Major League Baseball has held preliminary discussions with the Trump administration regarding the possibility of hosting a regular-season game inside a national park. Both league representatives and government officials confirmed the dialogue on Saturday, September 27, 2026, following initial reports from The Washington Post.
The White House released an official statement clarifying that the proposal originates entirely from the league rather than federal leadership.
“This is not a Presidential directive, nor is it being directed by the White House. It’s also not being directed by the Department of Interior,” the statement said. “Therefore, this is not a White House or Administration priority.”
According to sources familiar with the situation, the administration has already scouted potential locations within Grand Teton National Park in northwest Wyoming to evaluate where a baseball facility could potentially be constructed. National Park Service deputy director Frank Lands reportedly visited the park during the week to look at three possible sites within park boundaries, though he declined to comment publicly.
Growing Trend of Special MLB Event Sites
The discussions align with Major League Baseball’s ongoing expansion of unique, single-game sites over the past decade. The league has successfully staged several high-profile special events:
- Field of Dreams Game: Hosted in Dyersville, Iowa, featuring upcoming matchups like the Boston Red Sox and Kansas City Royals.
- Little League Classic: Held annually in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
- Rickwood Field: Played in Birmingham, Alabama, in 2024.
- Bristol Motor Speedway: Hosted a special game inside the racing venue in 2025.
An anonymous MLB official noted that playing a game on federal park land is just one of several creative concepts currently under consideration by league leadership. However, because the 2027 schedule is already locked in-with traditional August dates reserved for the Field of Dreams game and Little League Classic-any new national park venue would likely not materialize until at least the 2028 season.
While the National Park Service has not yet granted any formal permits for the proposal, the White House emphasized that independent site visits by the league do not require administrative approval. “If the MLB wants to go on site visits of national parks, that is their prerogative,” the White House stated.
