MLB Explores Holding a Game in a National Park After White House Outreach
Major League Baseball approached the Trump administration about hosting a game in a national park, officials confirmed. A National Park Service official scouted Grand Teton National Park last week for possible locations. The White House said the idea was not a presidential directive and that no permits have been granted.
MLB's outreach followed its prior special-event games at unusual sites, including an Iowa tribute to "Field of Dreams," a motor speedway, and an active military fort. The league is considering other concepts too. A Park Service deputy director, Frank Lands, inspected three possible Grand Teton locations last week, according to the Post.
Teton County Commissioner Luther Propst said he saw Lands at a Murie Ranch conservation event and had no prior notice. Propst wants the commission to consider telling MLB why the county opposes the idea. The White House says no permits have been approved and the proposal did not originate as a presidential directive.
If pursued, a national-park MLB game could draw intense public attention to Grand Teton and surrounding gateway communities, potentially boosting local tourism but also straining roads, lodging, and park resources. Residents and park visitors may face disruptions, while federal agencies could confront questions about commercial use of protected lands. Because no permits have been granted and MLB is still exploring options, any social or economic effects remain speculative and depend on whether the idea advances.