Mike Bianchi: While other Orlando politicians have played small ball, Anna Eskamani steps up to the plate for MLB

She’s one of the most intelligent, most recognizable and most influential political figures in Central Florida.

She’s built a passionate grassroots following. She’s a tireless campaigner. She’s active in virtually every community issue imaginable. She’s beloved by progressives. She’s respected by many moderates. And she’s running to replace Buddy Dyer as Orlando mayor when his sixth term ends.

In other words, when Anna Eskamani speaks, people listen.

Frankly, it’s somewhat surprising to see somebody with her progressive credentials enthusiastically embrace a major league sports initiative. Traditionally, progressives have been skeptical — and rightly so — about taxpayer-funded stadium projects that enrich billionaire owners while ordinary citizens struggle to pay rent.

Eskamani seems to clearly understand that tension.

That’s why she has carefully emphasized she doesn’t want Orlando giving away the house to land a baseball team. However, as long as Orange County’s massive Tourist Development Tax — the public-funding arm that presumably would be used to build a baseball stadium — is restricted to only tourism-related spending, she advocates using the TDT to fund the baseball effort.

In fact, she says bringing baseball to Central Florida will be part of her mayoral campaign platform as well as some of her more traditional projects, such as affordable housing and public transportation.

“Obviously, there are a lot of questions to be answered, but I’ve already been inspired by the private investment thus far,” Eskamani says of the Dreamers’ effort. “Candidly, I’m a big proponent of flexibility with the TDT. I think we should be able to use the TDT for other projects (roads, schools, etc.), but as long as it’s restricted I think this (baseball) is a much better use of those funds than expanding the convention center again and again and again.”

Adds Eskmani: “I believe cities have to deliver on the basics, right? We have to make sure the trains run on time, but why not create some new tracks, too, like providing access to universal childcare and alleviating those daily costs that families face? And I do think uplifting our brand when it comes to our sports is key. We have such an incredible culture when it comes to our sports and athletic community. We need more people to be involved.”

I love that Eskamani is not blindly cheerleading. She’s not promising blank checks. She’s trying to position herself as the adult in the room who believes Orlando can pursue a transformational sports opportunity without sacrificing fiscal sanity.

And honestly, that may be exactly the kind of leadership this movement has needed all along.

For years, Pat Williams understood something many local leaders failed to grasp: Sports franchises aren’t just entertainment. They’re civic identity.

The Magic helped transform Orlando from a city people visited into a city people recognized.

Major League Baseball could do the same thing, maybe on an even larger scale.

And make no mistake about it, the timing of Eskamani’s endorsement is critical.

The Tampa Bay Rays remain stuck in a seemingly endless stadium saga over in Hillsborough County. One minute there’s optimism. The next minute politicians and ownership are fighting like raccoons in a Waffle House dumpster.

Meanwhile, Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Rays new ownership group have made it clear that if the Rays can’t figure things out in Tampa Bay, Orlando becomes the obvious alternative.

That’s no longer fantasy talk.

That’s real leverage.

And Orlando’s baseball momentum is suddenly becoming harder to ignore.

The Dreamers recently unveiled massive signage at their downtown headquarters, including a gigantic illuminated “Orlando” baseball display designed to symbolize the city’s growing MLB ambitions.

More importantly, the numbers backing Orlando’s candidacy are staggering. According to U.S. Census data cited by the Dreamers, Orlando ranks No. 1 among the nation’s 30 largest metro areas in job growth, population growth and nominal GDP growth. The region is now the 15th-largest media market in America and is projected to soon surpass Detroit for No. 14 — making Orlando the largest metro area in the country without Major League Baseball or an NFL team.

Then there’s tourism.

Nearly 80 million visitors came to Central Florida in 2025. Epic Universe just opened. Tourist tax revenues continue smashing records.

The question is whether the city has the political courage to fully embrace the opportunity sitting in front of it.

That’s why Eskamani’s endorsement matters so much.

For years, Pat Williams waited for somebody in local political leadership to carry the torch.

Not just privately.

Publicly.

And passionately.

Now Anna Eskamani finally has.

For the first time, the Orlando baseball movement has a major political figure with real influence stepping up to the plate and saying loudly and proudly:

“Let’s play ball!”