium site. He indicated that he had been approached by people vying to purchase the Rays, with plans to keep the team in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area. 'While that's a fine region, as an investor I made clear I had no interest in making a financial commitment if the team was going to remain there. For Major League Baseball, the Tampa area does not compare with Orange County. Central Florida is growing faster than Tampa-St. Pete, which is limited by elevation, water, and other challenges, especially when it comes to finding the right location for a large sports venue. In comparison, Orlando continues rapidly expanding in every direction. And don't forget: tourism matters. Las Vegas is a great example of why tourism helps sports teams succeed, and Orange County will get about double the number of tourists this year as Las Vegas will welcome,' according to Morgan. Jim Schnorf, Co-Founder of the Orlando Dreamers who has been coordinating the team acquisition and stadium financing, added further commentary. 'We have letters of intent from highly qualified investors approaching $1.5 billion in equity financing towards MLB team acquisition and have been very purposeful in limiting the investor pool at this point, despite continued strong interest from numerous other interested investor parties. The Dreamers are fully confident of arranging any supplemental senior debt financing that might be relevant to supplement the equity investment already identified. Our separate stadium funding letter of intent from a major institutional partner will provide more than $1 billion towards the team portion of construction costs, under an arrangement that is highly attractive to Orange County government and citizens, team ownership, and Major League Baseball. Senior representatives from our stadium financing source visited with us in Orlando earlier this week, further emphasizing their heightened interest in our stadium initiative.' Schnorf also reconfirmed Barry Larkin's comments at the June 16 luncheon that the Dreamers have multiple 'trips to the plate' in regards to opportunities to attain an MLB team. 'Pat Williams and I launched this mission when Major League Baseball announced the intent to expand by two teams. It was coincidental that the Rays encountered insurmountable challenges with the unexpected damage to Tropicana Field last fall and the subsequent inability to satisfactorily conclude a new stadium solution. The media has focused in recent months on this option for Orlando to acquire a team. However, there are multiple other MLB teams that also have stadium challenges, in addition to two expansion slots that will be added,' he confirmed. Schnorf concluded by saying, 'We believe it is unlikely that a sale of the Rays can consummate without an affirmative stadium site and stadium financing solution in place, steps which are very challenging and time consuming, but that we are fortunate to have under control. Regardless of the circumstances with the Rays and their discussions with any prospective buyer group, the Dreamers are continuing to move forward in concluding the final aspects of our initiative. With all the recent progress over the past 90 days, we have demonstrated that we are fully prepared for any opportunity to bring Major League Baseball to Orange County.' Orlando is experiencing a surge in tourism with meaningful growth expected from the recent opening of the new Universal Epic Universe theme park located a short distance from the Dreamers' proposed stadium site. The Orlando metro area is the most-visited destination in the country and recently passed Denver to become the #15 media market in the country. It is anticipated that Orlando will pass Detroit in 2025 to become the #14 media market in the country, the largest without an MLB team. 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 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 (TDT). 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 Contact: Dave Gentry RedChip Companies 1-800-733-2447 [email protected] SOURCE: Orlando City Baseball Dreamers, LLC press release
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Orlando Dreamers ownership group to speak at I-Drive Chamber of Commerce luncheon
Orlando Dreamers ownership group to speak at I-Drive Chamber of Commerce luncheon The Orlando Dreamers get one step closer to bringing Major League Baseball to Orlando as they'll be front and center at the International Drive Chamber of Commerce's June Luncheon on Monday, June 16, 2025. According to a release, the group of Dreamers owner Dr Rick Workman, co-owner John Morgan, COO Jim Schnorf, and MLB ambassador Barry Larkin will focus on the team's effort in bringing the MLB to Orange County. Advertisement They'll also talk about the proposed stadium they plan to have built on International Drive. The group will answer questions about the potential impact the Dreamers can have in Central Florida. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Orlando Dreamers secure anchor investor Rick Workman in MLB franchise push
The Brief Orlando's bid for a Major League Baseball team now has $2.5 billion in commitments, led by Heartland Dental founder Rick Workman, the organization said. The group aims to acquire a team and build a stadium near International Drive. The MLB and the Tampa Bay Rays have not commented, though Orlando remains positioned amid relocation rumors. ORLANDO, Fla. - The Orlando Dreamers, a group pursuing a Major League Baseball franchise for Orlando, have announced a significant financial commitment totaling $2.5 billion — including $1.5 billion earmarked for acquiring a team and $1 billion for a stadium. On Tuesday, the organization shared more details about the anchor investor. What we know We are now learning more about the financial backers behind efforts to lure Major League Baseball to Orlando. As first reported by the Orlando Sentinel, FOX 35 News has independently confirmed that Rick Workman, founder of Heartland Dental, has been named the group's anchor investor. Workman serves as chair of the Executive Advisor Team at New Harbor Capital, a private equity firm focused on founder-led, growth-stage companies. With more than four decades in the healthcare industry, Workman is considered a leading figure in dental services. A graduate of Southern Illinois University, he also serves on the board of Premier ENT & Allergy and previously held a board seat with PT Solutions. Workman adds heft to the Orlando Dreamers' team of marketers and financial backers. In January, Baseball Hall of Famer, and 12-time MLB All-Star Barry Larkin announced he was joining the organization. "To say that Rick is a massive sports fan would be an understatement. He is extremely knowledgeable about Major League Baseball," The Orlando Dreamers In a February interview with FOX 35's Garrett Wymer, Larkin said the group sees multiple paths forward, whether through an expansion team or moving the Tampa Bay Rays to Orlando if the new stadium situation in St. Petersburg falls through. What we don't know The specific size of Workman's investment remains undisclosed. The Orlando Sentinel also reports that John Morgan, the founder of Morgan & Morgan law firm, has committed "hundreds of millions" contingent on the Dreamers securing a team and a stadium site. FOX 35 has learned of Morgan's interest in the franchise but his full involvement or commitment at this stage has not been confirmed. Other members of the investment group have not been identified, and it's unclear how much political or public support exists for the stadium or the broader MLB bid. The MLB has not responded publicly to the Dreamers, and there is no indication of an active team sale or league expansion at this time. The backstory The Orlando Dreamers effort was spearheaded by Pat Williams, a longtime Central Florida sports executive and founder of the Orlando Magic, before his death last year. The group initially proposed a request for $975 million in Tourist Development Tax funds for the stadium, which the county denied in favor of other priorities. The group has since repositioned its bid with more private capital and is now highlighting high-profile backers to restore momentum and credibility. Dig deeper The preferred location for the stadium is a 35.5-acre parcel of county-owned land next to Aquatica water park on International Drive. The project does not yet have confirmed public funding or explicit support from Orange County's political leadership. In addition to the ballpark, the proposed complex would also include retail shops, restaurants, office space, 1,000 hotel rooms, and parking garages for approximately 6,700 vehicles. The proposed complex, which would be south of the Beachline Expressway (SR 528), would ultimately have a pedestrian bridge and walkway connecting it to a SunRail station, should the commuter rail line be extended to the Orange County Convention Center. What they're saying Orlando has never had a Major League Baseball team, and the Dreamers' campaign represents one of the city's most ambitious attempts to break into the league. "Orlando is prepared to host a major league baseball team from a financial standpoint," said Jim Schnorf, the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer for the Orlando Dreamers. "All we can do is put ourselves in the best position for either a relocation or an expansion," Barry Larkin told FOX 35 in February. "Those are the things that are going to have to happen in the game of baseball. Because one thing about baseball, and a characteristic that I love about the game of baseball, is the stability and the consistency to be successful." "To say that Rick is a massive sports fan would be an understatement. He is extremely knowledgeable about Major League Baseball. Additionally, he has a huge heart for Orlando and shares our vision of the Dreamers having a positive impact on Orange County," the Dreamers told FOX 35 News. "Having Rick Workman as our anchor investor and Barry Larkin as our MLB Ambassador are two major steps in making the Dreamers a world-class organization." Big picture view The plan to bring Major League Baseball to Orlando comes amid speculation that the league might expand or see an existing team, like the Tampa Bay Rays, relocate. However, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred has publicly stated his desire to keep the Rays in the Tampa Bay area. Even if the Tampa Bay Rays remain in the Bay Area, Major League Baseball has its sights set on expansion. The league currently has 30 teams and is aiming to grow to 32, with Commissioner Manfred reportedly hoping to finalize an expansion plan before his expected retirement in 2029. That means two new cities could soon be added to the league — with Orlando, Nashville, Montreal and Mexico City among the names floated. Orlando, notably, is the largest media market in the U.S. without an MLB franchise. The Dreamers continue to add investors and is reportedly scouting office space downtown. A team name will also need to be selected if the effort succeeds. Momentum appears to be building. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on information shared by the Orlando Dreamers and New Harbor Capital Management, LLC.
