MLB is looking into hosting a game at Grand Teton National Park as part of its unconventional venue strategy.
US President Donald Trump finds himself in the middle of another unusual sports venue idea as Major League Baseball (MLB) is seeking to host a game at a US national park.
The league contacted the Trump administration about bringing a game to a national parkland, according to reporting from The Washington Post, with Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming named as a potential location.
White House officials confirmed that MLB asked about the feasibility of using a national park, though stressed that no official decision has been made and the National Park Service hasn’t issued any permits.
The Washington Post noted that National Park Service Deputy Director, Frank Lands, visited Grand Teton and viewed three potential field locations, but that the White House said that Lands was on a routine multi-park tour and not scouting sites for the league.
An MLB representative told the publication that playing in a national park is one of several creative concepts being discussed as the league looks to build on its previous standalone showcase games.
Games in the past have been played at Rickwood Field in Birmingham and Bristol Motor Speedway.
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MLB faces a different venue challenge
Bringing a professional baseball game to a national park creates a different set of logistical headaches compared to previous venues MLB has used.
While the league has plenty of experience taking regular season games away from standard home stadiums, those events took place at existing athletic venues or sites with custom-built temporary fields.
Setting up in a national park requires operating on protected federal land where the National Park Service has yet to approve any construction or permits. Grand Teton also lacks the established event framework found at locations like Bristol Motor Speedway or Rickwood Field.
One potential site inside Grand Teton sits on developed land used for equipment storage, but staging a game would require temporary infrastructure, including access, seating, power and the facilities needed to support a live broadcast.
Timing is another hurdle because the league has already finalised its 2027 regular season schedule with the Field of Dreams and Little League Classic dates set, meaning any national park game would likely have to wait for a future season.
League officials haven’t confirmed a timeline, venue or even whether the national park concept will receive the green light.
From the White House to Field of Dreams
Staging major sporting events in unusual settings appears to be a trend at the moment, with the proposed MLB game coming months after UFC Freedom 250 was held on the South Lawn of the White House.
The card featured Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje in the main event as part of the US 250th anniversary celebrations in June.
However, bringing the Octagon to the White House brought significant logistical challenges. UFC Executive Producer and Chief Content Officer, Craig Borsari, said getting hundreds of crew members and employees into the highly secured location was one of the greatest difficulties.
Despite difficulties, the event was seen as a success by the promotion. UFC President and CEO Dana White said the event had exceeded expectations but confirmed that he would not want to repeat it because of the cost and complexity involved.
The MLB isn’t necessarily following the UFC’s lead, however. The league has been taking baseball to interesting venues for years, making the location part of the appeal of selected regular-season games.
One of its best-known examples is the Field of Dreams game, which takes place in Dyersville, Iowa, at a site inspired by the 1989 film of the same name. MLB first staged the game in 2021, with the contest played next to the film’s original movie set and cornfield.
