Trump Admin Reportedly Exploring National Parks as Potential Site for MLB Baseball Field
Trump Admin Reportedly Exploring National Parks as Potential Site for MLB Baseball Field
Colson ThayerMon, September 28, 2026 at 9:55 PM UTC
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L: President Donald Trump; R: Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty; Getty -
MLB is exploring hosting a game at a national park, inspired by its Field of Dreams events in Iowa
Grand Teton National Park has reportedly been scouted, but the White House insists the idea originated from MLB
Some conservation leaders oppose the plan, citing risks to the park’s legacy and natural environment
Major League Baseball has approached the Trump administration about hosting future games at a national park, the White House has confirmed to PEOPLE.
Following the success of special stand-alone events, such as the recurring Field of Dreams game in Iowa, MLB is considering the idea of playing a game at a national park, according to an anonymous source at the organization who spoke with The Washington Post. He spoke with the outlet on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak on the matter.
While a White House spokesperson confirmed MLB approached the administration about hosting a game similar to that of the Field of Dreams event, they added that it was not a presidential directive and is not being directed by the White House or Department of Interior.
The spokesperson added no decisions have been made by MLB nor have permits been granted by the National Park Service (NPS).
Signage for Grand Teton National ParkCredit: Getty
Members of the Trump administration were spotted scouting potential locations for a ballpark within Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park in recent days, two people familiar with the matter who are not authorized to speak to the media told the Post.
Grand Teton, known for its mountain peaks, alpine lakes and abundant wildlife, is the country’s eighth-most visited national park. It welcomed about 3.8 million visitors last year, according to NPS statistics.
The two sources said NPS deputy director Frank Lands visited the park in recent days and looked at three potential locations for the baseball park. One of the sites Lands reportedly visited is already disturbed land. The sources added many parks have “bone yards” or storage areas for materials or equipment currently not in use.
However, the White House pushed back and told the outlet Lands had “not been actively scouting sites,” instead pointing to an official trip to several parks including Grand Teton, Yellowstone and Grand Canyon.
“The MLB happened to schedule their trip to Grand Teton at the same time that Frank was there,” a statement said. “It is incorrect to say that Frank is actively scouting sites. It is also incorrect to say that the administration is sending officials to scout sites.”
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A White House spokesperson told PEOPLE if MLB would like to go on site visits, it is their “prerogative.”
The MLB Field of Dreams stadium in Dyersville, Iowa.Credit: Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty
PEOPLE has reached out to MLB for comment.
The report has drawn sharp disapproval from conservation leaders.
“Grand Teton National Park is more than a pretty backdrop to drum up attention for special interests,” Betsy Buffington, the Northern Rockies regional director for the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), said in a statement shared with PEOPLE. “If this administration is willing to carve out a piece of Grand Teton for special interests, they would be turning their back on a century of enthusiastic bipartisan support and a legacy of national parks.”
The NPCA president and CEO, Tiernan Sittenfeld, added: “The Department of Interior should reject this idea and publicly say that there will be no baseball stadium in Grand Teton, now or ever.”
MLB began hosting single games at various locations across the country in 2016. Previous hosts include Fort Bragg, a U.S. Army base in North Carolina; Omaha, Neb., tied to the College World Series; Rickwood Field, the historic Negro League park in Birmingham, Ala.; Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tenn.; Williamsport, Penn. for the Little League World Series and three times in Dyersville, Iowa, in the cornfield featured in the movie Field of Dreams.
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According to the Post, most of those games were played at permanent facilities. But in Bristol, the stadium was disassembled and materials were donated. The Field of Dreams was initially temporary but later made permanent.
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