Major League Baseball's push to stage regular-season games in iconic settings has sparked a new controversy, with the Trump administration and the league reportedly exploring a game inside Grand Teton National Park. The idea has drawn sharp criticism from a Wyoming state senator who calls it an affront to the park's protected mission.
What is the Grand Teton MLB game proposal?
The Washington Post reported that administration officials have scouted three potential locations within Grand Teton National Park to build a temporary baseball park for an MLB game. National Park Service Deputy Director Frank Lands visited the park recently to examine the sites, according to two people familiar with the matter.
A White House official told the Associated Press that the concept originated with MLB, not the administration. The official stressed that the proposal was not a presidential directive, that no permits have been granted, and that the administration is not necessarily in favor of the idea.
Wyoming senator calls the idea 'abhorrent'
Democratic Wyoming state Sen. Mike Gierau, who represents the Grand Teton area, did not mince words when asked about the proposal.
“It's abhorrent,” Gierau told the Associated Press. “Baseball is the American game. The national parks are America's greatest idea. But a national park is to be protected for its undeveloped and scenic values.”
Gierau's pushback highlights a rare bipartisan concern: the tension between MLB's desire for unique venues and the federal mandate to preserve national parks for future generations.
MLB's recent history of unconventional venues
The Grand Teton exploration follows MLB's successful events at the Field of Dreams site in Dyersville, Iowa, and Rickwood Field in Alabama. The league has already announced that the Field of Dreams game will return in 2027, when the Kansas City Royals and Boston Red Sox will play in an Iowa cornfield.
MLB's published 2027 schedule suggests a Grand Teton game would not be part of the existing slate, and no concrete plans have been announced.
Environmental and logistical concerns remain
Previous MLB special events relied on existing facilities or sites specifically adapted for baseball. A Grand Teton game would raise significant questions about construction, environmental impact, and the infrastructure needed for a major professional sporting event in a pristine wilderness area.
For now, the league's interest appears to remain at the exploratory stage. But with local representatives already pushing back, the proposal faces an uphill climb before it ever reaches first pitch.
This article was adapted from reporting originally published on Forbes.com.